Simple Detecting Exercise: Mastering Your Metal Detector's Performance
Metal detecting is an exciting adventure that opens the door to discovering hidden treasures buried beneath the earth's surface. To enhance your metal detecting skills and gain a better understanding of your detector's capabilities, we have designed a simple yet effective detecting exercise. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced detectorist, this exercise will help you fine-tune your technique and achieve successful hunts.
Preparation: Gather a Collection of Metal Objects
Before heading out to the field, collect a variety of metal objects to create your test targets. Your collection should include different coins, gold and silver jewelry, a nail, a pull-tab, a brass button, and aluminum foil. These objects will serve as test targets during your detecting exercise.
- Take your metal detector outdoors to a location free from electromagnetic interferences and other metal objects. This ensures accurate readings during the exercise.
- Arrange the metal objects in a line, with sufficient spacing between them to allow your detector's coil to pass between each target smoothly. This setup will simulate real detecting conditions and provide valuable insights into your detector's capabilities.
- With your test targets in place, sweep the detector's coil across each object one at a time. Pay close attention to the Detect Screen and listen to the audio response as you pass over each target. The information displayed on the Detect Screen and the sounds produced by the detector will provide you with detailed feedback, including the Target ID.
Recovering a Target: Preserve the Ground
Once you've pinpointed a target, follow these steps to recover it responsibly:
- Clear the ground surface of loose material and check for a signal again. If there's no signal, the target may be on the surface. If the signal persists, proceed to the next step.
- Leave the ground exactly as you found it. Use a sharp tool to cut a neat plug, leaving some grass attached on one side as a hinge. Lift the plug out and over carefully. This prevents soil from scattering and allows for a swift refill.
- Check the hole for the target. If the target is still in the hole, use the detector's coil flat on the ground to locate it. Place soil back into the hole after checking it, and repeat the procedure if necessary.
- Ensure that no other targets remain in the hole before refilling it with soil and grass. Compact the soil lightly by stepping on it.
By practicing responsible target recovery, you preserve the environment and maintain the accessibility of metal detecting locations.
Conclusion
This simple detecting exercise is a valuable tool for every metal detectorist, enabling you to test and fine-tune your detector's performance. By honing your skills and understanding your detector's responses, you'll embark on countless successful hunts, unearthing history's hidden treasures. Remember to always leave the ground as you found it and dispose of any rubbish responsibly. Enjoy the process, not the result. Happy hunting!