New, and excited!

[Herding Cats]

Just keep in mind, digging any target is practice digging targets. Also, digging foil and pull tabs means that you won't miss the gold. Stick with it, eat tylenol, and expect a sore swinging arm and shoulder. Work through the aches, and good stuff will start showing up beneath your coil! The good news is that after a while, swinging won't make you sore. For me, that 'while' was several weeks
HH!
Darren

Thanks for the encouragement, Darren. And yes, digging foil and pull tabs means I won't miss the gold...someday, I'll find some shiny yellow in the hole rather than bits of foil. And, as I've read here, when you come across foil and tabs in an area, it tends to mean that the area's not been hunted...

And I filled all my holes and flipped back the turf, and took all the trash I discovered to the trash bin. So it's all good.

I will eat Tylenol, and I'll work through things. I'm a pretty tough lady, so I can do this, yes indeed.

Know what I had a hard time figuring out? Which arm the detector should go in. I'm not ambidextrous, but when I shoot guns, I tend to prefer a left stance and hold rather than a right one. Yesterday, I found myself switching to left, but then would switch back. I'll figure it out with more time and swings, I'm sure. It's just odd.

HH!

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Herding Cats

 

[Herding Cats]

So, I did an hour in my alley tonight. Why the alley? Because the tree guys came yesterday, and I figured why not. I found tons of foil, many packs o' smokes, several bottles (none fit for anything other than recycling), and lots and lots of...nothing.

But I did find 1 penny...1989, so not anything special either.

Still, I'm tickled. It said it was a penny, and sure enough, it was. Hey, at least I have started to find something, right? LOL. Lessee...the score now is 1 pulltab from 1,000, and 1 penny from 1,000. I'm definitely on the road!

999 pull tabs and 999 pennies to go. Platinum and 2 carat diamond ring, here I come!

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[Orion42]

I keep a record of found coins to see how I do. Made a spreadsheet for it. Junk gets sorted into scrap that I can sell, recycleables, or trash. Learning history is also a side effect of this addiction. Welcome to the club!

John

 

[fongu]

Just take it easy and swing your coil slowly. The more you do it the more you will understand what your detector is telling you. I went to the river and only found 5 pennies today, but it was great to get out for a couple hours. It's been a long time for me, but I hope to get back in the swing. I also found loads of trash, but some trash items ring up at the same place as jewelry. You were wise to start out with the Ace-250 and learn it. I made the mistake of starting out with the GTI-2500 and it took me a long time to understand what it was beeping about. Learn your machine well and there are plenty of members on this forum with loads of experience with the Ace-250 and just give it time. It is great therapy, even tho your arms, shoulders or back hurts. It helps more than it hurts.

 

[GeorgeinSC]

I started 13 months ago at the tender age of 71. So I guess it is never too late to learn. I hunt and fish and I find Metal detecting to be a lot like those two hobbies. In hunting one is always anticipating the next game animal and in fishing the next fish to bite. When swinging the coil I am always anticipating the next target and what it may be.

One thing I would recommend is a Garrett Pro Pointer. It greatly helps in locating your target. I would not detect without one. In fact I have two. One for use and a backup Just in case. Good Luck and HH

 

[Herding Cats]

Fongu, thanks so much for the reassurance about the 250...I've read some threads (not here) about what a piece of trash it is, but I couldn't justify spending more than that on something I might not enjoy. The good thing is I *am* enjoying myself, and am plotting the next place to hunt (I need to figure out how to get down there first...not illegal, just difficult to access).

George, one is NEVER too old to start anything at all, ever. If you're breathing, you're young enough. That's my story, LOL. Glad you're out there doing things, even in the horrid humidity that the south east has.

As for the pinpointer, I absolutely must get one. I find targets, dig on them, and then can't figure out where the heck the darn thing is! I was planning on getting one tonight, but I came in from hunting this morning to find one of my cats in severe distress; he is now undergoing emergency surgery, and that has taken all my cash for a while. So as soon as I can, I'll get one.

