I have always wanted to metal detect but I have never been able to find a good unit. Any suggestions on specific make/models?
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This makes me want to buy my own metal detector. I'm definitely interested..
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Very cool. Funny thing is you could probably hit that same 2 miles 10 more times and find something new each pass.

My dad went with a friend down to some early colonial settlements along the east coast years ago. It was actually "gridded" in that metal detector guys setup string grids like archeologists do at a dig and focus a couple guys on a small 10'x10' section at a time. This was done BEFORE my dad and his buddy went and still his friend found a $5 gold coin from the mid 1800s. Similar to this, but from an earlier year

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More on those:
http://www.coinsite.com/content/faq/five$.asp
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You know it's fun and it's an outdoor activity you can do in almost any city/town. That means cigar friendly too. Not to mention the detectors usually pay for themselves in common (non-collectable) coins pretty quickly anyway.
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Can you guys take a picture of your usual 'kit' you take with you? I am assuming its something like a hand shovel, metal detector, and maybe a bigger shovel if you have a high power one? I am just trying to get a feel for what I would need.
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My dad would always have stereo headphones. Most metal detectors have the larger headphone jack that work with the nice noise-cancelling headphones. It makes it a lot easier to pickup the sound pitch. This is key for getting to know your detector as they make different pitch sounds for different metal types. Once you get used to it you'll be able to tell silver from aluminum without a guage or visual indicator.

Next you want shovel that is narrow as not to leave a big mess. Basically when you dig you want to create a plug with grass on it that can go right back in the hole and look as if nobody disturbed it. My dad uses one like this. (sorry for the small picture)
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The entire thing is no more than 3.5 inches wide and a foot long. It seems to work better than any other variation he's tried.

The only other item he usually has is some kind of cheap 2-pocket bag/apron that he could tie around his waist or sling overhead/shoulder. Basically one pocket for junk and the other for valuables/coins. You dont want to put items caked in mud/dirt into your pants pockets.
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Any idea on where to pick up that slender shovel?
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HA! found it...Only $10!

14" NARROW STAINLESS STEEL TROWEL METAL DETECTOR SHOVEL

http://cgi.ebay.com/14-NARROW-STAINL...-/400189393195

larger (maybe too big picture of it)

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Lots of good links here:
http://www.prospectingchannel.com/indexEquip1.html
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After a very bland week after the Fourth, I finally decided to make a major change and move from sight searching to detecting. There are several detectorists on my stretch that I regularly compare notes with. My area produces both old and new finds- the guys that regularly surf-search leave a lot of ground to cover, and the sand shifts pretty quickly. Even though I'm holding my own with the number of pieces, I KNOW I'm missing a ton of stuff...

I went with a Whites Surf P.I., an older one I won on-line. Got a great deal for a nice machine- I'm really starting out a level higher than I should be, but I have some support so I hope to do OK.

The Surf P.I. has great depth penetration (12''-15" in wet sand, so say the reviews), more than most machines, so I'm hoping to find some pieces the other fellas miss. The Surf P.I. also has a reputation for picking up EVERYTHING, so I also expect to come out with a lot of trash and relics, too.

Whatever, it should be fun. Can't wait till the machine and my new scoop arrive! Stay tuned!
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Metal detector still has not arrived. I continue to sight search while I am waiting. Found five or six pairs of sunglasses, a few matchbox cars, etc. Best finds this week:

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A great little Winchester side-folder that I now carry, a locket bracelet (the chain was broken when I found it), and #9 gold: another hoop earring. They tend to stay on the surface, I think.

It's Friday and no detector. I was really hoping for it by the weekend. Ah, well.
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I see a lot of folks metal-detecting on Virginia Beach.
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This week's stuff:

1: .417 marked (10k) gold earring- found sight searching Sat

Metal detector arrived yesterday. Went out this morning before work. Found-

2: .417 marked gold earring (I find a lot of these, it seems)

3: Sterling (marked 925) silver celtic style ring

also found 30+ nails, a cellphone, some junk earrings, and a pair of souvenir nail clippers from Cambodia. But wow, silver AND gold on DAY ONE!

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nice finds.
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Very nice! What brand is that knife?
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Winchester.

OK, so I've had my detector for 10 days. Here is a list of my total targets recovered:

179 Nails
81 Unidentifiable
36 Aluminum "nuggets" (Melted pop cans from campfires)
25 Staples
18 Screws
17 Bottle caps
11 Junk earrings
6 Matchbox cars
4 Springs
3 Pull tabs
3 Bolts
2 Tent pegs
2 Butter Knives
2 Bungee cords
2 Silver rings
2 Junk rings
2 Keys
2 Lighters
1 Washers
1 Pliers
1 Allen wrench
1 Spoon
1 Cellphone
1 Gold earring
1 Proximity card
1 Blackberry travel charger
1 Sifter
1 D-ring
1 Hand rake
1 Hammer
1 Screwdriver
1 AA Battery
1 Fishing lure
1 Tire pressure gague
1 Laser Pointer
1 12ga shotgun shell
1 Pipe piece
1 Zipper pull
1 Pocket knife

39 Pennies
1 Nickel
14 Dimes
25 Quarters (Total $8.09)
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haha, tiki hut, you found all the dropped items in the area. That's what you have to do to find Gold, I find.
I have my discrimination set so high I only find silver and copper for the most part. But I don't dig many nails or pull tabs.
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That's the problem with a Pulse Indicator (PI) machine, no discrimination.

Then again, today I found a coin under an iron target... who knows what might get missed... dig it all, I say!
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Well, I think I'll post my finds from 2011. To recap: for the first half of the year I was beachcombing. I started finding gold jewelry by sight- so I went out and bought a metal detector (a White's Surf PI) and now spend about 8-10 hours a week in the surf. I was able to keep it up through December with the addition of waders and neoprene.

So here come the pics. Hope you enjoy.

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Large metal stuff. This is from a swimming beach, too...

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Assorted odd items. i probably cleaned up 10 times this much stuff; most of it goes directly in the trash can.

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Some tools. I found another hammer, too, an Estwing. That just stayed in the car.

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