Just got a lead ...

[Pete in MI]

the newspaper had an ad looking for someone who knew how to locate a "purvey" (think they meant privy) or have a metal detector. Seems they have a site dating to 1810 and want to find the outhouse(s). I have never dug for bottles or looked for outhouses before. I do own a Minelab Explorer II.

I have read that I need a probe and a sifter is a good thing to have as well. Figure I can make one if I can see others or get details on how to make one. I heard that a probe can be had from a store selling plumbing supplies (???) but could probably make one as well with some directions to follow...like where to get the spring steel used in commercially made probes.

This is somewhat a new hobby for me. I usually detect for coins and jewelry at old schools, on beaches and in the water (have a Tesoro Stingray for underwater use). I did find bottles in England but not digging in a privy. Will post the pic of the finds when I locate the SD card the pics are on.

Anyone have some pics or directions for making the seive and/or the probe would be greatly appreciated. You can send them to coinshooter@owly(no spam).net (just remove the (no spam) from the addy.

Thanks everyone.
This should make for even more fun detecting and finding cool things.

 

[DukeOBass]

We made the best probes out the old spring steel rods that were in car trunk hoods. You'd have to go to a junk yard and find one in an older vehicle. Cut it and weld it into a pipe handle. Sometimes we'd weld a nut about an inch from the tip to widen the hole on the way in.

 

[slowmotion]

Maybe some more help like dukeobass, plus. My first one was made from trunk spring but hard to find any more.
If you have a steel supply store handy then see about spring steel. I used 5/16 about 4 foot long. It has to be spring steel or you can't push it into the ground. I used 1" 304 SS tubing. Some use 1 1/4 con duet. About 18" long. Drill hole in middle that is tight for the rod. For safety I welded a washer on rod with en ought rod to go throw handle about 1/2" for weld. This is so it won't go in you if one of welds might brake. On the point, if you can use hard face weld for about 2 to 3 in. and then grind to point like a arrowhead. The back of point will bring up what's in the bottom. Most people used lime in outhouses so dirt coming up should be white. Should be able to feel tin cans when probing. The screen, you should have 2. One made from 1/2 in. screen and one 1/4 in screen. 2 ft.X2 ft. or less. Just keep simple.
willard in spokane

 

[Pete in MI]

n/t