In the meantime, I would like to announce that I'm doing a bit better - I found 4 pennies and one dime today! Nothing special, but I was tickled. I also got a child's beaded bracelet (worthless), and cleaned up a lot of trash I dug. 994 pennies to go!


As for sifting things in the sand (the tot lots), I was thinking I'll get a plastic colander, and see how that does. I find that if I dig something in the sand, I lose the signal somewhere along the way. I think that if I put things into a colander and then shake it, it will 'sift' for me, and if something is there, I'll be able to retrieve it.

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[GeorgeinSC]

One thing that you can do in the in the time that you have to wait to come up with the funds for the Garrett Pro Pointer is go to a Harbor Freight and get one of their CHEAP junky pin pointers. Cost is less than $20.00 You have to almost touch the target but it will help you as you start out. I used one for a week and it almost drove me mad but it was better than not having anything to locate the target once the plug had been dug. Also when the temps went up high it would overheat and quit working.

Take your time. Enjoy the hunt. It isn't all about the find but the pleasure derived from being outdoors doing your own thing. Since I am an old Retired Phart I get out two to three times a week. In the past year I have dug up 15 sterling silver rings, some sterling pendants and ear rings, 12 silver coins, 1 gold ring, and over $500.00 in modern coins. Some $47.00 of that total was Pennies. Lots of good exercise. I have no idea how many hundreds of pounds of trash I have removed from the dirt and placed in the proper containers.

The ACE-250 is a great little machine. Take your time, learn what it is telling you and you will really enjoy your time afield. Don't get discouraged. That gold ring is out there somewhere. You just have to figure out where and get a coil over it. And sometimes nice things are located in the most unusual places.

HH

 

[Herding Cats]

Thank you, George.

I have a Harbor Freight nearby, so maybe I will run and get the pinpointer. I do think I need to have one...as for frustrating, I can deal with that.

As for taking my time and enjoying myself, I truly am. It's nice to be outside, and walking around...exploring parts of the city in detail that I've somehow missed...for example, there is a sweet little pocket park near my hospital - I've known about it, but didn't go there. It has a creek (man made), and it's intriguing to me how neat and fun it is to be there. I will be "playing" in this park for sure - both because it has a sandlot as well as a creek and a few acres of grass to hunt in, but also because I like the whole 'tucked away' aspect of it. So I am indeed enjoying it.

I will confess that I very much want to get down to the beach, LOL, and see what it's like down there at the ocean. It's a bit of a drive, so I haven't gone yet...but I will, and probably sooner rather than later.

I got some good learning yesterday, and as long as I keep learning, I'll be happy without 'treasure'. I won't be able to go anywhere today, so I'll watch some more videos and do some bench testing...that will help me identify sounds for sure.

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[bik-il]

hey, CH,

just get out there, start swinging, and have some fun!
the 250 is easy to operate and a blast to use.

try not to get bogged down in the details...
after you dig a few targets everything will fall into place.
aint no substitute for experience.
youll be amazed at how quickly youll be answering some of your own questions!

oh, didn't I mention to just get out there and have fun?

best of luck and welcome aboard!

Bik

PS- don't come cryn' when you turn into a detecting junkie with a spare bedroom full of machines and hunting gear! (I have heard about folks like that. . . lol)

 

[Herding Cats]

Bik-Il, I'm already feeling the pull. LOL...I suppose it's not normal for someone to be driving down the road, and think...hm. I wonder if there's anything there? at pretty much everything. ROFL.

I didn't get out today, as I have a very ill kitty (he'll make it, but it was very stressful, emergency surgery needed), and I'll not get out tomorrow. I've already checked the tide tables for a beach if I choose to go this weekend (and I might), and I've decided that I will do a more thorough investigation of that little creek pocket park this week (if I can get out there again).

I am having fun...and I am learning a lot.

But there is something I've seen referred to but haven't been able to understand the answers I've seen...what is ground balance, how does it work, and how does one do it on an ACE (if they do), and why is it important?

Anyone?

Anyone?

Bueller?

LOL.

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[GeorgeinSC]

Minerals and Salt in the soil can hinder the operation of the metal detector. It can cause noise and also decrease the depth that you will be able to hear a target.

