Need advice...again....

[lisadee]

First of all THANK YOU to those who gave me advice on what MD to buy!!!! I bought the Ace 250!!! Second...I have a few more questions that I hope some of you can answer for me!

1. Can any headphones be used in MD's? Should I get the kind that covers the ear completely...or can I get a pair of lightweight ones?

2. Does anyone know if Tybee Island, Georgia allows MD'ing OR where can I look to find out?

3. Do I need one of those scoop thingies that everyone has? Where can I get one? How much do they run?

4. Don't laugh at this one... ..... what is clad?

Thanks so much!!! I really appreciate the help/advice!!!!!!!!!!

 

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[KevGA]

Howdy again, lisa.? Happy to hear about your purchase, it will serve you well.? As far as your questions, the old saying "there's no such thing as a stupid question" couldn't be more true around here.

Headphones are kind of a personal preference, and you will hear many arguments supporting/disputing the use of both styles. I personally use the cover the ear type, I find it helpful that they block out more of the outside sounds than the lightweights do.? The downside is that they can and do get a little uncomfortable out in the hot weather, but not so bad that it has made any sort of lasting effect.? About the only real have to have is the correct jack size.? On the 250 (and most all others I believe) it is a standard 1/4 inch stereo size, so your walkman headphones will not work without an adapter.

According to the City of Tybee Island beach rules, there does not appear to be any regulation against metal detectors on the beach.? You will want to check the signs when you get there, and also be aware that they do have nesting turtles.? You can view the applicable municiple code here:

http://www.cityoftybee.org/code/Municipal_Code/title_9/5/1.html

The main city site is here:

http://www.cityoftybee.org/

Scoops on the beach are a must in my opinion.? I tried it without one and was pretty frustrated.? Depending on the model and type you are looking at anywhere from $40 - $200. There is a multitude of places to get the, one popular place online is Reilly's Treasured Gold down here in Florida.? Kevin Reilly is a super nice guy and has a pretty good selection, and ships quick via UPS.? Check out or ask him about his blemished stuff, they are fully functional but may just have a crooked weld or something to that effect, and are a bit cheaper:

http://www.rtgstore.com/

Last, clad is coinage that has a center layer and an outside layer made of a different metal.? Take a quarter or dime out of your pocket and turn it on it's side so you can see the edge.? See the two different colors sandwiched together? Voila', it's clad.? There are certain dates associated with what we consider clad coins, a basic way to look at it for quarters and dimes is that all quarters and dimes 1965 and newer are clad, but by doing the above visual test you don't have to even look at the dates.

I'm sure more knowledgable folks here will give you a more in depth look at clad, but you should stop at Walmart or a coin store and pick up the Red Book of coins (there is a new 2005 ed. out now) for about 10 bucks, it gives lots of super pics, info and general values of anything you may find (U.S. denominations).

Good luck and have fun!

 

[wmas1960]

Seems like everything has been pretty well said. Personally, I haven't used headphones so I don't have any specific recommendations. My White's XLT came with a set. I don't recall them being a full size set. I would have to dig them out and see but I think they were a lightweight type that does cover the ear but isn't like those hearing protection things you see people wearing around jets and such. I would consider starting with the type you can get at places like Walgreens. The type with the foam pads on them. I don't know that I would use the inside the ear, earplug type. I think the thought of eliminating some of the surrounding or ambient noise might be a good idea but I would be reluctant to wear something that might keep me from hearing when someone is shouting at me. Personally, I would feel more comfortable being able to hear some of what is happening around me.

As for a scoop, I have 2. One I got from someone on eBay. It was a yellow plastic scoop that is lightweight and not very expensive. I got that to leave down in Florida so that I wouldn't need to take my good one back and forth. The other one, I bought for here at home. It is a, fairly heavy guage steel scoop with a padded handle. I don't recall the prices but don't think the scoops I bought were that expensive. Probably about $20 for the plastic one and about $40 for the metal. I don't have one with the long handles. Mine are just the simple ones that would require you to bend over and scoop or dig with them. I am especially happy with the metal one.

This one looks like the metal one I have....

http://www.rtgstore.com/scoops/goldscooplarge.jpg

This might be similar to the plastic one. It has been so long since I saw it that I don't recall if it was round like the metal one or squared off like the plastic one pictured. I do recall it being yellow though.

http://www.rtgstore.com/diggingtools/twbluescoopbig.jpg

 

[T-Rex]

First of all THANK YOU to those who gave me advice on what MD to buy!!!!? I bought the Ace 250!!! Second...I have a few more questions that I hope some of you can answer for me!

1.? Can any headphones be used in MD's?? Should I get the kind that covers the ear completely...or can I get a pair of lightweight ones??

2.? Does anyone know if Tybee Island, Georgia allows MD'ing OR where can I look to find out?

3.? Do I need one of those scoop thingies that everyone has?? Where can I get one?? How much do they run?

