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 Replies: 14 / Views: 2,327 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
713 Posts |
For us newbies, this is a general forum for all of us on the learning curve.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
713 Posts |
I decided on a White's DFX for my first machine. Bought new. Here's the results of my first two hunts. Both were really for learning the machine and techniques, more than looking for anything valuable. Hunt 1: Backyard, of course. Calluses on my hands and inadequate tools, other than the DFX. Finds:  Nails, pop tops, a 1940 Wheat penny rusted, and a 1963d penny. Hunt 2: Beach.  Nails, pen, bottle cap, pop tops, string ?, foil, and 1 penny, not a wheatie. It was a little discouraging, especially at the beach. I thought for sure I'd find something there. But, I'm still learning how to swing the machine, how to slow myself down, as I tend to rush because I want that "find". I have not met anyone personally who is detecting, so I think that will help when I do. They can point out what I'm doing wrong. I hope it's just luck and not the machine that caused me to find nothing, other than a few pennies. I did remember what everyone says and I did throw away all the trash I found. I'm assuming if the DFX can find a pop top at 7" it should be able to find coins and jewelery and whatever else. I'll keep reading and researching and hunting! Please share your first experiences with us all and thank you! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4333 Posts |
Keep it up with the DFX and the good stuff will come. I bought mine back in 2007, and my second time out I dug my first silver, a '45 merc. I was hunting the back of my old elementary school next to the woods, talk about a rush. I may have dropped that coin as I was a kindergardener there 45 years ago, lol.
When I listen to LED ZEPPELIN...so do my neighbors...
Roll hunting since '77
Dirt fishing since '72
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Pillar of the Community
United States
713 Posts |
Cool find, FFD. I went today for about an hour to the park next to my house. Cop actually drove by and saw me but did not bother me. After some of the stories I've heard, I half expected to get taken away in handcuffs, but people say municipal parks are ok. And schools are legal as long as no school in session? Here's today's finds:  Best yet, lol! What I learned is ya gotta go where people go. Also, I was looking at an old town-promotion book of a town a couple of towns away. Looked like there was a whole lot of activity in and around the river. All kinds of events, parties, and general recreation. I gotta get over there. FFD, did you ever use your DFX in the water, of course avoiding the control box? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4333 Posts |
Quote:
FFD, did you ever use your DFX in the water, of course avoiding the control box?
I have Bernie, a few times. Shallow water to my knees only. I filled a pair of socks with stones, and tied them around the top of the coil to weigh it down, coil wants to float. Water hunting, not my favorite experience with the DFX. When I listen to LED ZEPPELIN...so do my neighbors...
Roll hunting since '77
Dirt fishing since '72
Edited by fistfulladirt
10/09/2012 07:21 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
713 Posts |
I guess the Minelab CTX3030 or Whites BeachHunter would be best. Have you hunted the beach much? Seems like a great place to find stuff. I went 2nd time ever using the DFX and I found nothing. Only did about 1 1/2 hours, and didn't know what I was doing. Here's today's finds, from a tot park; did about an hour:  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
713 Posts |
haven't been able to hunt for a week or so. all last weekend was booked for the business.
soon it will be too cold to hunt, right?
only the beach will be good.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4333 Posts |
Depends on your definition of cold. I live in Michigan, I hunted every month last year through the winter! Mild winter.
When I listen to LED ZEPPELIN...so do my neighbors...
Roll hunting since '77
Dirt fishing since '72
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Pillar of the Community
United States
713 Posts |
Cool!
How do you break the ground? Or was it not frozen?
I've been to Michigan, and it was ccccold
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4333 Posts |
I can cut through a 1" frozen crust with a Lesch digger. I normally hit the thaws that occur throughout the winter.
When I listen to LED ZEPPELIN...so do my neighbors...
Roll hunting since '77
Dirt fishing since '72
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Pillar of the Community
United States
713 Posts |
I just bought a Lesche digger 2 weekends ago. Glad to know it'll work on that crust.
Goin out tomorrow and maybe Sunday. Thinking about hitting the beach Sunday, since we got a lotta rain today, and maybe that stirs things up?
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Valued Member
United States
158 Posts |
Depending on where you live you may be able to hunt all yr long. In my area I hunt all year long, even though on some days the wind can make it very cold. And with an At Pro there is no need for me to worry about rain. :)
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Pillar of the Community
United States
713 Posts |
Due to weather, I can't hunt all year long, but we'll see how it goes this year. I was able to hunt Saturday and today at the church behind my house. I'm pretty sure they have never had it hunted before. I literally couldn't get two step without my DFX beeping. Every year they have a fair and hundreds of people are there, maybe 1,000. There are rides and people are going upside down. They have a pastor and a retired priest there. The pastor was on vacation and the retired priest gave me permission. Still, every time I heard a siren in town, I thought "Well, this is it." But, all went well. I had the DFX set on coins and jewelry, but I couldn't seem to connect any old coins or jewelry. I found all clad, but a few wheat cents. They're so rusty and beat up, I'm just cashing them in at the bank. I'm sure there's a better setting on my DFX for getting deeper, older coins and stuff. But I didn't want to use the shovel to go real deep on church property anyway. I was afraid someone would come out and stop me any minute. Here's pics of the trash and coins and other stuff I found, including an old matchbox made in england, a gold-plated watch back from Movado 5th Ave NY, and a gun tie clip (I think).    You can see here the matchbox, Movado watch back (next to car), and the gun clip.  Here's the back of the matchbox, showing made in England, and series 46. The back also says, Mercedes 300 SE.  Movado   Back of gun clip says, "SWANK"  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
713 Posts |
Haven't been able to go all week.
Hope to get out for a few hours this weekend.
Hurricane Sandy looks to hit the East Coast pretty hard,
so that could be some great beach hunting!
Hope I can get down there.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
713 Posts |
Here's my first silver! And a beautiful Barber dime to boot:    Such a joy for me! So exciting. Wish I lived down the Jersey Shore, hurricane Sandy is hitting hard, and the searching on Tuesday or Wednesday should be incredible. |
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Replies: 14 / Views: 2,327 |
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Posted 10/07/2012 07:26 am
