Getting out again

Finally got a chance to get out and detect today. Weather has finally started to warm up. Hit the area between the front porch and sidewalk of my father-in-laws house. Area was only about 4x8. Found several nails a live .22 shell. Also fund what appears to be a very old coin. Going to have clean it up before I can tell what it is. Registered as $1 on my Ace 250. Once I get it cleaned I'll post again.
Until next time...
HH
Keep your Coil to the Soil

First Wheatie

Found my first wheatie yesterday and without a detector no less. Was looking through my pocket change and saw that I had gotten a 1954 D wheatie with a nice green patina back in some change. Hopefully that is a sign of more wheaties to come and maybe some silver. Weather is beginning to improve and looking forward to detecting.
Until next time...
HH
Keep your Coil to the Soil

Handy things to carry for your next hunt

I'm sitting around waiting on the spring thaw. Still snow on the ground, though not as much. Warmer temps then rain, snow and cold for the next week. In the meantime, I thought it would be nice to let you know some of the items I typically carry with me on a hunt.

 Besides a metal detector of course I always carry a pouch to put my goodies in. Mine is just the Kellyco pouch that came with my detector. I'll probably upgrade later to something nicer, but it works. I also carry my Cen-tec pinpointer. It's cheap  but works great for me. It makes recovery time a whole lot faster because if you are like me then you probably have a hard time spotting those coppers in a tot lot. They blend into the wood chips on me. I also carry multiple digging tools. I have the composite digger that came with my detector, a large (but not full size, more garden spade size) shovel, and my new favorite digger, the Dirt Digger II, which I sometimes carry in the sheath that came with my composite digger. It works great for getting into the hard ground around here. These are all the typical items that most of us would carry.
I also carry a pen and paper to make notes, a paper finders log to keep track of my finds until I get back to my computer, a cell phone for the obvious reasons, still camera, digital video camera and bottled water. The water comes in handy for a couple of reasons. First you always have something to drink, secondly you can rinse your finds if you want to check them out closer before you get home. It's also handy to rinse your hands too, but I also carry hand cleaner or some hand sanitizer for that.
If you are planning a day long hunt, make sure to pack some lunch.
A hunting buddy is also nice to keep you company. Even if they don't have a metal detector they can always help dig of fill holes. :)
Last but not least, if you are going to an area in the middle of nowhere, let someone know where you are going. That way if you don't show back up they know where to start looking for you.

Until next time...
HH
Keep your Coil to the Soil

Lunch time coin shooting

Finally got the chance to get back out on my lunch break today. The weather finally co-operated and I didn't have a ton of other things to do. Headed back to the local river park and spent about 20-30 minutes hunting. Found 2 dimes and a penny. I had a hit in the particular area I found the dimes a back when the ground was harder. Came back this time armed with my Dirt Digger II and was able to make short work of the ground. Also was able to make a faster recover thanks to my new pinpointer. Not bad for a quick hunt. Hopefully I can get back out tomorrow for another lunch time dig.
Until next time...
HH
Keep your Coil to the Soil

Pinpointers

Recently got a Cen-tech pinpointer from Harbor Freight. For the money I thought it would be handy to have. Hopefully it will save me some digging and make locating my finds faster once I open the hole. Check back soon. Hopefully I will be able to get out in a few days to test it out. Also watch the blog for photos, video and info on my latest project, the Dirt Digger II.
Until next time...
HH
Keep your Coil to the Soil

First ring

The weather outside has been less than cooperative for metal detecting lately. Finally got ground that was soft enough to dig (at least in the tot lots and sandboxes) on January 15, 2010. I had been detecting and not digging while the ground was frozen and had made mental notes of where I had gotten decent signals. I had gotten a signal in the small sandbox where I found the ring but was unable to dig even in the frozen sand with my composite digger so I had decided to come back later. Luckily the area is not hunted much if at all. I was thinking I would probably be digging up a penny or maybe a dime but was surprised when I dug up the ring. I think my heart may have skipped a beat when I saw the diamonds. Upon cleaning my find I discovered it was a child's ring and probably copper/silver plated with fake diamonds. Still a fun find though.
Until next time...
HH
Keep your Coil to the Soil

Keeping track of your finds

If you are out detecting and finding lots of goodies, you'll want to keep track of them in some form or another. It's nice to keep a running total of your clad, silver and other finds along with photos and details of your hunt. There are several ways you could do this. You could keep a paper log and attach a photo. Use some type of word processing software on your computer, or even organize them in containers with labels if you wanted. I personally decided that i-detect from Ginkgoware was the best method for me. It's been very handy software. If your method isn't working for you then check out what else is out there or talk to other detectorists to find out what they are using.

Until next time...
HH
Keep your Coil to the Soil

Snowy hunt

Braved the cold for my first hunt of the new year and hit a tot lot at the local river park. Frozen snow covered ground plus bitterly cold wind make for a short lunchtime hunt. Ground was really too frozen to dig much with my composite digger. (Time to upgrade) Got a good penny signal in the wood chips near the slide so I tried my luck. Came up with an 85 Lincoln. Got several other hits so I'll head back when the weather gets above freezing. Right now I'll be satisfied with my Lincoln. It was a little difficult to find though. Pennies seem to blend into the wood chips.
Until next time, HH and Keep your coil to the soil.

