DetectorAid’s Tips Page
The most common question is “Which detector should I buy”
It really depends on what you want to find and how much your willing to budget.
One of the best places to start research is Find’s Treasure Forums a collection of user forums for just about every detector model used today.
So my advice is to start with a entry level detector from a trusted manufacture like Minelab, Whites, Garret Tesoro or Fisher.
The reasons are:
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•Great customer support.
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•Quality product’s.
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•Huge user base of knowledge.
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•Top resale value.
With over 30 years swinging metal detectors I’ve learned that experience is the best teacher. For someone starting out I highly recommend getting professional training from Gerry McMullen
Today with the internet you can research from the comfort of your keyboard.
Hundreds of prospecting web sites are just a few clicks away.
Forums are websites where people can post and respond to topics and share there interests.
Here is a list of the cream of gold prospecting forums.
Gold Nugget Hunting
Use a pick made for metal detecting and attach a strong super magnet to the blade. This will grab ferrous (iron) targets and eliminate them quickly, so a minimum amount of time is wasted.
To search an area known for having a lot of nails and other ferrous trash, rake the area first, pulling out most (or all) of the nails. Make or buy a magnetic rake.
Carry a small digging tool like a flat blade screw driver for prying nuggets out of bedrock cracks.
Wear knee pads. There is a lot of bending and kneeling involved in metal detecting.
Don't coil the cable from the control box down to the search coil. Instead, use velcro to run the cable in a straight line up the shaft to a point above the joint. Start winding the cable from there. As you swing the coil from side to side, a loose cable coiled around the shaft, and near the search coil, can give false signals. Use a cable clamp near the control box where the cable connects to minimize cable movement. Follow this link to AZO’s tips page for Montana Bob’s cable clamp how to guide.
Always use a coil cover on the search coil. Protective covers are cheap protection. Another great way is to coat the coil bottom with a 2 part epoxy or a truck bed liner that comes in a spray can.
Carry water, or have water available in your vehicle, if your vehicle is close. You may not be physically exerting yourself too hard, but in the heat of the day, you will sweat out lots of water.
Unless you know the area you will be working in very, very well, take along a map, compass. and GPS sure you know how to use them. You can take a class at your local community collage or at most REI stores and learn how to navigate using a topographical map and compass. GPS’s are great tools till the batteries go flat.
Once you get familiar with your machine settings you will find deeper and smaller targets. Remember to go slowly.
Use metal detectors designed for gold nugget hunting. Nugget detecting is a specialized field in itself.
Where do I look for gold nuggets?
That is a question that we all strive to answer. The place to start is where gold has been found before. Around gold mines and ghost towns. Gold is heavy and concentrates in water courses so search the dry washes and gullies. Pay close attention to any exposed bedrock. Sometimes the large nuggets never make it to the water courses there still lodged on the hillsides. When you are at a site that is known to produce gold study the surrounding ground and note the colors and kinds of the host rock. Often times reddish or orange dirt and quartz are great indicators of gold
Join a prospecting club that is geared to metal detecting. And you will have instant access to proven claims and members that can show you how to hunt. One good club to start with is the Gold Prospectors Association of America They have claims in just about every State. If your fortunate enough to live in the southwestern US there are hundreds of clubs to choose from
Visit my links page for other useful websites.
