subject: Looking For Hidden Treasure: A Few Tips For Metal Detectors [print this page] Metal detecting began as a true science during the late 1800s. It has had an intriguing history ever since. The new understanding of how to combine electricity with mechanics to detect metal began with the use of devices to hunt for gold and other priceless metals. Initial endeavors, however, were only partially successful. In once incident, trying to detect a bullet lodged in President James Garfield, Alexander Graham Bell used a rudimentary metal detecting device that couldn't differentiate between the bullet and the metal bed frame the President was lying in.
The 1930's saw the arrival of new technology, particularly the use of radio waves as a navigational tool. Metal detectors were redesigned and could now provide a more accurate picture of any buried metallic item. Metal detectors became a crucial part of the war effort during World War II, helping to identify buried landmines and other dangerous items. At the end of the war, excess metal detectors were sold to the public, and metal detecting as a hobby really began to take off.
Today's metal detectors are simple to operate and anyone can use them. Most require very little assembly and have been designed for ease of use over several hours. If you're just picking up a metal detector for the first time, review the owner's manual before you begin to make sure you understand how to read the information on the display.
Getting to know your detector will take time and practice. The best way to get to know your units tones is to practice at home with it first. Set up a practice course using a variety of objects like plastic cups and lids, loose change, pan lids and random items. You can walk through "finding" things until you get used to the way certain items sound when your detector signals.
With a variety of metal detectors on the market, it is important to investigate which type is right for you before making the purchase. There are pulse, single frequency, and long ranged devices to choose from, so how do you know which one is right? First consider the type of terrain you'll be investigating. Pulse detectors have a wide range but they may detect as much trash as treasure. A solo frequency detector works well in a dry, urban area. Multi-frequency detectors are recommended for a wetter climate, and are probably a great choice for a sandy beach terrain. Long range detectors, locating objects as far as twenty feet underground, are usually only used by professionals and are too costly for most hobbyists.
The online metal detection community is a great resource to mine if you are just starting out in metal detecting. Get to know them well as you conduct your online research.
