Minimum needed Accessories??...

[Anonymous]

Hi,
I'm starting this new hobby and have been noticing that I'm am dreading the deep digs (actually, right now, any digs). It is taking me forever to dig and find the items that my detector 'says' are there. I realize that I need to buy some better equipment. My pathetic little garden digging tool just isn't cutting it (literally).
Additionally, even when I find the item, I can't find it (lol). A pinpointer is probably in my future.
Before I jump to any wrong conclusions, can I ask for suggestions of good or even must-have accessories that you might recommend. Feel free to suggest a particular type of tool that has worked for you.
All suggestions are welcome.
Thanks
Erik

 

[Anonymous]

A screwdriver for digging is the best.especially in hard ground.Just gotta get good at pinpointing.I am just learning how to probe with a screwdriver .I thought i could never do it b-4 i tried it ,but it is a piece of cake

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Erik ,i`ve only been at it for about a year and do not have the fancy accessories. I use a basic sturdy knife to cut a plug in the sod. I have a digging kit from Garrett that has a carry pouch to put on my belt ,a metal probe and plastic shovel. Also have a small heavy duty garden shovel. The plastic one is great for soft areas and you can pass it over the coil to see if your find is in the dirt in the shovel. I use the metal one for harder dirt and you can sharpen it to help it penetrate. Dump the dirt from the metal shovel into your hand or into a small plasic lid to pass over the coil. I also took a kids plastic scoop and drilled holes in it for areas that have sand. Some Depends on your area ,needs and wants. Also went to the local lumber yard and picked up a nail apron. One pocket trash ,the other for good stuff for $1.00. Imagination works well for different acc. and may save some money. Some make test gardens where they bury items for practice, etc. Practice ,patience and observation to me are some good keys to success. Hope this helps some. There is a lot of experience on this forum and its helped me. Speaking of help ,it is raining real good. A big help for hard ground. Happy diggin. Bob in Colorado.

 

[Anonymous]

Cut a plug with a knife- basic or fancy like a Lesche, depending on depth- should be 3-4 inches in diameter if fairly shallow. Often the coin is close to the tip of the plug or just below if deeper.
A good basic pinpointer will make life sooo much easier- like a new or used White's Bullseye or if you wish to spend some bucks later, SunRay's DX-1 or UniProbe's PI hand-held.
If you use a pointy probe, you'll just render your finds valueless at worst and at best uglier than need be. Save the driver for screwing things--rather than screwing things up. <img src="/metal/html/grin.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt=":grin">
HH- Gary

 

[Anonymous]

For a begginer I will recomend a good set of headphones to hear the deeper targets. There are many, but to start with any will work.
Now for digging a Lesche digging knife is the one I find works the best as it will dig a nice plug and has the serrated edges for cutting small tree roots when needed.A good long thin screwdriver with a good rounded top works for probeing a retreiving the targets not so deep. I found the best one for me at Ace Hardware for around $5 that has a nice rounded top so it is easy one the hands and it is around 12 inches long and thin. Works real good and the best probe i have used in my 32 years.
A Must have is a good trash pouch to put your trash in to dump in the nearest trash can. One as simple as a nail apron will work good you.
When you want to spend a little more a Sunray Probe to find the targets is the way to go as many of us that have used them see it is hard to detect without it as recovery is so fast as you know where the target is and we dig a lot smaller holes now. Faster recovery means more detecting for the next target. A smaller coil also will help in the trashier areas and I have the little mini shooter (4X6)for that purpose and works excellent
Rick

 

[Anonymous]

in addition to a knife.
I take a Stanley with the rounded handle, 6" shaft and 1/4" wide tip. Grind the tip round and smooth the edges.
Light up a propane torch, stick the first inch of the tip into the flame. When it gets red hot, press the tip onto a metal surface to just bend the tip over slightly. Let the tip cool down by itself. Do not cool it with water or the tip will become soft and pliable.
You will find this tool will pop surface coins out in a flash, makes a gentle digging tool once a plug is removed, excellent probe and will not mar a coin.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all the info everyone. Some good stuff that I wouldn't have thought of.
Regarding "popping" coins out with a screwdriver, how does this work? Cut the plug, insert driver and stir?
Thanks again,
Erik

