Tips for Using Your Metal Detector

No matter how simple or sophisticated the metal detector is that you choose, your first step is to read the instruction book!  Seriously; read it carefully.  Many of them have online tutorials available as well.  It’s not as simple as turning on the power and waiting for it to beep or make some kind of sound.  You need to know how to adjust its sensitivity and what the different sounds mean and how to take care of it.

Practice with several items until you become familiar with the sound it makes when it finds a pull-tab from a beer can, a nail, a coin, and a gold ring (for example).  It will save you time digging for junk that you don’t want.

When you’re ready to begin your search, turn on your metal detector and move it slowly over the area you want to search; and try to keep track of where you searched.

While many detectors allow you to choose what type of treasure you’re searching for, such as coins, allowing you to have it NOT beep when it comes across a pull-tab from a beer can or a nail, when you go to the beach, you will want to use your all-metal search option.  Why?  You have a higher chance of finding gold jewelry at the beach than anywhere else.  Due to gold’s low conductivity, if you tune out foil and pull-tabs, you might miss out on the gold as well.

Be aware that at ocean and gulf beaches, the salt can interfere with the signals on a lot of detectors.  You may have to adjust your sensitivity down until your signals stabilize.  You will lose some depth, but you still will be able to treasure hunt.

Wear headphones.  This will enhance your treasure-hunting experience in several ways.  It blocks out other sounds (radios, conversations, the wind) and allows you to focus on the beeps.  It is also courteous because the beeping won’t disturb others.  If kids hear beeping, they’ll want to interrupt you to find out what’s going on.  If you have headphones, they’ll assume you’re listening to music and are simply a little weird!

If you find an old coin or artifact, don’t clean it!  It can lower its value.  Forget the white vinegar and metal polish and jewelry cleaners.  Just use a soft brush to get rid of the superficial grunge, and carefully bathe it in water and pat it dry.  When in doubt, just put it into a baggie until you can have a professional inspect it.

Bring along something to kneel on, while digging for treasure, such as a rubber car floor mat or a garden kneeler.

Take two bags along, one for the trash you dig up (so you can dispose of it) and one for your treasure.

Bring along extra batteries to keep your metal detector operating at maximum power.

Use can use a carpenter’s tool belt to help keep you organized.  In it you can keep your digging equipment, a magnifying glass, extra batteries for the detector, and a small bottle of water.

Related Articles:  How to Choose a Metal Detector to Hunt for Treasure, Where to Find Buried Treasure with Your Metal Detector

4 Comments on Tips for Using Your Metal Detector

Where to Find Buried Treasure with Your Metal Detector | Gemologist Sam


[...] Related Articles:  How to Choose a Metal Detector to Hunt for Treasure, Tips for Using Your Metal Detector [...]

How to Choose a Metal Detector to Hunt for Treasure | Gemologist Sam


[...] Related Articles:  Where to Find Buried Treasure with Your Metal Detector, Tips for Using Your Metal Detector [...]

Douglas Reep


hello.

I own whites m6 metal detector with beach mode. Could please tell me how to setup for beach hunting and will it go deep enough to find targets. I cannot afford to purchase minelab excalibur II

sharpell


i would like to seach for gold in maine. There is lots of talk around panning for gold in maine but little information on use of a metal detector. Can you talk to this? thanks

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