Welcome to Metal Detector!

Hey Terry,
I live in Kingman AZ but am originally from Woodside Queens. I have a Tesoro LST but have precious little time lately to swing it. I live 3 blocks off Route 66 about 35 miles south of Gold Basin. I have the entire desert outside my front door. All I need to do is find some time. I have been working on my property but hope to finish it up and get out and BEEP! Hope the site works out.

Hi Terry, Sandman here. Hey that is some activation code!

I have been asked hundreds of times why I metal detect, or what drew me to treasure hunting as a small boy. Over the years my answers have ranged from “The thrill and excitement of the hunt” to, “It’s the way I relax and become one with history.” Truth be told, I am driven by a deep and undeniable need to search for treasure.

I’ve devoted thousands of hours to treasure hunting - reading and studying, hiking, camping, digging, diving and metal detecting. I have experienced bitter disappointment and frustration; hyper- and hypothermia; near drowning; scrapes; blisters; cuts; burns; mosquito, tick and fly bites; scorpion, wasp and bee stings; countless cactus, thorn and splinter removals; ankle and knee twists; falls; bruised and bloodied shins, knees, forearms and elbows – and a precious few minutes and hours holding treasures I’ve found.

Through my experiences I developed particular beliefs about treasure hunting, and the people who are drawn to it. I believe treasure hunting is a solo endeavor, not a good “team sport.” Depending on and partnering with another person or trusting them with your treasure hunting secrets is - most often - a recipe for betrayal and disappointment. Good partners and loyal friends are out there, but they are rarer than a gold nugget.

I believe you must teach yourself to research the history of your area and what drew crowds together there in the past. Realize that sometimes no historical records exist so you must put on your thinking cap before you start gridding potential sites. Your local historical society can be your best source of information, but do not tell them you are a metal detector!

Always keep your big finds - or the sale of them - to yourself. Never share your research secrets or techniques with friends. Metal detecting, treasure hunting and gold prospecting clubs, can be excellent ways for a new treasure hunter to learn how to use, buy, and sell the tools of the trade. New members rarely find anything significant on club hunts or claims, but they do gain basic information on how to conduct research, use their machines properly, and how to recover their targets correctly.

“Caveat emptor” or, “Let the buyer beware,” is the name of the game in treasure hunting. Never let greed overcome your common sense when it comes to buying equipment. “New,” does not mean better, stronger, deeper, lighter, or easier. Any machine that does not pay for itself and start making you money (or produce the artifacts you are looking for) quickly is a liability. Don’t be brand loyal, be mission focused.

Do not start with the cheapest, or most expensive equipment. Start your search with the right equipment. You wouldn’t try to win a golf tournament with one club in your bag no matter how expensive, or whatever the brand. Just like golf - where the course and distance to the hole dictates which club to use - different types of treasure and their locations dictate the type of metal detector, drywasher, dredge, highbanker, vacuum, shaker screen, shovel or pick you’ll need to be successful. You must do your due diligence BEFORE you buy so you won’t have to “upgrade” or replace equipment later.

Everyone on the Internet has an opinion – including me. That does not make them (or me) right, factual, knowledgeable or even sane for that matter. Less than 10-percent of the people that post on ANY online forum actually have first- hand experience in, or knowledge about the thread subjects they respond to. If the subject is important to you check the facts and verify them. Over time you will know who the forum posers are and develop relationships with credible members.

Got a question? Ask.

Have a complaint? That’s a shame.

Honored Joe!

This week is the sixth anniversary of my entry into the hobby of metal detecting and I've enjoyed every minute of it. I'm only sorry I didn't get into it sooner. I have some incredible finds for my 5 years of metal detecting and I look forward to finding a lot more.   But more importantly, I've met a lot of good people along the way and I'm proud to say I can call most of them friends.