Ground balancing is a process through which the metal detector is able to cancel out the negative effects caused by ground mineralization. It is a very crucial part of successful detecting as it will allow you to distinguish a true target from the artificial signals produced from the ground. All models differ somewhat, but typically ground balancing is achieved by turning a control knob while pumping the coil up and down over the ground. Once the ground noise disappears or remains constant in both directions, the detector is said to be ground balanced.

If I remember correctly there is no manual Ground Balance function on the ACE-250.

A suggestion. Use Google maps to look for ball fields, parks, totlots. I have found many places to go detect by doing just that.

HH

 

[Herding Cats]

Thank you SO much, George. I didn't think there was a ground balance on the 250, but have seen some vids talking about it. And I will absolutely check the Google Maps for locales to play at. It's fascinating how many places I've never gone, even though I've been within 20 miles here for all of my life. I am just starting to be able to differentiate the sounds, so I know I've got a very long way to go, but I'm having fun.

I can't get out today because of a Dr. appointment for me as well as a healing kitty laying at my side. But tomorrow I absolutely will be going back to that pocket park, and play in the creek in the morning. Oh, and I'll bring the detector too. LOL.

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[Herding Cats]

Good Friday morning, everyone!

I went out for a short time close to my house - found a 2008 Hawai'i state quarter. No pennies, so the count doesn't change, but I'm tickled.

Quick question for all the wise folk hereabouts: I get a lot of 'iron' indications. Aside from the value of 'dig everything because you're learning the machine' (which is a very valuable piece of advice that I'm trying to follow), is there a reason to dig iron? What should I be looking for?

Thanks as always!

And I hope that everyone has a super fantastic weekend hunting!

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[mudpuppy]

Dig it all for a little bit, just so your own personal CPU between your ears starts to interface with your detector. You will also gain an appreciation for those who hunt relics, and may just find some interesting things either iron, or possibly a silver coin that was masked by it and passed over by others...(Always resweep every hole after retrieving a target) After a while you will use some discretion on those signals, depending upon their signal size, depth, and location you are hunting... your brain will tell you "thats a nail", "thats a crowncap"..."hey, this could be a knife!" This sport has so many subsets to master, you may find yourself specializing on old silver coins, or maybe clad and jewelry, or maybe gold nuggets or beachhunting, meteorites or civil war relics, etc..anyway, right now you are building your base of skills and getting to know how humans and dirt and your detector works..some iron signals that are out of place are a definite dig...like at the base of a big old oak way out in the woods...could be an axe head, could be some old tin full of silver or gold coins..or it could just be an old beer can, irregardless, its always a curiosity and fuel for an investigative and adventurous mind like you obviously have! Who knows where you will wind up? This is one big Planet, these coils are sooo small, and time is short...you stay in it and get good and quick, keep using your brain to analyze what the finds are telling you about that spot, and then its just a matter of time before you will find what you seek. Heck, you will find more than what you seek! You will find health, friends, peacefulness, excitement, and all the things that make Life worth living...Oh, and you will be finding a stinky pile of clad along the way too! Maybe that Hawaii quarter is a sign that you are supposed to go to Hawaii someday and find a big gold chain out in the surf?
Mud

 

[Herding Cats]

You know, Mudpuppy, I've tried to get to Hawai'i more than once, and something has always come into play that's prevented me. LOL, maybe this is a sign to try again?

You're totally right on the post, BTW. There is a ton to learn, and a million things to dig. If I were in an area where I could feel easy about digging everything, no matter what the depth. Right now, I am a very slow digger, LOL. But right now, between me being so slow, me being a bit cautious about how deep I can dig...well...there you go.

I'm sure that as soon as I get a pinpointer, my holes will be a lot nicer and neater, and I want to get one of those big digging 'knives' (dunno what they're actually called), and I'm sure I'll get faster over time. But I'm feeling kinda shy about digging a big 8" deep hole.

And my CPU, as you so gently put it, is already learning. LOL. And will learn a lot this weekend, as I plan on going out tomorrow and Sunday mornings, both. Looking forward to adding to the penny total, and cleaning things up a bit. That creek is pretty trashy! LOL.

