Anyone ever swept an area with a magnet sweeper before detecting?

[MRBeyer]

I am a newb with a question. Has anyone tried clearing an area with a magnetic sweeper or rake before detecting? This would be a great way to provide an immediate service to the property owner in addition to quickly reducing the junk we find. However, does it "magnetize" an area with alot of halos?

 

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[cosmic]

I don't know about magnetizing anything in the ground because they are not that powerfull.. They will pick up metal from the surface of the ground, but will not pull it out of it even if very shallow.. Mostly used after construction to pick up suface nails.. I do have magnets on my digger to pull the iron and nails out before I pinpoint.. I also sweep the loose soil with it after a recovery and then sweep the area with my detector again..
Ray

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Never tried - beyond removing roofing nails around my own house after a new roof.

Most detectors will ignore iron if you set them to anyway, most metals we are seeking are non-ferris (not iron) and non-magnetic. Halos are not magnetic, but rather are interactions of the eddy currents on a target under the influence of a nearby detector coil. (I think it has something to do with ions in the soil/water present around a coin that accumulate over years). The soil will not "remember" a magnet that has passed over. If anything it might align the minerals in the soil like bulk-erasing a cassette tape so you can ground balance easier.

Speculation here. Have not heard it tried or know for certain.

 

[MRBeyer]

thanks for the insights. I figured it would be handy to have around the house even if it didn't work well in the field. As a newb it should help me with removing irritants at the surface. There was a Magna-Rake I didn't buy that would have helped loosen the nails and trash just below the surface. Didn't think it would be as easily accepted by the homeowner due to disturbing the soil to a greater degree.