90 Year Old House Yields NOTHING!

[Chibuya]

Hi everyone...
Can't wait for my ACE 250 to show up tomorrow. I live in a 90 year old house and have yet to really search the surroundings having lost the MDing bug for a bit.

Well, I pulled out my old White's 4900 DL Max, worked the area for several hours and found a bunch of rusty old nails, a clad 1976 dime and a pull tab. I can't believe this house has nothing to yield. To be honest, I never really learned how to use the White's machine very well. When I bought it, I had no access to the internet (12 yrs ago) and now there is really not much online as to how use this machine since it is older. For those of you who are familiar with the 4900, I had all the settings at the "P" mode. I'm fairly sure the yards here have never been searched given how picky the landlord is, but I could be wrong I suppose.

I'm really hoping I will see a huge differance once I get the Ace out.

Any suggestions or thoughts?

Thanks,
Stacey

 

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[diggummup]

I don't own the Ace-250,but everyone on here (and there are a bunch) is very happy with theirs.I hear it's a easy unit to use and learn.As for the house,detect where there may have been an old clothesline,(very popular back in the day) search under and around any old trees,along the edges of the driveway (if it has one).The areas right around the doorways are always good,front and back.If the house has a crawlspace,then thats always a good spot (and it's the right time of year for it,no snakes or spiders).If it has a porch,under that is good (same as crawlspace).Does the house have a basement? or a storm cellar? any outbuildings? Have you crawled around in your attic lately? Don't even need a detector for that one! Anyways,hope this helps,good luck and let us know how the Ace perfoms for you when you get it! We'll be anxiously waiting for your reply! -diggummup

 

[TreasureTales]

Welcome to the forum. I don't know when you expect to receive your Ace 250, but in the meantime you could email White's and ask if they have an instruction manual for the model you own. They might be able to mail a copy to you or they might be able to direct you to a webpage that explains the operation of the machine.

As diggummup suggests, try all the usual areas that are common locations for lost items. I also like flower beds. 90 years old should mean a carriage house, if you live in an area that hasn't been densely populated. A carriage house would equate to a garage today. Good place to find relics and occasionally coins. Good luck and hope to see your treasure pix when you start using that new Ace.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

You can find Whites manuals online. Try this http://www.whiteselectronics.com/manuals/Coinmaster Manuals/

 

[Gribnitz]

You have time since you live there. Grid the area and do small 10x10 sections at a time going slow and over lapping swings. It helps using string and tent stakes and just flipping one end over to make the next 10x10 area. Start with high disc and get the easy targets, then lower the disc after you covered the area and do it all over again for the deeper stuff. I found front yards seem to have more stuff than the backyards. Don't know why, you would think the kids would drop more in the backyard.

 

[roswellborn]

...I found front yards seem to have more stuff than the backyards. Don't know why, you would think the kids would drop more in the backyard.

Kids are less likely than adults to be carrying loose change, especially 90 years ago. Or even 30 years ago.

Unless they're headed to the store or the ice cream wagon - and then they'd wind up going thru the front yard.

Dang. I wish I'd thought of that earlier! I've been huntin' the back yard of my 80 yr old house. Sheesh.

HH
Nan

 

[Chibuya]

Thanks all!

I have re-read the manual to see if I missed anything as far as directions. It did take me a bit of time to get reacquainted with the White's. I plan on getting to know my Ace better than I know my route to and from work.

I'm wondering if perhaps something might be wrong with this detector and I'll find loads of things with the new Ace.

The landlord is currently digging trenches for new water piping which got me re-interested in the hobby.

I live in Pasadena CA, in an old Craftsman, which I mentioned the landlord says is 90 years old. Has a front house, middle house which I live in and a two car garage in the back with a tiny area that has been converted to a single occupancy studio.

I did check around the porch and typical areas with not much luck. I wish I could find really old photos of the house to see how it looked years ago.

Anyhow, will let you know how things progress!

Stacey

 

[DiggingFl]

Hopefully its just the detector and someone hasn't already hunted it out. Good luck with the new 250.

 

[stefen]

Lesson learned...if you grid using tent stakes...make sure that they are anything but metal

 

[Night Stalker]

Don't give up that easily! I'm sure there's something in the ground somewhere at a house that old, everybody drops something from time to time.

Try overlapping your sweeps into a tighter pattern and working small areas at a time. Good luck!

 

[CDMakaKvM]

Sounds like you answered your own question saying you haven't learned to use the 4900 Di, which is a fine detector. Don't expect to find more coins with the ACE, unless you master your instrument You must, you MUST master your instrument. The best advice I can give is build your own test plot and practice with it. NOTHING beats practice, including a new detector. I've been treasure hunting for about 17 years now and I've owned many detectors including new detectors with lcd readout and fancy circuitry. I've now gone back to the totally manual detectors, prefering them over the new ones. I now own and use a Garrett ADS 5 and a White's 5900Di.
Remember, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE and you'll do fine. Good luck with your new detector!