5 Useful Metal Detecting Basics You Should Know

Are you ready to make your metal-detecting excursions more productive? Northwest Detector Sales has compiled a list of useful metal detecting tips that you should know if you’re going to use your detector often. Brush up on the basics before your next outing!

Choose the Right Detector

Where will you be using your metal detector? When shopping for detecting equipment, look for features that will help you hunt for treasure in your preferred location. For example, if you like to detect at the beach, look for a detector that has a beach mode.

Additionally, know what metals you want to go for! Some Minelab detectors have special engineering to detect gold, while others are adept at finding a wide variety of metals.

Test Your Detector

Before you go out hunting for treasures, make sure your detector is in top condition. Create a “test garden” in your yard by burying a small collection of metal goods like coins, nails, and small pieces of jewelry at a variety of depths. This way, you can test how your detector reacts to different items and how strongly it picks up items buried deeper in the dirt.

Choose Your Location Wisely

When selecting a spot for metal detecting, go for high-traffic areas where people often set their things down. Beaches, campgrounds, and city parks are great! Folks often misplace coins and small articles of jewelry in these settings, so you’re likely to have a fruitful day of detecting.

Take Your Time

As you use your metal detector to scan the ground, go slowly and steadily. Move your detector in a smooth “S” shape, overlapping each sweep in the opposite direction as well. Keep your coil close to the ground as you search, and don’t go too fast. Give your detector time to find what you’re looking for.

Don’t Give Up!

When you hunt for jewelry, coins, and other small relics with your metal detector, you may also find a fair amount of garbage. Loose screws, bottle caps, and other bits of “trash” metal may discourage you, but keep searching! Patience is the name of the game with metal detecting; you’ll never find the treasure you’re looking for if you give up after an hour.

Before you go out metal detecting, you should know the basics of the hobby to increase your productivity. Pick the right detector for your treasure-hunting needs, get familiar with how it works, and be patient as you search a variety of places. With time and practice, you’ll get better at identifying good detecting spots. You’ll find all kinds of treasures hidden in the dirt or sand!