 

[Anonymous]

Welcome to the hobby Erik. In your post, you say that you dread digging because it takes forever to find the target, once you detect one. That sounds more to me that you could use a few tips on pinpointing your target instead of finding a new tool to dig them up with. You can have the best tools available and not do you anygood if you are not digging in the right spot. I've owned Lesche tools, Gator diggers, the Sunray DX-1 probe, various trowels, screw drivers, knives, brass probes, goody pouches and nearly every toy that goes with the hobby. If you can't pinpoint a target once you detect it, you just as well be using a backhoe to dig. I don't know which type of coil type you are using, but both the concentric coil and the DD coil can be used in an "X" pattern to pinpoint you close to the target. The actual pinpoint mode of the MXT makes it even easier. Hear the target, sweep back and forth left to right to left to right etc. centering the coil on the loudest signal. Visualize a line running across the ground under the center of the coil. Mark that line in your mind. Then step around the target 90 degrees and repeat the procedure of sweeping. Again, visualize a line running under the center of the coil. The spot that these two visualized lines intersect is directly above the target. If you are using a DD coil, instead of the "X sweep" method, you might try the slow drag. This is where you again sweep across the target until it is at it's loudest. Instead of moving around 90 degrees, center the coil on the target and slowly drag the coil back toward you until the signal drops off. Remember S L O WL Y drag it back. The target will be right under the edge of the lip of the coil at the point the sound drops off. Again, a good digging tool will speed up the actual process of moving dirt. But if you are not digging in the right place, all the probes, trowels and knives won't do you any good. Once you get the hang of pinpointing, you may find the tools you currently have will do the trick. I can usually dig a small plug around the target so when I pull the plug out, the void in the soil usually provides the target in the top of the hole or on the bottom of the plug. I can't tell you how many times I have actually seen the imprint of the coin in the dirt before I saw the coin. Now, as I have gotten older (and more crippled up), I do enjoy the benefit of the DX-1 probe. Once I am bent down on the ground digging the hole, it is nice to swing that little inch coil (DS-1 probe is actually a one inch coil) over the area to retrieve the target. No lifting the detector until the hole is filled and I am ready for the next one. Hope this helps you out. HH

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Erik,
I'll add my 2 cents worth. For basic plug digging, I use the Jimmy Sierra digging tool, and it cuts most ground like butter. I started out using a heavy knife, but there's just no comparison to having a proper digging tool.
For deeper digging, I bought a very cool shovel which features a long, thin blade and allows you to make a very deep plug cut. I bought this from Rick Scott who sells these on eBay and to members of the California Metaldetecting site. He also makes a phenomenal plugging tool that with little effort produces a perfect plug up to 8 inches deep.
Finally, a word on pinpointers. Get one! It makes life so much easier and speeds up recovery so you can get on to the next target. I know there are many opinions about this, and I'm sure I could further improve my pinpointing ability, etc., but at the end of the day, I want target retrieval to be a easy and fast as possible. Personally, I have a cheapo Automax pinpointer that I actually prefer over the White's Bullseye. Eventually, I'll save up for the Sunray inline probe or a Uniprobe, which I've also heard very positive things about.
I also bought a hiking belt pack which holds my pinpointer and provides pockets for both trash and and targets and even has a water bottle (in the summer, you will definitely want water within reach).
Finally, don't forget to carry a cloth with you to pile loose dirt on when digging. This not only keeps the parks and schools looking better, but it's good PR for those watching us. The more you can do to leave things looking pristine, the better.
In the end, I've actually spent a lot acquiring various tools and accessories, but for me having these items reduces frustration and makes the hobby more enjoyable. I just don't believe in roughing it when you don't have to. But again, this is just my opinion. Everyone must adopt their own style.
HH,
Dan

 

[Anonymous]

Still, you can't get around the fact that coins are much softer than steel- drag the tip across one of your "valuable" coins if you truly believe!
Taking no chances... And I wouldn't dream of it in the UK when I'm hunting there.
If you can't live without it, braze a copper ball to the tip- less likely to scratch.
-G