Let me start by saying I haven't picked up a metal detector since about 1977 when my brother had this Radio Shack special. I was considering buying an E-Trac for about a year and in the meantime the CTX 3030 came out and after alot of thought (Will I use this thing enough to justify the cost? Can I lend it out to other people when I know I won't be using it to justify the cost? ). So I eventually pull the trigger and buy a CTX 3030 but the disc with the instruction manual didn't work in my computer. I headed out with it anyway hoping the factory programs would be good enough. I didn't even know what any of the buttons did or even how to reset things back to the factory settings. The first day out it went into overload mode twice and even shut itself off at one point as if it were trying to tell me something. I put a war nickel on the ground to check the readings a few times and I almost lost it. Anyhow, this is what I found in a real trashy park (border of the park near a highway overpass):
I must say I was quite adept at finding the digging tool with the pointer though. The penny is from 1993. Not even a wheat back or even pure copper.
So I go home and find a place to download the instruction manual (thanks to a link on this site) to try to make heads or tails out of what I was looking at on the screen and head out again this morning:
Here's a pic of the ring after I cleaned it a little:
Considering it's pitted like chrome on old cars and there is nothing stamped inside I assume it's plated and not pure silver (it was coming up 12-46). The quarter is from 2006. If you were looking for some newbie raging success story then I'm sorry to let you down.
Do most people sell their finds or just keep them? I can see collecting the coins but beat up wedding rings and such? I'm still having trouble getting a constant or near constant reading when I pass multiple times over a target before digging (It may say 10-33 the first time then 12-45 and then 17-46 and then 11-39) but I'm sure I'll get better at it. I'll post again when I find my first silver coin or better.
-Dave
I must say I was quite adept at finding the digging tool with the pointer though. The penny is from 1993. Not even a wheat back or even pure copper.
So I go home and find a place to download the instruction manual (thanks to a link on this site) to try to make heads or tails out of what I was looking at on the screen and head out again this morning:
Here's a pic of the ring after I cleaned it a little:
Considering it's pitted like chrome on old cars and there is nothing stamped inside I assume it's plated and not pure silver (it was coming up 12-46). The quarter is from 2006. If you were looking for some newbie raging success story then I'm sorry to let you down.
Do most people sell their finds or just keep them? I can see collecting the coins but beat up wedding rings and such? I'm still having trouble getting a constant or near constant reading when I pass multiple times over a target before digging (It may say 10-33 the first time then 12-45 and then 17-46 and then 11-39) but I'm sure I'll get better at it. I'll post again when I find my first silver coin or better.
-Dave