4.? Don't laugh at this one... ..... what is clad?? ?

Thanks so much!!! I really appreciate the help/advice!!!!!!!!!!

1. Only if you want to... the ACE 250 is a bit loud and there is no volume control so if you want to keep it quiet... go to Radio Shack for an adaptor to fit the ACE to your existing headphones.

2. Sorry no clue

3. Only at the beach... check out ebay for the best deal

4. Clad = common coins you'll find

You made the right choice by going with a ACE 250, you'll have fun with it guaranteed!

 

[mike98000]

Hi Lisa,

I just got my 250 a couple of weeks ago. I got headphones but now I find I dont use them. The only time I thought I needed them was when I was near a road and the traffic was so loud I couldn't hear the speaker. But it was really LOUD traffic. In general I find the speaker too loud so I put tape over the speaker slots and that quieted it a little bit. Also the 250 has no volume control which I think is odd since it would cost about nothing for them to build into it. So I was told I needed headphones with volume controls but the ones I got are not very comfortable.

I think one weakness of the 250 is the manual. It really doesn't tell you much about the operation of the unit such as the different tones and how to pinpoint. So get out there and practice and you will be a lot happier once you figure out how the thing actually works. Read some of the recent threads about the 250 and ask questions and you will get it figured out.

Mike

 

[jeff of pa]

I only glanced over the posts here. Maby I missed it, But...........

The main Difference in Headphones, Size of Jack & Stereo or MONO.

You need to know, which your detector has.

 

[lisadee]

Thanks for all of the advice! I can't wait to get started!!!! I'll be sure to let you all know how I do when I get back from the beach!!!!

 

[T-Rex]

bring back a big diamond ring!

 

[TOWcritter]

Hey lisadee, as long as you're in the area you should shoot on over to Hilton Head and hit the beaches there. In front of the big hotels is the place to search. I went at 6 AM and caught the sunrise. Most of my finds were clad but I'm sure there's other goodies waiting under the sand. Check between the high tide line and the dunes. Make sure to put on repellant or the sand fleas will eat you alive. Good luck. Post lots of pics .

 

[lisadee]

What kind of repellant keeps of sand fleas? I never knew such a thing existed!

Thanks again for the advice everyone!

 

[Charles]

Modern coins got the name clad because coins like dimes and quarters use to be made of soild silver. Now they are made from different metals sandwiched.

 

[Xraywolf]

I will add -

1) If you get headphones, make sure to get a stero set so you can hear the ding with both ears, and also one with an audio adjustment - That ding would be too loud without it.

3) Scoop - Only at the beach.

4) Clad - As mentioned, is pretty much just common pocket change.
Something to be found, saved in a jug, then cashed in.
Any half,quarter or dime 1965 and up is common clad - 1964 and down is 90% silver, and worth more than face value.
Pennies - Most MD's consider Wheat pennies as keepers - 1909 to 1958. Obviously, any penny older than that is a keeper too.
Nickels - Not much worth of anything with the Jefferson nickels we know today.
The 'wartime Jefferson nickels' 1943-45 were/are 30% silver, are worth more than face value, and would certainly be a decent find.
Any nickel, Buffalo/Liberty V's, that came before the Jeffersons are certainly keepers also.
Certain coins, as you are no doubt aware, have very high premiums for certain dates/mint marks.
You can even hit paydirt with common clad coins looking for various errors/die clashes ect, so it could very well pay to know what to look for.
You could get well over $10,000 if you found a penny from 1969 with a certain mint error
http://www.pcgs.com/prices/frame.chtml?type=date&filename=lincoln_cent_mod , so by all means get yourself a price guide and glance over your finds ... And pocket change, before cashing it in.

 

[T-Rex]

actually silver is in 1963 and before U.S. coins...

 

[Einstein]

No the previous posts are correct. 1964 is the last year any change was made of value. So it would be any quarter dime or half that is 1964 or older would be worth more than face value It also was the first year of the kennedy half dollar which is 90% silver and the only year it was 90% then halves from 65-69 were 40% but only proof sets have any silver in them now. So when i find anything older than 64' I keep it. everything else (clad) goes into that coinstar machine at the local supermarket, and turned into cash. The ground grows at about 6" per 100 years or so im told. so anything older should atleast be a few inches if not 4-8" underground. Good luck and DO NOT MISS THE IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE ACE250'S ACTUAL PINPOINT SPOT. It is not in the middle as you would think and takes just a little getting used to. PS Since your new and your arms will hurt after the first few days, maybe find a park with sand or a beach and dig up everything to get the hang of it. If you are going to be doing beach hunts regularly then I suggest a long handled sand scoop for less bending over and more finding. Good luck, and ask questions like theres no tommorow. (because there isnt its already today)

 

[jeff of pa]

actually silver is in 1963 and before U.S. coins...

1964 & older.

1965 was the first Clad Year