??We know about plugs for coins, but how do you dig other targets right??

[MUD(S.W.A.T)]

We all know how to dig a plug around a coin but lets go beyond that. Lets examine digging relics or glass jars, caches and hoards. What do you do? Do you use a pick? Do you pry the item out? Do you use a chisel and hammer? Do you get some dynamite and blow it up??

Any information you can think of would help some of us a great deal. So please feel free to say anything topic related.

Keep @ it and HH!!

 

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[JakePhelps]

Re: ??How do you dig right??

well if im in the woods i just dig a huge hole no matter what it is, but on lawn i usually judge how big it is by the signals strenght, then i dig a plug acording to what size i think it is...as for prying, i use a knife or machete i carry

 

[MUD(S.W.A.T)]

Re: ??How do you dig right??

Thats good, but I am going to need more people, come on!

Keep @ it and HH!!

 

[wmas1960]

I haven't dug anything that significant yet. Largest items were a piece of pipe, about 1/2 to 3/4" dia. and about 4" long. A garden nozzle and the cleanout cover for a drain pipe.

Maybe the diecast cars and some soda and beer cans would be similar in sizes but they were in sand where I didn't need to use much care digging them up.

Anyway, I would try to be as minimally invasive or damaging as possible. Especially when digging in the lawn or areas where there might be concerns for vegitation. Some forest situations might apply here. . If I were digging a street project, construction site, or other area where I didn't need to consider my damage, I might use a shovel, in the end, but would use these same procedures to start with. I would first, dig down till I hit the object. Probably using my hand digger (Lesche Predator). Digging carefully so that I don't damage what I am digging. I start by trying to keep the hole as small as possible. I usually have to dig several inches accross to be able to get my hand down there. I will start by widening the bottom of the hole, so that it is, sort of, bell shaped. Then, as necessary, I widen the hole. In the cases of areas where you don't need to be careful, it would still be good to dig, at first, by hand. Then expose the object you are looking for. Then, if necessary, widen your hole with a shovel to get around your object.

I dig over the top of the item to expose it and try and find the sides and or end of the object. I will, usually, keep digging around the outsides (edges) of the object, occasionally taking my lesche digger and catching under the target to pry upward. Once the object is exposed, I catch my digger, or you could use your shovel if not being delecate, and then try and use a little leverage till it comes free. Another tool that might be handy here, as I think about it, would be a long and very strong or stiff piece of wire or a rod with a hook on the end. Something that you might hook under an object and gently pull upward. A screwdriver might be good for working the edges some to loosen or free an item from the Earth's grip.

In the end, I try to have as small a hole as is humanly possible. I would add that the same basic practices would be good as when you dig a plug for a coin or something. Dig a flap with a significant enough dirt layer under the grass. Fold it asside and dig under it. Put something down and put your dirt in or in it. I was thinking the other day, some of those, reusable/disposable, plastic Gladware casserole dishes would be good. Large enough in size for a small hole and not metalic. So, unlike an aluminum pan or cookie sheet, they shouldn't effect your ability to search the dirt you pull out. Of course an old towel, sheet of plastic would be good to keep your area clean. Save the grass plug that came from on top. Maybe a small hand rake would be good to make sure you get all the dirt back into the hole. Refill the hole, replace the sod.... Water in and sprinkle with some cayanne pepper or something to deter animals from redigging the area.

 

[shm477]

When digging I use my carpenter's small flat bar, if I need bigger I use a small garden shovel ( Ace Hardware--$7.00) as for the dirt I use a 1 gal. frezzer bag. Folds nice and neat and returns all dirt to hole.

 

[northeast hunter]

a backhoe

 

[shm477]

When digging I use my carpenter's small flat bar, if I need bigger I use a small garden shovel ( Ace Hardware--$7.00) ? ?as for the dirt I use a 1 gal. frezzer bag. ?Folds nice and neat and returns all dirt to hole.

 

[Monty]

This summer the ground was so hard I carried a ballpeen hammer to break the crust. JIM

 

[JakePhelps]

thats what a few of my holes have loked like before :P? ? and you should have seen the hole in my neighbors field after i dug up that horse anchor! but i gave him the horse anchor couse he liked it so it was all good

 

[cryptodave]

It depends on how deep the coin is...

I'm curious.... Did you find anything of value in this man made cave?

 

[MUD(S.W.A.T)]

I need more!!

Keep them commin!!

HH!!

 

[Mighty_Mouse]

I dig my plug as big as i think is needed. I cary a small dish cloth to put the dirt on so all i have to do is when done is dump the dirt back in the hole. I have started to use my Pin Pointer alot more. Even more so if the places i am digging are on the older side. I use my plastic digger when digging dirt out of the hole. Have learned the hard way that metal scratches

 

[ZumbroKid]

Hi buddy!

 

[Born2Dtect]

I guess how to dig depends where you are. In a nice yard you need a nice shovel 3-4" wide blade and 24" handle. Dig as small a hole as possible. In a field I use a garden shovel with 3 foot handle and dig as large as needed no worries. Now if I know my finds may be historical or even valuable I would go slower and dig a larger hole to begin with. I would use a brass probe and pinpointer then use my hands to do the final digging if possible. I have lost or damaged more items after finding, than hurt when I recovered them. A good recovery pouch with multiple compartments or plastic bags. Don,t think twice about taking a really good find to the car before continuing.

Ed Donovan

 

[Pistolero]

Hello,
For small things one of those mini shovels will do or one of these many types of military shovels. That is what I have. You can dig with them but you can also adjust them to use as a pick of sorts. But here in Alabama in summer dry spell that red clay can be as hard as concrete. It takes a pick. I have a small pick, like a geologist or mountain climber might use. That small hand pick and a mini shovel is all I have ever needed. But now for big things like hordes, caches, huge artillery shells I reckon a full sized shovle might do. I wouldn't know about all that. About all I have ever found is nails, pieces of metal, pots and pans, cooking utensils, a hammer, a plow blade, horse shoes, etc.. But that is probably my fault because I got tired of trying to find out how to use the notch and discriminator modes and just use "all metal" mode.
Take care,
Dave
Millbrook, Al..