Newbie Here

[THespos]

Hi everyone:

I just started metal detecting last year with one of those $99 jobbies from Radio Shack. I decided I liked the hobby enough to upgrade to a Garrett Ace 250 a couple weeks ago.

So far, I've only been able to spend about 5 hours with the Garrett. In that time, I've found a few assorted coins and last weekend found a diamond heart pendant on a north shore beach on Long Island. (It's probably fake, so I'm not getting excited.)

In any case, I think I really dig this hobby and I was hoping I could prevail upon some of you die-hard enthusiasts to give me some guidance. I'd appreciate anything you could tell me about the following:

1) It looks like many of the south shore beaches near me are groomed regularly. I can't find anything there. Should I just wait until later in the season to try these out?
2) North shore beaches are rocky, but that's where I'm finding stuff. My biggest problem seems to be melted aluminum cans from kids' beach parties. Is there a way to filter these out so I don't get so many false positives?
3) Can I go in the water with the Ace 250? Or do I need to buy a different machine?
4) What sites other than beaches are good? What do you folks look for in a site?

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

-Tom

 

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[gregd573]

Welcome Tom.....sure wish I could help you with the beach questions, but we are a little short of salt water beaches in Missouri.....lol. I have heard that the Ace 250 goes a little weird when you get down to the water line on a salt water beach but there are numerous folks who do use them in the sand as I have read, anyway. It would not hurt it to try as the coil and everything up to the control box is waterproof. Just don't get the control box wet or you could fry its brain.........hope someone can answer all your questions other than that. Take care and keep em' swinging.......gregd573.

 

[THespos]

Thanks for the advice, gregd573.

Are the coils salt-proof as well? If they get immersed in salt water can they rust?

 

[randall61]

welcome tom and the plastic coating will not let it rust.and old home sites are great places,construction sites before they move too much ground,side walks are great.i would also advise doing research on the places you plan to hunt as it will greatly improve your finds.......also go s...l..o..w. square nails on a site is a good sign because they are old