Permission Form and Liability Waiver

Here is a permission form with liability waiver for those of you who need one. Feel free to modify it how you see fit.

Permission to Metal Detect on Private Property

I, _____________________________________ agree to allow (type your name and address), to use a metal detector to search for and recover buried coins, relics and other artifacts located on my property at ________________________________. In addition, I offer my service to you. If you or a family member has lost a valuable piece of jewelry or other significant metal object, I am happy to search and find it at no charge or cost to you. It is understood that recovery includes the digging of small holes, which will be repaired as nearly as possible to original condition. This permission will remain in effect until such time that it is revoked in writing.
________________________________ (Signature)   ______________ (Date)
                                            

Liability Waiver Form

In consideration of permission to use a metal detector to search for and recover metal artifacts on the property located at ___________________________________ and owned by ____________________________, I, (type your name), agree to release from all liability for personal injury or property damage that I may suffer as the result of my searching said property. This release is binding and discharges said owner, his or her heirs, executors, administrators, from all actions, causes of action, claims and demands for, upon, or by reason of any damage, loss, injury which I may sustain while engaged in metal detecting on the owner's property.

______________________________(Signature)

_________________________________________(Address)

__________________(Date)

Until next time, HH and Keep your coil to the soil.

Toy soldier

I've only been detecting since Christmas. I'm still learning my Ace 250, but the last day of 2009 proved to be a good one. I was detecting in my father-in-law's back yard in an area he has said he lost a pocket knife. I got a good signal and pinpointed the item and began digging. Thinking I have have found the knife, he and I were both surprised when I dug up a little metal toy soldier. The look on his face was priceless. He remembered playing with the soldier as a little boy. He's in his 70s now and has lived in the house since he was 2-years-old. The property dates back to the 1800s. Now I'm in search of the toy soldier graveyard he thinks may be in the backyard, and I'm still looking for the pocket knife.

If anyone knows any history about this type of toy soldier please comment. Until next time...
Keep your coil to the soil.

Bad weather, can't detect

The weather here turned extremely cold over the last couple of days. Arctic actually. Cold enough that I'm not about to get out to try to detect. Even if I did I'd have to have a jackhammer to get through the frozen clay ground around here. So, what do you do when you can't detect? Well, I've been posting some at metaldetectingforum.com and watching metal detecting videos on youtube. Aside from that I have been researching.
Bad weather can give you an opportunity to research local history in order to find new places to hunt or research an item you have found during a hunt. While you are doing your research on new areas to hunt, go ahead and get permission from the landowner or even go ahead and get permission forms signed, that way when the weather breaks you will be ready to go.
So, until next time...
Get your research done, grab a fresh set of batteries and
Keep your coil to the soil.

Picking your detector

There are alot of schools of thought when it comes to the type of metal detector you need. I spent several months researching the types and the prices online before I decided what type best fit me. I mentioned in my first post that I received the Garrett Ace 250 for Christmas. After setting a price range for the detector I began researching detectors in that range and their features and ease of use. The Ace 250 was a fit for me. If you are in the market for a detector I recommend you do the same as me and set a budget for yourself and then research the detectors in that budget. Pick the one that fits you. Until next time...
Happy Hunting
Keep your Coil to the Soil

Follow the Code

When you are out metal detecting please follow the Metal Detecting Code of Ethics to help protect this great hobby for others.

Be polite and informative to those who inquire about your hobby; you are the ambassador of a pastime we want to protect and we all will be judged by how you act and respond. Always observe the Golden Rule and conduct yourself in a manner that enhances the public view of the hobby of metal detection.

I will respect private property and will not metal detect without the property owner’s permission.

I will not destroy property, buildings or what is left of ghost towns and deserted structures. I will not tamper with equipment or posted signs.

I will not litter, I will always pack out what I take in and remove all trash found. I will only build fires in designated or safe areas.

I will leave all gates and other accesses to land as I found it.

I will not damage natural resources, wildlife habitats, or any private property.

I will use thoughtfulness, consideration and courtesy at all times.

I will abide by all laws, ordinances or regulations that may govern my search, or the area I will be in.

I will fill all holes, regardless how remote the location, and never dig in a way that will damage, be damaging to, or kill any vegetation.

I will report the discovery of items of significant historical value to a local historian or museum in accordance with the latest legislation. I will report to the proper authorities any individuals who remove artifacts from federal parks or state preserves.

I will be an ambassador for the metal detecting hobby.

Welcome

First off, welcome to Coil to the soil. I'll start by saying I'm a metal detecting newbie. Just received my first detector as a Christmas gift so I'm now the proud owner of a Garrett Ace 250. Coil to the Soil will be a sort of metal detecting log book/diary for my adventures and misadventures learning to detect. Please follow me as I learn and maybe you'll learn along the way too or you can share your tips with me and I'll pass them along to the blog readers. Until next time. Happy Hunting!