METAL DETECTING

Ok newbie detectorists....here is what ya do to get used to your machine. If you got snow, take a big hunk of cardboard, tape different donimantions of coins on one side ( spread them out) a pull tab from a soda can, a nail, a silver coin or two if you have one. Flop it down on the ground where you can't see your target...run you detector over it and listen to the different sounds, see what your machine tells you. Play with the settings. This will get you used to hearing the different tones etc your machine makes. ( do this outside, using your detctor inside the house is a NO NO as all the metal in the house can seriously damage your control box...ie over load it)

When you swing your coil, swing it as close to the ground as you can get it without scraping it up ( hence the coil covers) swing slow. Make sure you don't have an arc on your swing like a pendulum or a sickle cutting weeds. Flat flat flat...slow slow slow. When you get a signal, move the coil in different directions, left to right, up and down, in an X pattern. If the signal is repeatable, you have pinpointed your target.

Sands and Mich, sorry for the few replies on the board, a couple of the guys are in the hospital or just got out and it may take awhile. You can also ask questions at www.detecting.com which is the Bounty Hunter website. They are great there also and don't mind questions about other brands. Try to hook up via PM with beetle226 as he is a dealer and has lots of info.
Hope this helps. Its a great hobby and I've found alot of neat rocks while out hunting.

Hey Xenas, that's all I've been doing so far really. I can hardly stand to see that thing sitting in the corner! I don't think that I'm going to be able to wait till it thaws to try something more serious. Thinking about making a survey of local areas where it might be worthwhile to scan the snow.

Ron

Ron, when did you get yours? I called to try and order one but the person who takes the orders was not there, the squeaky little voice told me, but they will call me back cause they have my number on their caller id. *smile*

Oooooooo civil war sites, now that would be interesting. Well I am now the proud new owner of the Garret Treasure ACE 250 ;D And woudn't you know, as soon as I ordered it the old man says, "I'll (meaning himself) probably have fun with that" .... POW! Right in the kisser *smile* I might not let him use it at all.

And I got the coil cover, padded headphones, rechargeable batteries, battery charger and carrying case as my free gifts. WooHooooo I can't wait.

This is true, we have designated areas around the Jamestown settlement and Williamsburg (both less than an hour away), there's also a fairly big treasurehunt club in this area. A buddy of mine had 12 metal detectors the last time that I saw him. He searches alot of old schools, a couple of them in this area are over 100 years old. Public areas are usually safe, but be sure that you cover up any holes that you make! Anytime that you dig in a grassy area, you should carefully cut the grass in a horseshoe pattern, lift the grass back and dig. This way, you can replace the grass after digging up the neighbor's yard. ;D lol