I was twelve years old when I asked for my first metal detector. Dad was skeptical.
He knew from experience how fast kids got over novel hobbies and expensive toys. He was hesitant to spend hundreds of dollars on a piece of beeping machinery that I might neglect after the second day.
Fortunately, Dad gave me a chance. He purchased a cheap kid-friendly metal detector from Toys R Us and observed how I used it over the next few days. I spent the entire weekend sweeping the grounds outside our North Carolina home, uncovering nothing but old cans and rusty nails.
For my hours of persistence, I didn't uncover a single treasure. Not even a rusty penny. But I showed Dad exactly what he needed to see: My interest in metal detecting wasn't going anywhere any time soon.
After just a few days of watching me unbury every tin can and bottlecap in our yard, Dad leveled me up to a better metal detector. I used that second metal detector for over a decade to discover hundreds of coins, several pieces of jewelry, and a deepened love for history and collecting. I've been hooked ever since.
In this article, I'm going to show you how to get started with metal detecting, so you can enjoy this hobby as well.
What tools do you need to go metal detecting?
The reality is, you only need two things: A metal detector and a small shovel.
Metal detectors range in price from about $100 all the way up to tens of thousands of dollars. For beginning detectorists, a budget detector between $200 - $350 provides a sweet spot between affordability and value.
For example, I recently purchased the new Minelab Vanquish 340 on Amazon for about $200. In the first day, I uncovered several coins at a lake not far from my home. I went back a few days later and found several more at the same place.
Optional metal detecting equipment
If you want more than just the basics, here are a few popular tools that many detectorists love to keep on hand during a hunt:
Pouch that seals for safely storing finds
Pinpointer to locate the precise location of a find to avoid damaging it with a shovel
Headphones to hear your metal detector's beeps and tones more clearly
Spray bottle with water to clean delicate finds without damaging them
Gloves to protect your fingers from nails, cans, and other sharp objects you may uncover
Trash bag to collect uncovered cans, bottle caps, and other common waste
Where to go metal detecting
There are two primary categories of metal detecting destinations: Private and Public. Some of these destinations overlap because it varies by location. Some states, for example, allow permissionless metal detecting on public property, while others don't.
Metal detecting on private property
Private destinations require you to ask permission before detecting. These include residential properties, many cities or state parks, and commercial lots. The benefit here is exclusivity. Since detecting these locations requires more effort before you can start hunting, you're more likely to find plots of land that have never been searched before.
Of course, if you own private property, you usually don't need to ask permission before metal detecting. If your neighborhood has a strict HOA, you still may need to ask permission before digging holes on your property.
Metal detecting on public property
Public destinations include many city and state parks, bodies of water like beaches and lakes, and national forests.
As a rule of thumb, it's wise to research local rules about metal detecting before you go out on a treasure hunt. Better to be safe than sorry.
Metal detecting best practices
Now for the fun part: How to get started metal detecting.
1. Learn the tones of your metal detector
Every metal detector emits different tones for different types of metal. Before you start detecting, drop a few items on the ground outside to get used to positive versus negative tones.
Start by dropping some coins on the ground (a mix of pennies, quarters, nickels, and dimes). Run your metal detector over these items and pay attention to the tones you hear.
Remove the coins. Replace them with gold jewelry and run the detector over these items. Again, pay attention to the tone.
Finally, replace the jewelry with trash like tin cans, bottle caps, and nails. Listen to the tones.
Getting familiar with the difference in tones will help you detect more treasure and less trash. But remember: Every detectorist digs up trash. Don't let it get you down when it happens to you. The more you use your metal detector, the better you'll get at recognizing trash from treasure.
2. Use a sweeping motion and remember where you've been
As you walk, sweep the metal detector back and forth to cover the full swath of ground in front of you.
It helps to walk in a clear pattern, like the patterns you might use when mowing a lawn. You can walk up and down your designated area in straight lines to make sure you sweep every square foot of the property.
Many detectorists simply go wherever they want. If you do this, just try to keep track of where you've already been to avoid wasting time combing the same area more than once.
3. Focus on popular areas and unconventional ones
Metal detecting is not complicated. The best thing you can do to find treasure is to simply think about where people like to spend time outdoors.
If you're metal detecting a large field, make sure to spend time under the shadiest trees where someone might go to rest or escape the sun.
When detecting a park, check under places people play or sit like beneath swings, benches, and at the bottom of slides.
If you're detecting a beach, go where most people lay out their towels. Better yet, if your metal detector is waterproof, go into waste-deep water where people like to casually wade. Many people lose jewelry like rings and watches while they swim.
Searching popular areas can help you uncover trinkets and coins that people have dropped over the years. But you should also think outside the box. Metal detecting is a popular hobby. The odds of going to a beach or park that's never been combed by another detectorist is unlikely in 2021.
But there are many places that still haven't been detected. Find those spots by stepping outside the 'normal' places. Take the road less traveled to find undiscovered trinkets and treasures.
4. Dig without damaging your treasure
The best metal detecting finds are often extremely delicate. Think of this as uncovering buried antiques. Handle every dig with caution to mitigate your chances of damaging your discovery. Here are a few ways to keep your finds safe as you recover them from the ground:
Use a pinpointer to locate exactly where a coin or piece of jewelry is in the ground
If you're rubbing dirt off a coin, use your bare finger instead of a glove (which can act like sandpaper against the face of your coin)
If you're using a shovel to dig, go slowly to avoid hitting (and permanently damaging) whatever is under the ground
Is metal detecting profitable?
If you're looking to amass a small personal fortune, metal detecting isn't as reliable as say, becoming a doctor or working on Wall Street. But metal detecting is such a popular hobby because of the possibility to discover just about anything—including a life-changing fortune. More likely though, you're going to uncover items with more sentimental than monetary value.
Most detectorists joined the hobby to satisfy their love for discovering and preserving history. The odds of getting wealthy digging up buried treasure, though possible, are very, very low. It's about the experience of uncovering history, being out in nature, and never knowing what mystery lies buried just beneath your shoes.
What to do with metal detecting finds
Give them to the property owner
I would bet that most detectorists who've been combing public areas for at least six months have been asked to help a stranger uncover a lost item. People lose wedding rings and other valuables every day. Flagging the nearby detectorist is only natural.
If a property owner allows you to detect their land, you can offer to give them the items you uncover. You may help them rediscover money, jewelry, or other items their family has lost over the years.
Sell your finds
I know I just told you that metal detecting isn't a get-rich-quick scheme. But that doesn't mean there isn't some money to be made. Some items, most commonly jewelry, can be sold for a little extra cash.
Showcase your finds
I believe this is the most popular thing to do with your finds: Save them for the fun of remembering your hunts.
Years ago I purchased a small wooden chest at a garage sale. All my metal detecting finds, from bullets to coins, are stored in this chest in my home. Over the years, the contents within the chest have grown a lot. Every time I open it, I'm reminded of my finds from last weekend's hunt, and a metal detecting venture from more than fifteen years ago!
If you want to remember your coolest discoveries, hold onto them. These are little pieces of history you can enjoy for the rest of your life.
How to get started metal detecting in 2021
Metal detecting is one of the most wholesome hobbies. It gets you outdoors, slows you down in a fast-moving culture, and inspires you to keep believing that there's more treasure in the world just waiting to be discovered.
And as you can tell from this article, metal detecting isn't all that complicated. Armed with your favorite detector, there's no telling what long-lost history you'll dig up in your backyard, local park, or nearby beach.
And that, folks, is how to get started metal detecting. I hope you found this article helpful.
Good luck on your next hunt!
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