Help! I don't find anything when Metal Detecting!

Help!  I don't find anything when Metal Detecting!

Here's a question I recently answered on my Facebook page.

I honestly believe that metal detecting is is an evolution.  Yes, you get the people that buy a metal detector and find a hoard on their first time out, but this is very, very rare.  The TRUTH is that we don't always find good stuff.  Anyone that's been in the game for years will tell you that the norm is finding absolutely little, over and over.  It's completely normal.  I think that if you don't understand that, you won't stick with metal Detecting for very long, as the constant expecting can only lead to frustration.

It takes time to learn.  Some people say it's an art.  The older I get, and the more I metal detect, the more I'm inclined to agree with them...

Psychology of a Metal Detectorist.

This metal detecting lark can be frustrating at times.  I can go out on trips and find hardly anything at all, but then find tons the next day on the same spot!  Don't forget, this is largely a luck game.  If you don't walk over it, your detector won't find it.  It's also very much a psychological game.  Try not to beat yourself up if you're having no luck.  Understand that the more you metal detect, the higher the chance you have of finding items.  Alongside the points I make below, It's really as simple as that.  But trust me, there have been times where I've wanted to lob my detector, and be done with it...

Just try and empty your mind.  Don't expect too much.  Enjoy the time outside and exercise.  Don't be hard on yourself.  The finds will come IF they are there.  Strangely, my better finds come when I'm relaxed, and expect nothing.

Research of a Metal Detectorist.

Do you know about the history on your land?  Do you know where things might have happened in the past?  Look at old-maps.co.uk and check if there are any pathways or any features that have long since gone.

If there are, then hit those areas.  If you find a 'hotspot' (a place where two or more items have come up) then scan that place as methodologically as possible.  We should be doing that on ALL of our land, really.

When I say 'methodologically' I mean gridded out in your mind (or physically with sticks and tape) and scan that area in a straight line up and down, really really slowly.  Painfully slow.  If you are thorough, your finds rate will rise.  This is something I ignored for a long time, until I was educated by the older lads at my club.

If you still find nothing at least you KNOW you've given the place a good going over the best you can.  You'll sleep easier.  But using a method like that, you're unlikely to miss items.

Also look at Google maps or the map that is embedded on the side of this blog. Are there any unusual markings on the maps that stand out?  Such as old structures.  Round structures that may have been roundhouses.  Go into local libraries and do the same with the local maps in there.  These places have a wealth of local information that maybe relevant to your land.

Walk the land before you detect it.  Are there any areas on the field that stand out to you?  Such as dips in the land?  These could be settlement areas.  Places that people used to live on in the past.  Also check the area outside of these areas, as it's where people might have traded or fixed items.  Also look for slightly raised land or any locations that you can get a good vantage point from.  Somewhere that may have been used strategically in the past.  Lot's of items are found in these areas.

Technique of a Metal Detectorist.

Also, make sure your technique is up to scratch.  Don't raise the head on the out-swings.  Make sure the head is always parallel to the ground throughout the swing.  Keep it as near to the ground as possible.  You'll be amazed at what you can miss through bad technique!  And of course, like I said before, keep it slow.  Also, make sure the shaft is long enough so you're not stooping or leant over in any way.  You must be comfortable to be able to achieve good technique.

Other Factors.

Is the land recently ploughed?  This can make a difference.  Sometimes you get soil that is a bit 'fluffy'.  This makes it harder for the detector to find items due to the air pockets in the earth.  I find the best land is packed land such as pasture, or ploughed that has had time to settle.  Recent rain makes a difference as well, as it effects the conductivity of the metal.

Understand your Metal Detector.

Lastly, understand your metal detector.  This can take a while.  Really get to know it.  Create a test bed, and understand the tones that different items make.  Place coins flat, and scan.  Then re-dig them, and put them in sideways.  Same tone?  Make a mental (or physical - using a notepad) note of what tones are coming out of the machine.  Understand what the 'faraway' tones are.  A lot of people tend to ignore the weaker, distant tones, thinking that the detector isn't too concerned about it.  It doesn't work like that.  These are probably good items at depth or smaller items.

Learn about sensitivity, and ground balancing.  Again, understand your metal detector.  Spend time with this.

The Karma of a Metal Detectorist.

I'm a spiritual guy.  I try and keep my Karma as shiny as possible.  How does this relate to detecting? Well, I treat the land with respect.  I always fill in my holes.  I treat finds with respect, and I even say a little 'thank you' to whoever when they come out.  I treat my farmer with respect, and I treat my fellow metal detectorists with respect.

