Newbie Detecting Frustration!

[UnrepentantSinner]

My buddy and I are new to detecting, really have enjoyed the times we have been out so far, but we are getting frustrated that all we are finding is trash, nails, wire, metal junk. Nothing good, no coins, maybe some brass fittings here and there but that is it. Getting tired of digging all this trash with nothing to show for it. I realize that we will have to dig a lot but it seems like we are doing something wrong. I'm running an AT Gold, I forget what he has, its a lower end detector.

We are hunting old home sites, foundations, etc. Seems like every hit i get on the AT Gold is not a single number reading on the screen but always jumps all over the place. I've been doing some searching trying to find some pointers but not getting anything that seems helpful.

We are hunting in KS, no detecting clubs close to us, and getting discouraged. Any helpful hints, tips, or tricks would be greatly appreciated.

 

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[Terry Soloman]

Your machine is a gold nugget hunter operating at 18kHz, so it is SUPER sensitive to iron. You must learn to discriminate. Watch these videos..

 

[Tom_in_CA]

In addition to what terry says , I would add this : Don't start as a newbie trying cellar holes, foundations , and ruins type sites . I know you want the wickedly old coins (don't we all !! ). Instead start at easier clad spots ((modern sandboxes, or urban yards that only date to the 1950's, etc...). Get practice there, and THEN move on to hardcore places.

 

[luvsdux]

Tot lots and older parks that have had lots of human traffic are always good for clad although you'll learn to deal with pull tabs etc. pretty well, also. Older coins and silver are becoming rarer all the time, but you never know what you'll get till it's retrieved. The better and longer you stay with it, the more your luck and finds will improve. I know - been there, done that.
luvdux

 

[gleaner1]

Aint much left to find this late in the game but the thrill of finding an old oldie is even more sweet. Just keep at it.

 

[LM]

Metal detecting is like a lot of other hobbies that suffer from grand illusion syndrome.

Usually starts with someone who sees someone else metal detecting, then recalls that 'great old spot' that they're just sure is filled with all manner of treasures, their imagination runs wild, they buy a machine but unfortunately, reality doesn't live up to the image. In this regard, it's like playing guitar. For every person who buys a guitar and becomes a guitarist, there are 10 others in their wake who bought a guitar and realized it was hard work, put it in a closet and forgot about it.

Its up to you to decide if you want to become a serious detectorist or not. Looking in the 'finds' forum can be frustrating after a week digging tabs and foil but remember, a lot of these people are showing what amounts to the grand culmination of a years work, digging the same trash you're presently digging. Also, without pointing any fingers or calling out any names, there are unquestioningly a few 'fantasists' on there who are claiming to have found things with their MDs that they really purchased at market value.

The short of it is, it takes work. Like sales, knock on a lot of doors before you get someone who says yes, you dig a lot of holes before finding something worthwhile. Even then, with the buying power of the dollar in the garbage, unlike years past when coming home with a few bucks in change might have at least bought a McDonalds dinner, a handful of change seems like an awfully meager reward for all that kneeling and digging... but, then the day comes when you find something good.

If you do the math, divide the number of hours you spend detecting by the value of the object, well, this is why its a hobby.

You're at the decision phase now. You've tried it, you've seen the reality, not you decide whether to take it up or put it down.

 

[treasurehound]

Don't get frustrated. Sounds like you are on some good spots but you need to get a little more familiar with your machine. Like someone said earlier try some tot lots or parks and get used to what the signals are telling you. Bury some coins and learn what the tones are. My folks live in Kansas and I go back about once or twice a year. They are in a very old town and every place has wheats and indian heads. I hunted an old carnival site used from late 1800's to 1940's and found tons of wheats, indian heads and some silver. The best was there was no clad anywhere. A 1941 mercury dime was the newest coin and the oldest was an 1874 indian head. Once you learn your machine you too will be finding coins like this. What part of Kansas are you from?

 

[Rawhide]

Lots of good advice here. Those sites may have to be peeled away in layers, so start shallow. By reducing your sensitivity, and raising the Discrimination, you will produce more better finds. But the trash will have to come out also.

