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 Replies: 16 / Views: 2,993 |
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Valued Member
United States
429 Posts |
A few weeks ago my parents were passing through town so I asked to borrow their metal detector, so over the last couple of weeks I have been trying to figure out how to use it and having fun doing so. And before you ask, I have not found much and the is reason for no pictures, but it has brought up some questions.
The first place I went to was a school close to our house and I searched through one of the playgrounds. I ended up with 29 cents, a couple of hair clips and a few springs and bend metal. Never using one before I felt pretty good at what I had found so I decided to take it out again this weekend. I loaded up the family and went to my kids school and gave them a chance to play on the playground as I did some quick searching.
I was only into it 5 minutes and pulled out a couple of nails and a rusty razor blade. It scared me because this is a place where a ton of kids play and there were so many harmful pieces in it. I took the kids off of that playground and moved around to the other end of the school and told them to play there. As I started searching it I started pulling up screws, sharp metal and all kinds of other hazardous pieces. To say the least, I was very upset and concerned for the lack of safety. School does not start for another week but I would hate to see someone get hurt, what is the best way to bring up my concerns to the school and find a way to get these cleaned out. If I personally had enough free time I would do it myself but I don't and I am concerned that no one else will. Has anyone else ran into this problem, and if so what did you do to resolve the situation?
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5953 Posts |
I do what some one else on another forum suggested. I collect all the trash I find together you know the usual bullets knives nails, etc I then show them to the Principle. I explain what it is I do in the play areas and how I am doing my bit to help keep the kids safe. Usually they are surprised about the amount of stuff I find. For the most part it gets me written permission to search on a regular basis which is not strictly needed but helps with overzealous cops. It has also helped me get into a couple of schools that lock their yards during the weekend. It give me more chance to practice my hobby and it helps keep the school yards safe. Everyone wins...
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Valued Member
 United States
429 Posts |
Thanks for the advice I will have to try this. My only problem is that we were in such a hurry I forgot to pick up the pile I had so hopefully it is there when I go by tonight.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6326 Posts |
 I couldn't imagine if I'd have found hypodermic needles or something like that on school property!... .... |
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Valued Member
United States
101 Posts |
I live in Northwest Ohio. I find sharp objects but not syringes in the mulch. Mostly pieces of nails. I think they are buying mulch from a local company that grings up pallets. A friend in Tucson, AZ that finds live ammo almost everytime out. Depends on where you live. Penny Pincher remove the junk you find everytime and you will be a credit to the hobby.
HH
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Pillar of the Community
United States
891 Posts |
I find that kind of stuff all the time. It's saddening to think the kids are getting hurt by these objects. Every piece I pick up is one that will not hurt any kids. I even run across broken glass. I try to pick up what I can see. I wonder if the school system would hire me to go around and keep the play areas free from these types of objects. Pay me minimum wage to cover gas and keep everything I find. Now that's a thought.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6326 Posts |
 ........Now that's a good idea !...  |
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Valued Member
United States
429 Posts |
Tonight is back to school night so I plan on talking to the Principal and letting everyone know what happened later this week.
The part that gets to me was how upset that I got that I actually left and did not get broke objects out. As long as I get permission to go through it now and then I would be happy but being paid would make me have to do it.
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Valued Member
United States
429 Posts |
Last night turned out to be a good night for me and the school. Me and my family talked to the principal at the end of the night and let her know what we recently found in the playground and she was shocked. She told us about all the construction that had been going on this summer (which we did not know about) and that the construction crew was suppose to be picking up after themselves. She informed us that the janitorial staff and teachers would be informed and asked to look closer when outside and that during the mean time almost begged me to keep metal detecting the grounds with exclusive rights and privileges. So now the tough part is making sure I find the time to do it each week and keep having fun with it.
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Rest in Peace
United States
2668 Posts |
I'm sure she is concerned, and probably a little shocked. Let me say, in the good old U.S.A. teachers and administrators are promoted to the plum jobs based on how well they keep the clientele from getting voiciferous. Thus her concern is two-fold.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6326 Posts |
This is good to hear ! I'm glad she did the right thing and gave you exclusive rights to do this ! Aside from the good work you'll be doing in removing trash.......I hope you do find some stuff worth keeping too though !....  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
891 Posts |
Glad to hear you got to go ahead on looking. Sounds like things worked out for you. Good luck in your search. I hope you do end up showing some of your finds.
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Valued Member
United States
429 Posts |
Hopefully there is stuff worth showing. I plan on making the first excursion Saturday when I will have a little more time to search, I am just worried that it will be all construction garbage. But at least I know my kids and the others at the school will be safe from harmful materials as I do this and if they want to reward me by dropping loose change now and then I will not complain.
Now I have another question...when going through fields and grassy areas how do you do it? What I mean is, to what extant do you go to when digging up the ground and putting it back to normal. The metal detector I am using was only suppose to be for surface searching but the more I use it the deeper it goes. As I have started using the dials I have been able to search at least 6-8" down and know it is going deeper but with out any type of digital display I have no idea how far down things are. I would hate to dig a huge hole to find a piece of scrap metal just for the fact I have dug up an area that was not needed to be done.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6326 Posts |
My detector has "settings" to eliminate "trash" and I think most all metal detectors go down about 6 to 8 inches.......higher end ones can go much deeper of course.
But, from what I gather, if you replace a "grass clump" it will re-root and be just fine. It's those that make the "divots" and don't replace them, similar to a golf course etiquette, that will leave "holes" and signs of the digging.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
891 Posts |
Most of the stuff that I find at schools are usually 1 to 2 inches deep if not on the surface. Most of the time I just pop it out of the ground without having to dig a hole. But that is knowing where my detector is telling me its at. If I have to go deeper I usually dig out a plug about 3 inches diameter. I don't worry about the sand and mulch play areas I just make sure I refill the holes. I still try not to dig to many holes especially all in one area.
If you are the only one looking it you should have some pretty good finds. After you hit the main play areas branch out and check everywhere. Those kids are all over the place. I have had some of my better finds away from the main areas. Just keep hitting it. It all adds up. Most important is to have fun and enjoy it.
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Valued Member
United States
429 Posts |
Thanks for the advice and I will slowly start doing that when I get the main play areas cleaned up.
I went last night for about an hour and can tell that the Principal must have put the fear of God into those construction workers because that main play area was very clean. I ended up finding a couple of screws, a broken drill bit, a hair pin and a few broken pencils, that area was clean. Later this weak I will get the smaller playgrounds done and then move onto the fields. Last night when I was there I noticed that they having football and soccer practices, so there should be a few items from that as well.
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Replies: 16 / Views: 2,993 |
Posted 08/04/2008 3:08 pm