But most of all, I treat Metal Detecting with respect.  It's an art that we take for granted sometimes in this country, and it's something that we should all be fighting to keep for the further saving of our own heritage and history.

Good luck.  Sincerely :)

Metal Detecting tip: Look for any dips in the ground.

Lookout for any obvious dips in the ground!

When I first started detecting, I always avoided these areas, because I always presumed that they were bomb craters from world war two.  The area where I live was heavily shelled in the war, and these holes and dips seem to be all over the place.

My friend Mick, who has tons of metal detecting experience told me that a lot of these dips were actually settlement areas from times gone by.  Places where people had dug in, and then settled themselves.  Mick gets about 20 hammered coins a months off his lands, and certainly knows his stuff.

Of course, in some instances it will be bomb holes.  But there is also a good chance that they are also settlement areas as well, so make sure you head for them if you have them on your land.  You'll soon know if a bomb hit, as you'll be digging loads of shrapnel!

Pay particular attention to the area around the hole as well, as this is where people may have sat, traded, fixed clothes etc.

There is a good example of a settlement area we found in this video:

  

Join a Metal detecting club! They don't smell as bad as you think!

I love my Metal Detecting Club.

 I'll be honest. When I first joined my club, I expected a lot of very funny smelling old men who had no personality, and were overly geeky concerning anything to do with frequencies and what-not.

 I was apprehensive. I'll admit that.

But, I had fallen in love with Metal detecting, and had found a passion for the hobby. I told my friends, but they just laughed at me. My girlfriend rolled her eyes. My Daughter, thought I was trying to be Indiana Jones, so the time came to be round other people that shared a passion along with myself.  I needed to find people that understood me.  I heard of a local club that had just started up, rang the Chairman, got a date to go visit, and prepared myself...

I'd like to point out at this point, that It was very wrong of me to make a presumption about Metal detecting like I did before I met my fellow club members.  I'd done everything that everybody else does when they talk about Metal Detecting or Metal Detectors.  Images of sad, lonely old men wandering around fields finding nothing but nails day after day still holds strong with people from outside the hobby.  And with people in the hobby as well, like myself.  I presumed I was different.  I presumed that I didn't hold the typical cliched values of that man wandering around a field.

And thats what people don't understand.  This is what they miss about what we do.

If they knew the truth, they'd actually see that the man actually still has a great sense of adventure for a start.  They'd see that he has a sincere, and passionate interest in our history.  They'd see he understands the magic of not knowing what the next bleep is, and what is under the coil.  They'd see that from all the walking around and digging, he's actually very fit for his age.  They'd see that he'd chosen a lifestyle that wasn't rotting in front of a TV, or computer, watching mind numbing programmes that dumb him down.  He's an adventurer.  He's happy, and by God he has a cracking sense of humour...


...And as soon as I walked through the door of my Metal Detecting club, I realised the mistake I had made, in being so presumptuous..  In front of me were all sorts of people, from all sorts of backgrounds, and of all sorts of ages.

And slowly, I began to make friends.  Friends that I honestly think, and hope, will become life-long friends.  You can learn a lot about Metal detecting these days.  With Internet forums, social media, and websites.  But the majority of what I've learnt is from real people, that have had more experience than you can shake a stick at.  Ideas that I'd never have thought of.  Lessons that I'd never have learnt off a website.  Real experience.

I'd been offered to go out on peoples permission.  I'd learnt of potential permissions I should go for, and lots lots more.  Now we have our own club land.  We pay to a charity every time we go on it, and share experiences together.  We laugh a lot.  We dig up a lot of horrible things (See 'Sense of humour') and we dig up a lot of very, very cool things.

So if you're into the hobby, and have no-one else to  share your passion with, consider a club.  You'll never regret it.

They don't smell that bad, either...

Getting tired when metal detecting?

When I read about the guys in the forums doing eight our hunts, I used to weep.

I never understood how these guys that are double my age could go for so long (oo'er!), and how I couldn't.  I came to the conclusion that it must be experience, and  all I needed to do was persevere, to eventually gain the acquired fitness.

Bad move.

All this did was make me even more tired.  No matter how hard I persevered.

See, people don't understand how taxing metal detecting can be.  You walk for miles, digging holes, getting up, going down.  Walk some more.  Dig.  Etc.  And it is that common misconception that caused me to become so exhausted when metal detecting.  On the outside, metal detecting looks peaceful (and it is once you understand how to pace yourself!) calm.  Literally a walk in the park.