 

[dirtfisher23]

It sounds like you've been watching that Treasure Hunting show on TV.
Don't waste your time. It's baloney...very misleading. Like the others have said...start
in simple places...sports fields...yards(get permission of course) and practice your
digging technique. Get yourself a hand pin-pointer; it will save you heaps of time
locating your targets. As for digging trash, that's expected. DIG EVERYTHING or miss
out on the rings. You probably should have started with a less expensive detector.
The Ace 350 would have been a wise start, but you have a great detector in the AT GOLD.
Watch those videos that were posted. You should have gotten a DVD with your purchase.
Go over it again and again.

You'll get the hang of it. The AT Gold comes with the smaller coil, 5x8. You'll probably want
to get the 8x11 like the AT Pro comes with. I have it on the Ace 350.

Patience and practice. I'm sure there are many places you can detect.

Dirtfisher23

 

[63bkpkr]

Do you have a "Test Garden"? This would be a patch of ground where you plant various targets at different depths and then use it to practice on. First though you want to clear out all the targets already in this piece of ground. Could help you to learn the machine you have...................63bkpkr

 

[UnrepentantSinner]

Thanks for the replies. I figured I just need more time on my machine in some parks where there isn't so much trash everywhere. I will keep at it, really like the hobby, just discouraged. Lol, I thnk it is partly to do with those dang treasure hunting shows, make it look too easy. That and everyone on here seems to find great stuff all the time.

I will definately watch those vids a couple times and get my discrimination down and make me a test garden...it all comes back to the basics and time on the machine.

I think getting a pro pointer will help. I'm in North West Kansas, so everything is dry and hard here, makes digging a challenge sometimes.

Thanks for the good advise, this forum is invaluable.

 

[Jarl]

Is it my imagination or is the guy in the video swinging that coil way too fast?? I try to never swing that fast. If I can swing my AT that fast, then I should be able to wipe out a park in no time...with tons of finds. Hmm...I also noticed that when he turns IRON AUDIO on, it really buzzes...mine does not do this over iron like his(or nearly as much)...should there be a difference between the AT Gold and Pro using Iron Audio??

 

[JunkShopFiddler]

All these posts are great advice! Best, in my opinion, is turn your sensitivity down and "notch out" the junk completely until you have mastered what the good signals sound like...Once you are completely familiar with the good signals add a few more accepted notches back into your discrimination setting...you will begin to notice what the junk signals sounds like, and more importantly: what a good target near a bad target sounds like...How sweet it is when the the good things finally do come out of the ground!!! Good luck.

 

[pong12211]

Got to learn your machine.. When I first started mine frustrated the hell out of me.. I was'nt finding anything but junk.. Then I went to an old sire and dug every signal until I learned how to distinguish them.. It took a few times out before I started trusting what I was hearing.. But the more I used it the better I got with it.. My best advice to you is to just practice be patient and not try to do to much to fast.. Best of luck..HH

 

[Gold Maven]

A great place to learn a machine is on sand. Are there any lakes near you with swimming areas? Lot's of targets, easy digging, a great way to familiarize yourself with your machine.

GL

 

[CoryCoins]

A lot of people will say you are too late in the game. Not true, they just want all the finds for themselves hah. Just keep searching and you will find something good sooner or later.

 

[Prairie Prowler]

+1 to what Junkshopfiddler says ..Learn the signals = difference between good targets & trash they each have their own tone & you will get the upper hand most everyone has to go through a learning phase & this is where you are..Some spots Sand lots ..volleyball courts or spots (where you are least likely to find large amounts of junk ) are ones you can look for ..keep learning..it doesnt happen over nite..

 

[G.A.P.metal]

Do soon research at the library...on spots that were active 1964 and before... you ani`t finding much silver in the hit hard parks....go to the barber shop and ask the older guys where they played ball or swan,fought danced us old guys like to remember the 'old days'...ask your grandma and grandpa ...the older the more we will ramble....and take notes
Gary

 

[SeminoleCo Treasure]

Metal Detecting Places Map

"Kellyco Metal detectors"

 

[mtruxfan]

Before you get too upset about finding the junk Id stop hunting there for awhile, hit those ball fields, soccer fields, basketball courts, city parks, shade trees, flea markets and find stuff, get your confidence up then hit those harder places. Ive only been at it for a few months and the oldest thing Ive found was a WW1 button the oldest coin a 46 nickle. Nothing to write home about or make a tv show about but me and my kid are finding stuff. If I go to a spot I think is good and find nothing I'll go back to a park and get the happy feeling again. Dont forget the schools either. Good luck and dont give up, you wont find it if you dont dig it.