metal detector to borrow in the boston area?

[rmd]

any of y'all have a metal detector i could borrow for a few days or a week?

i'm looking to wander around on my brother andy's property out in sudbury.

(also, anyone want to buy a nice old house in sudbury with a big plot of land?)

Comments

[sparkymonster.livejournal.com]

OK who buried the treasure and lost the map?

[rmd.livejournal.com]

i'll know that after i find the box of gold coins buried in 1790.

[mdm-sosostris.livejournal.com]

Is Sudbury on the commuter rail? I do have friends looking to buy.

[rmd.livejournal.com]

not directly. there's a commuter rail stop in framingham, one town over. it's around here (http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=42.355943,-71.408858&spn=0.013764,0.031071&t=h&z=15) on google map.

[mdm-sosostris.livejournal.com]

Hello Again,

My friends are interested in the house. They'd like to hear more about it -- is your email still at offhand?

Thanks,
Megan

[rmd.livejournal.com]

indeed it is.

the house is old. if they want granite kitchens and a subzero fridge already, this is not the house for them. otoh, it's on a *huge* lot, has a big fenced in back yard, and lots of original wood in it.

[mdm-sosostris.livejournal.com]

They're really looking for someplace with a big yard, rather than cutting edge appliances. I'll send 'em your email. Thanks!

[dancingdeer.livejournal.com]

Would your friends be interested in a house in North Grafton? There is a commuter rail station not too far from the house. Close to Worcester.

[istemi.livejournal.com]

There's a metal detector store in Watertown (http://www.whitesmetaldetector.com/bos.shtml). Perhaps they have rentals, if you can't scare up a loaner.

[rmd.livejournal.com]

yeah, that's my next stop.

i'm just really surprised that i don't know someone with one. it's something with such a high potential for nerdiness, i'm really shocked i don't know someone who is elbow deep in the hobby.

[istemi.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean. You immediately gained +2 nerd cred in my regard.

[deguspice.livejournal.com]

"i'm really shocked i don't know someone who is elbow deep in the hobby."

The problem is that to use it, you have to go out into the big blue room.

"elbow"??? You said "elbow"!

[scottro.livejournal.com]

You do. In the summer, I take mine out every night (and many lunch breaks). I've been doing it for several years now. I'm even on the message boards quite a bit.

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[rmd.livejournal.com]

oh good. i'm still surprised i don't know anyone out here who messes about with them.

so, i don't want to spend too much time and energy on something that may be a one or two shot deal. so if i can find a local one to borrow easily, i'll see if white's rents.

i am vaguely tempted by this (http://www.sciplus.com/recommend.cfm/recommendid/8648) at american science and surplus as a total noob beginner machine. i'm not sure where it falls on the cheap vs inexpensive spectrum, but for $120 it's not a huge risk.

[rmd.livejournal.com]

it looks like the white's metal detectors a few towns over will rent me a PRL1 for $35/day.

[scottro.livejournal.com]

Depends on what you're hunting for. If you are indeed looking for old coins, the PRL1 is not what you want.

If the White's dealer near you carries a Prizm V, start with that. They are very simple to operate, and very powerful for a low-end machine.

Personally, I use an M6 (retails for about $700, but I paid a lot less), and my son uses a Prizm III (about $250 or so, IIRC).

IMO, White's machines are the very best, but people who use other brands swear by them. It's really more of a science. The more you do it, the better at it you become.

A good metal detector dealer (of any brand) will show you how to use a machine, and if you tell them what your targets are, they will recommend the right machine for you.

You could also buy one used on eBay and then re-sell it for about the same price. That way you could keep it for a month or so, and then get the same money back for it, or very close to it. It would be your cheapest option.

I sure wish I was hunting that area! I've always looked for old homes to hunt. Most of the homes in my neighborhood were built around the 1920s and 30s, and every yard spits up silver quarters, dimes, etc. I can only imagine what your target yard will turn up.

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[rmd.livejournal.com]

iiinteresting.

are the prizms okay to use on a beach-type environment? (my folks' place is on cape cod, and is next to a tidal river)

i had actually been looking at metal detectors a bit last year before my dad died. i was thinking of getting one for my dad to use on the nearby beach and thereabouts -- i could've pictured him getting into it and with the assorted small great grandchildren to do digging for him, i suspect he'd have enjoyed it.

[scottro.livejournal.com]

Yes, the entire line of Prizms are excellent and easy to use machines. The Prizm III was actually my first machine, but I gave it to my son when I bought my M6. Again, I bought both of my machines on eBay, slightly used, and saved a ton. I am very happy with both purchases.

The Prizm III is excellent for land and beach. I will advise, however, that there are some supplies you absolutely must have if you are going to do any sort of metal detecting. For any of these supplies, I recommend KellyCo (http://www.kellycodetectors.com/indexmain.htm).

1. Headphones. An

essential

item. Keeps the signal to yourself, and it's much more clear. Any cheap pair will do, although some of the pros swear by the more expensive models. If you have an iPod or some such device, you can use the ear buds with an adapter from Radio Shack.

2. A good trowel. Garden trowels are not the best, and they tend to break after extended use. I use a Lesche Digger (about $40). You can find them in any good detecting store.

3. If you're beach hunting, a sand scoop is a must have item. They range from inexpensive ($10) to rather expensive ($75+). The cheap plastic ones work fine.