But it isn't until you understand the very simple concept of rest.

That is literally what allowed me to detect for much longer times.  I decided to rest every two hours for 15 minutes.  In that 15 minutes, I had a bite to eat (something that gives energy.  I normally have bananas or a chocolate bar) and made sure I was well hydrated.  Hydration is VERY important for us metal detectorists, because as soon as you become dehydrated, you've had it.  I normally take a bottle of water with me, and sometimes (if its cold) a nice flask of tea.  A cup of tea whilst detecting really sorts me out.

In my over zealousness and perceived youth, I made the mistake of thinking I didn't need to rest and refresh.  If you're having a similar problem, just get yourself a rucksack, a good water bottle, and a flask.  Oh, and if it's sunny, don't forget to put Sun tan lotion in the bath as well!

I normally don't carry the rucksack with me, as it can become a burden after a while, that seems to exhaust more.  I normally leave it in a bush, or on the ground, where I can use it as a marker.  Or, if my car is close, I will leave it there, and walk back to it when I need a break.

Hope the information helps!

PERMISSION HUNTING!

Off out with some of the lads, to get some new permissions! Click the video to see how it goes...

NEVER BUY A METAL DETECTOR!

...Just don't do it, kids!

incendiary device!

So I was out looking for a lost horseshoe today, but found a incendiary device. Funny how things turn out...

Didn't find the @#&#*!@ Horseshoe.

Lessons learnt:

1) Although he was a policeman, I'm not entirely sure he should have moved it? But at the same time, he needed to move it to know what it was, if that makes sense?

2) We should have re-buried it, put a marker on it, left it and waited for bomb squad to arrive? But saying that, it was very near the house. Brave of him to move it to safety, but maybe not so wise?

3) I don't like digging up this stuff. Here's the video:

 

HOW TO GET FARMERS PERMISSION. A GUIDE FOR BEGINNER METAL DETECTORISTS.

My guide to getting Farmers permission to metal detect on their land! This isn't a definite guide, but a group of tips that have worked well for me in the past!

Hopefully, you can take something positive from them...

GET A PIECE OF PAPER AND PEN TO WRITE NOTES!


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LINKS:

RESEARCH:

http://www.google.com
http://maps.google.co.uk/
http://www.old-maps.co.uk
http://wtp2.appspot.com/wheresthepath.htm

INSURANCE:

http://www.ncmd.co.uk/

CONTRACT:

http://www.metaldetectingforum.co.uk/contract/contract.pdf

LETTER:

http://jefferyvmckenzie.tripod.com/id12.html

FREE BUSINESS CARDS:

http://www.vistaprint.co.uk

OTHER USEFUL LINKS:

http://uk.freecycle.org/
http://www.yell.com/
http://www.bleeps.me
http://www.metaldetectingforum.co.uk/

Invicta Seekers club meet. Finds + Find of the month!

Love tokens, Victorian florins, hammered Henry 6th coin, 1900 Victorian penny, medieval seal, lead seals, popes seal, Snake head clasp, Belgian coin from first world war, plus more!

On the beach with the 3MX (FIRST RING!)

On the beach with the 3MX.  First ring, which is just a bit of tat, really.  Still my first ring, though!

Few other finds as well.  All in all, a lovely day....

Attacked by Chav cows!

Minding my own business, trying to get across to a field, and I get attacked by chav cows.

The gits.

See video for outcome!

Where's the path? - Great resource!

Here is another great resource, called 'Where's the path?'.

Basically, you have a split screen. The one on the left is a map (out of copyright maps that go back to the thirties!) and the screen on the right is a sattelite view on google maps.  Enter your location or postcode into the top left of the screen...

As you scroll around on either map, it does the same on the other. This is very handy, as you can study any unusual quirks in either the map or the satellite view in real time.

Of course, you can zoom in to take a better look, and everything is marked as it should be.

All in all, a brilliant resource for detectorists!

Where's the Path?

Alongside Where's the Path, I also use Old-maps.co.uk.  Another brilliant resource!

Bomb found on Folkestone beach (plus finds)

An old world war 2 mortar shell apparently?

Ironic that I was the one with the metal detector, and didn't find it!  Ha!  Got kicked off the beach in the end, which was bad because it was producing goodies.  I was only there for about twenty minutes.

But, I got to go down the other beach, and the sun decided to come out.  Great day!

Old-maps.co.uk is a great resource!