Thanks, as always, for your time. This newbie really appreciates it a lot!

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Herding Cats

PS: There is a rumor circulating between a friend and I that a morning on the beach in the next week is in order; if so, that will be a very big adventure indeed for me. And I'm definitely up for any adventure indeed! (As you also mentioned in your post...yes, I'm pretty much an adventuresome spirit).

 

[Herding Cats]

OK, I know the detector works. Apparently, *I* have NO idea how to work it. I went to the pocket park today, and saw a guy swinging a detector. I went over, introduced myself, and started talking. He'd had a great morning - lots of coins, some of those gold presidential collector coins, a half dollar, and so on. A piece of jewelry, too...nothing special, although it was a big hunk o' silver.

Problem is, he found all of that in the sand tot lot that I'd done the other day...and I'd found NOTHING. Sigh.

I explained that I was new, and he, bless him, spent some time with me working on my swing (a bit lower, a bit faster), tested and adjusted the sensitivity (down to one or two bars), and showed me a lot of techniques that he has used successfully. He followed me for a bit, and I missed a decent score of coins (nothing special, just that they were there), while I dug all the trash. Bigger sigh.

So now I'm blue. Those were MY finds. I just don't know what I'm doing. (And no, of course they were his finds...but still...sigh).

He also has a great shovel, and digs big holes. So I have overcome using a large shovel instead of a trowel, and will get a colander that's plastic to sift stuff in. The work went a lot faster when I used his shovel, you know?

He was nice...and he said he'd text me the next time he goes out...and we can go together and he'll teach me stuff. I'm happy to have made his acquaintance, but grumpy and frustrated about my lack of skill.

I did find a nickel and a penny, again nothing special, and I'll also say it's validating that the areas I suggested we look yielded things. I just wish I had been the one finding things. Sigh.

Is it always like this in the beginning? Or am I just a really big dingbat that doesn't know how to use a good machine????LOL

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[fongu]

It takes time to learn what your detector is saying. I started in 2007 and I'm still learning. Have patience with yourself. You're not going to start detecting like someone who has been at it awhile. Give yourself at least 100 hours with your detector and see what a difference it makes. Don't swing your coil too fast and just slow down and learn what it's telling you. It's like learning a new language, you won't do it in a few days. Good luck and happy hunting.

 

[Kerby...]

Back in the 70's and 80's I had the Garrett ADS Deepseeker that I used in Kansas. Used it for 10 years there. Back then I always dug up everything and removed all metal trash. Most of the areas I would return to....so it made no sense to keep detecting the same stuff. I am sure the detectors today are a lot better? I am getting ready to get another Garrett but I live in Arizona and I want to be able to go nugget hunting here in Arizona where the ground has a lot of mineralization in it and then use it when I go back to Kansas on vacation. SO will I have to get 2 different detectors or will the Garrett Ace 350 be sufficient?

Thanks

Kerby...

 

[fongu]

I haven't used the Ace-350 or the At/gold, but the At/Gold might work better for you and Garrett is bringing a new detector to market this fall called the Extreme and it's supposed to be good for prospecting. There are several posts about it and a short teaser video that you might want to watch. The Extreme found some mighty small gold nuggets. The more experienced detectors on this forum can give you a better answer than I can, but I wanted to put my 2 cents in. Good luck with whatever detector you buy and happy hunting.

 

[Herding Cats]

Fongu, thanks for the encouragement. I am going to work this thing for 100 hours, 1000 pennies, and 1000 bottle caps...then maybe I won't miss what's right under my feet. I just got frustrated, but I am a new MDer, and my expectations for my ownself need to be lowered - I'm like that sometimes...I want to be good, like right now. And I forget things like learning curves, and time, and practice is what does make one good at whatever. I've battled that all my life, so it's not new. But it's a good reminder that in this hobby, I'm just starting.

Thanks, Fongu.

3 carat ring, I'm on my way. Wait for me, all right? I've got 994 pennies to find and dig first!

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