4. An apron or belt. You need something to carry your tools in, as well as your finds. Whites makes a useful apron, and it's not expensive (if you buy a new machine, especially from KellyCo, you'll get a bunch of stuff free. I see right now they're giving away a very nice digger.)

Some other things to remember that are

very

important.

1. Digging technique. You don't want to just start digging holes all over the lawn (beach is a lot easier, of course, to make the area look like it did before you dug). The idea is to leave an area as you found it. The best technique is called the "flap", and it takes practice. Once you pinpoint your target, use your trowel to make three straight-down cuts, like 3 sides of a square. Now, pull back the "flap" of turf you created, making sure you don't tear it from the remaining side (you're using that side like a hinge, if you can picture it). Remove the soil with your hands or trowel and place it on a towel (good to have several towels with you). After you recover the target, backfill the dirt and close the flap. You might have to stand on it to make it flat again. When done correctly, this technique leaves almost no mark at all.

2. Trash. You will find tons of crap, like bottle caps, pull-tabs, cans, pieces of cans, foil, etc., etc. Don't just leave that stuff in the ground (or sand). Proper etiquette dictates removal of all trash you find as well. I use a two-pocket tool belt, and one of the main pockets is for trash. Your trash to good stuff ratio will be high, so be prepared. Even the best detectors in the world will give you signals for junk because some coins and rings and things fall into the same VDI range and will give a similar signal.

(continued on next post)

[scottro.livejournal.com]

3. Pinpointing. A very valuable skill. If you can pinpoint well and verify your target, you'll save a lot of time. Ask your dealer to show you techniques. also, if you really start to like the hobby, a pinpointing device is an excellent investment. For about $100 or so (I use a Whites Bullseye II), you can purchase a smaller metal detector that you hold in your hand. When you dig a target, many times it's hard to find it in the hole. That's where the hand-held pinpointer comes in. It will locate the exact location of your target in a hole. Can't live without mine.

4. Permission. Make sure you are detecting in a location where it is allowed. Many places are very, very picky. I'm lucky in Ohio, because all parks and schools that are public allow detecting (it's actually a law). If you find a residence you'd like to hunt, ask for permission. It also helps to show them your digging techniques and let them know you won't destroy the lawn. also, it's sometimes nice to offer a portion of your finds to the owner. Whatever you're comfortable with.

Some other tools you might want to look into are gloves, a coin popper, a probe (non-electronic), extra batteries, a knife (for root cutting, unless your trowel has a nice serrated edge) and kneepads. Kneepads are essential for most detectorists, because most detectorists are 40+ and have bad knees! Still, I love mine. I only wear one, as I bend down on my right knee when recovering a target.

Expect to get dirty. It's not a clean hobby. Expect to get tired. Expect a sore arm. Expect long moments of swinging the coil without finding anything. Expect to find a lot of clad (1964-present) coins, mostly pennies. Expect to have some days where you pull 100+ coins out of the ground. It's a great feeling. Expect to find a great assortment of old coins, mostly silver dimes and quarters (pre-1964). Expect to have a great time.

I love this hobby, and I've made some great finds. I'm always looking for the right spot to hunt. Like real estate, this game is all about location. The older, the better. It sounds like you've got some amazing spots to hunt already.

If you'd like to discuss this in greater detail, or have any questions at all, email me and I'll give you my number so we can chat about it on the phone. My fingers are sore. :)

77

[rmd.livejournal.com]

i found a pretty good price on a prizm IV (mid $300, iirc), so i picked it up. and it almost immediately started raining. *sigh*

once it dries out a bit, i'll likely head out to my brother's place with him and poke around in his yard.

thanks for your help! i'll let you know more when i've had a chance to poke about with it.

[metagnat.livejournal.com]

Does the house cost less than $276? If so, then yes, I'd love to buy it! :)

But seriously. Good luck finding your fortune in gold doubloons.

-E

[dancingdeer.livejournal.com]

What's up with Andy?

[rmd.livejournal.com]

nothing bad! he's moved the home for wayward labradors to savin hill, in boston. he bought a place there a while back -- it's really nice. it's got a view of the ocean and easy access to a lot of beach for the labs to run around on.

[dancingdeer.livejournal.com]

oh, cool. That sounds nice.
I wish him luck in selling the house (obviously, as evidenced in a previous comment, we still have the house in Grafton, although it's rented right now).

[laurenpburka.livejournal.com]

We have one from the cold, dark winter when Dan's ring flew off his finger and landed in our gravel driveway. I suggested he go to MIT and talk to friends about borrowing a metal detector cause they must have one, but he only found people who explained how to make them. So he bought one at radio snack for about $20.

If you want to borrow it, I'll make him dig it up.

[scottro.livejournal.com]

The problem with cheap ones like that is that their depth capabilities, contrary to what the box might say, is about 2 inches max. Also, there's just about zero discrimination, and you can't control the ground balance or the sensitivity.

Yeah, I'm a detector snob. My apologies.

77

[scottro.livejournal.com]

God I would love to hunt old property in an old part of the country like that. I have two great machines, and I've not been able to get out this year yet because of all the snow in Ohio.

If I had a way to get out there, I'd do it in a flash.

77

[whipartist.livejournal.com]

Hey, offhand.org is or was bouncing mail because of ordb.

[rmd.livejournal.com]

yeah, sorry, there was power flakiness overnight and offhand came up stupid. i love waking up and having to fix postfix.