You can 'go back in time' and find things otherwise missed by google earth. Also, try this site as well. It's called 'Where's the path? And is another brilliant resource for metal detectorists.

I try and use both of these alongside each other when I'm doing my research.

Old maps.co.uk



Also check out "Where's the Path?"  Another great resource!

Tips on getting farmers permission!

How do you do it?

There are a few proven ways that I use to get onto land, here. Try them! They may work for you...

Metal detecting Folkestone beach with the 3MX (Winter)

Lovely winters day in early Febuary, so I thought i'd go for a dig, to see what those Winter storms have brought up!

I lost my new field!

Here's a tip for beginners...

...act fast!

I got permission for my field, and had one good day in it, where I found this amongst other goodies.  Unfortuately, I left it for a while after the field was harvested before making my move.

The next day, I rang my farmer to ask if it was still ok to detect on the field, and he told me it wasn't, because the field had now been drilled (seeded) and i'd have to wait until next year.

So if you get permission, act fast!  I now know that there is potential on that field, but can't get onto it!

Boo...

Here's a tip (I'm almost embarassed to mention this one...)

Ok, i'm not proud. I know you'll think I'm an idiot. And rightly so. Please all point at me and shout "IDIOT!". I may learn.

Get something to carry your finds in. Some sort of pouch or tin. Something that can be sealed safely. Why Am I telling you this? Well...

I was detecting in a sandy park recently. I found a pound coin. I placed said pound coin into my top pocket, and carried on my merry way.

Soon after this, I found another pound coin. My biggest hoard yet. I then found another pound coin, and then another....and then another and then, all of a sudden, in a flash of self hatred, I noticed something...

Each coin seemed to be oxidised in exactly the same way. Yup, you guessed it. It was the same coin. As I was bending down to check out targets, I was dropping the same frikkin coin out of my pocket, only to find it again later.

Don't do this. Get a pouch or tin. Save yourself the hatred.

C-scope 3MX review!

 Please note that I have done a video review of this product, here.

Well, i've had a good few weeks with my new detector, the C-scope 3MX.  Below is my honest, and un-biased review of the machine, as a beginner.

Firstly, let's go through the technical blurb:

Operating System:	Motion 17kHz
Search-Head:	20cm ISOCON search head
Battery Power:	8 x AA 1.5 volt
Weight:	1.5Kg
Features:	On/Off/Sensitivity control Variable discrimination Target pin-point Belt mountable Adjustable stem length Counterbalanced stem with armrest Automatic motion retune Headphone socket Weatherproof design
Ideal For:	Professional and amateur, serious beginners, general purpose detecting.

The first, and most important difference between this metal detector and "Old bastard" (Not model name-should be) is that this is a motion sensor detector.  That means that it doesn't just "bleep" when it senses something.  It can tell you exactly where it is, by using the targeting system.

So, initialy you will hear a bleep, but you can then pinpoint the target to the dot.  It really is that accurate.  Dead centre of the coil.

The detector comes with a free scratch plate.  You'll need an input jack for the headhpones if you're using a standard size, though.  You can get this for a couple of quid at any music store though.

It's very comfortable to use.  Very light.  Takes eight double A batteries.

Now, down to the nitty gritty.  How does it perform?

I've had a few good sessions with this detector, equalling about ten hours of use.  I've done ploughed fields, grass fields and beaches with it.  The ploughed field brought the most success.  The detector was a dream to use with the motion sensor.  Targets came up quick and easy.  Nothing felt like a chore (like the old detector).  It was the same on grass.  The digging of holes is minimal, because of the targeting system (I used to dig to China with my old detector) and the holes are easily re-covered.

Beach detecting, however, was a nightmare.  Not the same at all.  The unit constantly beeps, with a "staggered" type sound.  The targeting points at something, and then vanishes.  Digs, bring up nothing (unless it's a strong, consistant beep).  It was hard work.

Now, I tested the detector on a sandy park (just light sands), and it worked fine again.  Brought up coins, and other targets, so sand isn't the problem.  I believe that it must be something to do with either the wet, salt or iron in rocks that could be deep deep down, under the sand.

So, the sandy beach wasn't great for me, but to be honest, the efficency in other places more than makes up for that.  As a beginner, this device is absolutely perfect.  It's simple to use (two knobs.  One to eliminate specific metals, and the other to gauge the sensitivity you will need)  The power is still fine, and the batteries don't look like running out yet.

All in all it's a great metal detector for me, the beginner.