TreasureGirl Posted September 27, 2007 Report Share Posted September 27, 2007 I'm going crazy out here on a 140-year-old campus without a metal detector and shovel (before you say I can't dig on school property, I realize this). But there should be buried "treasure" in the surrounding town, also, right? I guess what I want to know is: What should I do about getting a decent metal-detector on a poor-college-kid's budget? (Brands, types, etc.) Where are the best places for me to try (mid-Missouri)? I've heard wood-chip parks, but there don't seem to by any around here... or, there's a lot of construction lately, what are the chances of getting clearance for an evening (and, is it worth fighting through discarded nails and scrap)? How should I preserve/catalogue what I find? General tips for detecting successfully? /being a huge pirate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedeadpoint Posted September 28, 2007 Report Share Posted September 28, 2007 I'm going crazy out here on a 140-year-old campus without a metal detector and shovel (before you say I can't dig on school property, I realize this). But there should be buried "treasure" in the surrounding town, also, right? I guess what I want to know is: What should I do about getting a decent metal-detector on a poor-college-kid's budget? (Brands, types, etc.) Where are the best places for me to try (mid-Missouri)? I've heard wood-chip parks, but there don't seem to by any around here... or, there's a lot of construction lately, what are the chances of getting clearance for an evening (and, is it worth fighting through discarded nails and scrap)? How should I preserve/catalogue what I find? General tips for detecting successfully? /being a huge pirate You can't dig on school property (I know you said that up there.. just giving you a hard time) I'd look for areas freshly cleared of trees because they are just about to start a subdivision or stip mall. I've heard stories of people finding 1792 half dismes right before construction begins. Also even though trees existed before, they could have been from a new-growth forest that covered a previously habitable farm or something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
numismatic nut Posted September 28, 2007 Report Share Posted September 28, 2007 You don't have to dig to dig to get finds.You only need a knife and toothpichs.A knife to cut the sod,wood tooth picks to pin it back.As for meatal detectors,I own a bounty hunter.I sugest you read a meatal detector book by charles garret.He is a great auther and has his own line of detectors.But any book is good.I also like the urban treasure hunter.I saw a bounty hunter for kids at wal mart for $59.00 .I have found modern coins,and a bullet,but not much more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeabeeRon Posted September 28, 2007 Report Share Posted September 28, 2007 You don't have to dig to dig to get finds.You only need a knife and toothpichs.A knife to cut the sod,wood tooth picks to pin it back.As for meatal detectors,I own a bounty hunter.I sugest you read a meatal detector book by charles garret.He is a great auther and has his own line of detectors.But any book is good.I also like the urban treasure hunter.I saw a bounty hunter for kids at wal mart for $59.00 .I have found modern coins,and a bullet,but not much more. The quote above has it right! No massive holes requied! I just began coin hunting of few months ago and am having great fun. You mention you can't hunt on school property. Is this a private school? Out here schools (public) are fair game just as Public Parks are. I am mostly a beach hunter myself as we have many beautiful beachs to stroll and swing a detector! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottishmoney Posted September 28, 2007 Report Share Posted September 28, 2007 Hate to admit it, but my two older kids have $14.95 metal detectors that they have actually found handfuls of coins with at parks etc. around town. They have found exactly 1¢ at our house, but lots and lots of old tools from when the house was built in 1933. I wonder that if I get a Whites or a Garrett detector that I will find the lost gold hoard I keep dreaming that is hidden somewhere in the yard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gxseries Posted September 28, 2007 Report Share Posted September 28, 2007 I think I will have to hire several planes and install metal detectors on them Actually they really do that for mine exploration so don't laugh! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drusus Posted September 28, 2007 Report Share Posted September 28, 2007 A place called Ramseys Electronics sell Metal Detectors that you make yourself...they are real cheap...might look into something like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dockwalliper Posted September 28, 2007 Report Share Posted September 28, 2007 One of the best detectors for a reasonable price is the Garrett Ace 250. Don't waste your time and money on "toy" detectors. The detecting forums are great places for info and motivation. http://www.mytreasurespot.com/forums/index.php http://www.thetreasuredepot.com/index.html http://metaldetectingforum.com/index.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drusus Posted September 28, 2007 Report Share Posted September 28, 2007 just to clarrify, the one you build yourself from ramseys electronics is in no way a toy detector...it is a true metal detector...I built it and it most certainly works well...it just takes time because you have to build it from scratch from parts they send...but once you get it built it works well..there is just nothing worth finding where I live. Its best if you enjoy soldering A lot. I am sure they arent top of the line but I tested mine and it found the metal I buried. