new guy in town

[fongu]

Hi everybody. I own a GTI2500 that I purchased in December-2007 and thought it was time I joined this metal detecting community. I had a lot of problems when I first got my unit and really burned up the email box to Melinda at Garrett's help desk. I have found out that most of the problems were mine and not the 2500. They are a nice bunch of folks. I have a lot of problems with detecting such as getting a B target and it not being a coin and stuff like that. So, I dig everything. The oldest coin I have found is a 1901 Indian head penny and some regular quarters and other change. My biggest problem is that I don't get to metal detect very much and it seems to be a new learning experience each time I go out. I should have started out with a smaller unit, but I wanted the best and if you combine the best unit such as the 2500 with no experience, you have a learning curve. I am disabled with back and neck injuries and it is hard to get out and detect as much as I want and digging my targets is even harder. I haven't been out in about 3 months now and the heat in the deep south is keeping me inside also. I look forward to joining this forum and hopefully will be able to go out detecting very soon and share my finds with y'all. Any tips or advice would be wonderful and I look forward to getting to know everybody. Don't know much about computers or how to post pictures, but I look forward to learning how to do it.

 

[big john]

WELCOME TO FIND TREASURE FORUMS FROM BIG JOHN

 

[cwilk]

Practice is the only way to get there. I think the best place to start is some site where there are a whole lot of coins like the bark chips at an unhunted playground. After digging 200 or 300 coins in a short period of time (say a week) you'll have the hang of it. Pinpointing is the key to IDing and imaging targets accurately. The 2500 is not all that complicated. There are detectors out there that are much more difficult to master. Try lower sensitivity of around 6 too.

An Indian head cent is a good find. I sure wish I could dig more.

If you're sitting inside a lot go back and read older posts here. There is a nice search feature which will help you find what you're looking for. When it gets hot and humid here I go out around 6 am and I'm usually home by 9 am.

Chris

 

[rglyons]

Hey Fongu,

I've got about the same problems too - bad back, one bad knee and congestive heart failure keep me from a lot of tecting. I find if a kid (rug rat on up) comes by usually I
can talk them into digging for me if their mommy doesn't mind. I let them keep all modern coins found and just keep the older coins. This usually amounts to them making from $1 to $5 dollars and it sure helps my back and knees. Worth it to me!!!! Sometimes they want to try to detect themselves so I probably need to purchase another 250 and shorten the stem so they can swing it better. Never hurts to introduce a newbie to the hobby and show them how to cover holes.
I also let them keep most all matchbox cars found. This seems to work for me. I've got a pretty large collection of cars and only keep the ones I don't have.
Note: I only do this at tot lots!!!!!!! If research and development finds an old site, I'll detect it by myself.

 

[Uncle Willy]

Welcome aboard and we look forward to your visits, success, and pics of any finds. You made the same mistake many Newbies make, buying more detector than they can handle instead of starting simple and working their way up. I ran into that a lot when I was running the Garrett Classroom years back. Many of the users were blaming the detector for their failures but I showed them the error of their ways and turned them all into happy campers.

With your back and neck problems you really picked the wrong machine ( one of the heaviest out there ). If you can swing it you need to pick up a 250 which should allow you to get out more as it is half the weight of the 2500, better balanced, and is a real coin magnet. I've got a lousy back so know where you're coming from. I use my 2500 very little for that reason. Good luck.

Bill

 

[John-Edmonton]

You took the challenge for learning a top end machine and won! It truly is a great machine. I like to hunt in relics mode, with the sesitivity set as high as I can run it before it becomes unstable.

 

[RickIowa2009]

Welcome, have fun finding coins. Make a test plot in your back yard, and see how your detector works!

 

[fongu]

thanks everybody. I plan to buy a 250 model in the very near future. some of my church members are interested in metal detecting and I thought I would use it to introduce them to the fun of metal detecting. I also plan to buy one of the new pin pointers also. when you are digging a hole and trying to use the 2500 to pin point, it gets very awkward and heavy. I have several of Mr. Garrett's books and one video, which have helped me a lot. The biggest problem I have is getting anyone to let me metal detect on private property. Research is not my strong point right now, but I am working on it. I know about the Sanford maps and hope to get some topos of my area for research purposes. Uncle Willy, you are on target about the 2500 being too, much detector for a newbie and the weight is definitely a factor with anyone, but especially someone who has spinal problems.

 

[dirtdiver74]

Welcome to the Forum my friend. Trust me, you'll get to learn the 2500, its a great MD, in my opinion, I would recommend to dig all at the beginning so you can get to know the sounds of what you are digging, that way in the future, you'll have a better idea of whats under your coil. Regarding what you find (hopefully good stuff) always have fun, take your time. Remember to be safe when digging, don't want you to get a cut in your hand.

Good luck!

Paul

 

[metalhead]

Welcome to the forum!This is a wonderful community and a great place to share info! I'm a disabled veteran and I can certainly sympathize with you having difficulties detecting. I've been metal detecting for over twenty years now (since before I became disabled) and it's really second nature to me. However, I am not able to treasure hunt nearly as often as I would like to due to my conditions. It is definately a very wonderful hobby to just get out and get the blood flowing when able. You might want to try out those bungy cord/chest harness things that KellyCo sells for about $20. I use them with my heavier detectors and they really do make the machine seem weightless. Best of luck to ya'.Feel free to ask for advice at any time. Happy Hunting!

 

[Uncle Willy]

Yeah you definetly need something lighter and better balanced. That way you could get out more and enjoy the hobby without killing yourself. I don't know what your physical restrictions are in regards to bending over but I never get down on my knees. I use a 24 inch probe to locate my target then use a long, large screwdriver to pop the coin out of the ground. I never dig holes, maybe a plug once in awhile if a coin is real deep. I have a diagram in the archives on how to pop coins. With this method you leave little evidence that anyone was ever there.

Bill

 

[marcomo]

Listen to Uncle Willy. The 2500 has a rep as an excellent machine but the one negative I hear over and over is the weight.

If you are disabled with back and neck injuries than nothing is more important for you than getting a light weight detector.

There are a lot of great detectors out there that weigh less than half as much as the 2500.

 

[fongu]

Hey uncle willy,
what search terms do I use to find how that diagram to pop those coins without getting down on my arthritic knees. do I type uncle willy's coin popping diagram? I'm not lazy, just dumb.