A screwdriver is IMO... impossible to use to dig... this to me makes zero sense.
I dont know WHO or where this orignated... but they should be banned from detecting or speaking about it. heh
Furthermore...you might need to go have your marbles counted if you use one.
A screwdriver OR anything even remotely similar is the absolute worse thing possible you could choose to try and use to retrieve an item...
I would LOVE to see a video of someone attempting OR using one. (for humor purpose only lol)
Whoever uses something like that ridiculousness.... should be guided to correct retrieval before they gauge a historical item.
I have watched seasoned folks (even after years myself) retrieve targets quickly, efficiently, and totally stealth in detecting using the screwdriver method(no signs of disturbance).
It's ok that you don't get it-nor do a lot get the recovery using some cumbersome sand scoop.
Put a wood chisel in most hands, and the outcome is blood eventually-in the hands of a woodcarver/woodworker it's tool that enhances their abilities.
As do the Clad/ring hunters in parks retrieving 100's of targets in a period of a few hours, digging machines, leaving no trace.
(Yes I have read the argument that the scoop slices and dices the hardest of any sub straight known to man with quick efficiency as the hot knife/soft butter thing)
Though I will say this that If the park staff witnessed a sand scoop digging in the parks that I had frequented it would be boot out. The same went for shovels, they had no part of "Yahoo's digging up the gardens". (their quote)
It comes down to optics-simple as that.
I have lost a permission because of that very simple word "Optics"
Person wore a frigging neon vest-out in the middle of a frigging field-like what the fark really, did he think an imaginary something was going to run him over?
No it was a simple habit-downing the neon wear to play the part of something that wasn't nor needed in the rural.
The permission told me a couple of years later that was it, he didn't need the attention of this type of large billboard character running around on his property. (it was the straw that broke the back timing also)
Simple optics of what we do in the eyes of the world-if everyone thought before going out-there wouldn't even be a discussion on this-but there's a lot of folks that don't consider the optics of this hobby.
Now I have found that if the target is past a certain depth-then a screw driver is screwed.
What is the ground conditions-say/loamy/rooty/clay/gravel/rocky all have a factor on what tool works the best.
But sometimes a person has to pick the tool of optics just to pass the eye test of the unknowing general public.
To them we're digging huge holes-the bloody groundhog in Caddy Shack had nothing on us digging in the
"Nosey Old Bitty's" park across the street from that picture window of worldly knowledge that they use.
The one that the LEO rolls up-the bloody push bars just a few feet away from the ankles-the yell out of "What the fark are you doing!" or the calm "How ya doing" or the pleasant "Having any luck?"
"We had a report of somebody digging huge holes in the park (head swings back and forth-the eyes scanning for holes) the ever present hidden smirk on the mouth) and we have to check it out"
Yes sir, just detecting, see no holes, you're just doing your job.
"Have a good day-good luck"
www.scottishfloyd.com