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottishmoney Posted September 28, 2007 Report Share Posted September 28, 2007 One of the best detectors for a reasonable price is the Garrett Ace 250. Don't waste your time and money on "toy" detectors.The detecting forums are great places for info and motivation. http://www.mytreasurespot.com/forums/index.php http://www.thetreasuredepot.com/index.html http://metaldetectingforum.com/index.php My kids are toy detectors, but they are actually pretty decent for a $15 detector. But then they do not have discriminating capability etc. That is what separates kids from adults. They want to find cheap pennies, I am looking for lost $20 pieces. I would ask for one for my birthday, but my wife will go to Radio Shack or Wally World for it. So maybe I should ask for the cash instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Art Posted September 28, 2007 Report Share Posted September 28, 2007 One of the best detectors for a reasonable price is the Garrett Ace 250. Don't waste your time and money on "toy" detectors.The detecting forums are great places for info and motivation. http://www.mytreasurespot.com/forums/index.php http://www.thetreasuredepot.com/index.html http://metaldetectingforum.com/index.php So like do you go with the 250 or the 250 Pro? Is KellyCo the cheapest and best place to buy one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TreasureGirl Posted September 28, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2007 Thanks for the help so far! As for searching on school property, they are really uptight about the landscaping, so no go here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
numismatic nut Posted September 28, 2007 Report Share Posted September 28, 2007 The garrets are top of the line.I think a bounty hunter is cheaper.My bounty hunter has a coin depth target indacator,squele tech noise reduction,and auto. ground ballence.I like a detector that has those features.A garret dosn't need the two latter,and thats why it dosn't have them.I have nothing bad to say about bounty hunter or garret,but for cologe budget,a bounty hunter is good.Do garrets pinpoint well? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbvenman Posted September 28, 2007 Report Share Posted September 28, 2007 I have a garret and I love it. It's built for more of a beginner, but the reduction, depth, and discriminator work pretty well. I've found mostly modern issues, but I've also found an antique ring and a jar full of square nails. Any metal detector will be a blast to play with, but imho, if you want to enjoy finding things, it's better to spend a little more and get a better detector. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbvenman Posted September 28, 2007 Report Share Posted September 28, 2007 Also, if you're going to use it on the beach, get a sand scoop or an old colander with larger holes. They are perfect for quickly sifting a target out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
numismatic nut Posted September 28, 2007 Report Share Posted September 28, 2007 I guess a cople of rules apply when getting a detector;they are:you get what you pay for;and,good things arn't cheap,and cheap thinga arn't good. Also don't bother sifting wet sand,it won't work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
just carl Posted October 10, 2007 Report Share Posted October 10, 2007 I'll go along with the Walmart, cheap, already put to gether types. I've seen them used at construction sites and worked fantastically. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dockwalliper Posted October 10, 2007 Report Share Posted October 10, 2007 To clearify what I mean by "Don't waste your time with toy detectors". I have a Walmart detector made by Bounty Hunter. It works fine, I've found lots of coins with it and it has paid for itself easily. But it was clad and memorial cents. I also have several other detectors, Garrett and Tesoro. If I took the Walmart detector over an area I would get shallow or larger targets. I could redo the same area with one of the other detectors and get deeper hits that the Walmart detector had missed. The cheaper detector will get good coins if they happen to be shallow but most of the good stuff, the keepers, are too deep. So if its keepers you are looking for...don't waste your time and money on a cheap detector. I burried a sliver dime in my yard 6 inches deep. The Walmart Detector didn't give a peep. The Garrett sounded off loud and clear. I dug a 1939 Mercury dime that was almost 10 inches deep with my Tesoro. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
numismatic nut Posted October 10, 2007 Report Share Posted October 10, 2007 Any Idea how bounty hunter detecters do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dockwalliper Posted October 10, 2007 Report Share Posted October 10, 2007 Any Idea how bounty hunter detecters do? Bounty Hunter make all the detectors for Walmart, radio Shack and Caballas (See my post above.) They do make much better models under their own name and they are competative with the big boys. You get what you pay for. A team with top of the line Bounty Hunter detectors came in second at this years Grand National hunt. http://www.thetreasuredepot.com/GNRS/2007standings.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Stilson Posted October 10, 2007 Report Share Posted October 10, 2007 Ditto on what Dock said. We really like the garrets. We went in going to get one. After we were in the shop looking my wife said she really wanted one too. Then the dealer cut us a deal on matching detectors. So I guess it worked out okay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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