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How Do You Carry Your Digger/Probe/Pinpointer? (PIC)

Critterhunter

New member
I posted this about a year ago but thought it'd be a fun discussion again to share ideas...

I thought it would be interesting to see how others are carrying their tools in the field. My digger, probe, pin pointer, and ID chart were thrown into various pockets on this holster. I found it for $6 at Home Depot. While I was at it I figured I'd get rid of the hooky looking leather belt I was using and buy a real utility belt for $3 there as well.

This holder has a nice big pocket for my digger, another screwdriver holder for my probe, and an elastic pocket that snugly holders my Garrett Pro Pointer without the need to use the holster it came with. The picture doesn't look like it but the pin pointer's pocket is very snug, yet it still allows easy removal and re-insertion of the probe without needing two hands. Same deal with the other tools. I try to make things so I can use just my left hand to remove and use the various items. There's even a big pocket behind the digger pocket that I keep my Sovereign ID chart in should I need to reference it to refresh my memory on something. It doesn't show up well in the picture but you can see something white behind the digger's pocket. While I was at it I also threw an extra nylon bolt/wing nut into the extra pocket should I need that to fix a coil mount bolt in the field. Come to think of it I should probably stick a few extra rubber washers in there as well in case I lose one swapping coils.

This holster is the type that doesn't need a belt. You can stick that part into your pocket if you don't like wearing those. Since the picture I later cut off the dog chain connector and the unneeded cover that folds over the pin pointer's pocket, and I also later cut a hole in the pocket for the Pro Pointer and the probe so that they both sit more down into the pockets. Works great and I couldn't be happier with this setup.

I'm still using the old two pocket style apron from Home Depot for my finds to go in one pocket and my trash in the other. I prefer using those because it's easy to shake out the dirt, remove the junk, and wash it once in a while should need be. Can't tell you how many years I carried my digger by sticking it in my apron's trash pocket. It would poke me in the belly when bending down, fall out on me without me realizing it, migrate dirt or mud to my shirt or deposit it into the apron, and even my trash would stick to it when I remove the digger sometimes when it was wet out.

The biggest thing for me was making sure none of the pockets would snag or cause me to have to use two hands for removing or replacing a tool. That leads to frustration in the field. I feel it makes no sense to tweak out your machine but not do the same with your tools so everything goes as smooth as possible in the field.

I'd love to see pictures of what others find to be a useful setup for them in the field.
 
Didn't read entire post but my setup is similar to yours. The biggest pocket is for trash. A smaller pocket for keepers. A zipper pocket for the good stuff.
 
A mighty fine discussion for a cold day! Me being new to this addiction, I wear that same Home Depot cheap little apron, and have realized the same benefits that you mentioned Critter.
I carry my pinpointer in the "trash" pouch, with a hole poked in the bottom to recieve the wand, I carry my probe, (screwdriver) in my left hand, and have been leaving my Lesche in the truck for the past few months...I used to wear it like a sword, poked through the apron string in a comfortable spot that wouldn't jam my gut, but one of my knife finds this year, was a cheap folder with a 4" blade, partially serrated...If i have to go deep, I use that to cut out a circle of sod, and can retrieve item then...makes for a very clean and neat hole...one of the reason I dont carry the lesche, is I work a lot of city parks, soccer fields, football fields, and the groundkeepers get the "galloping shudders" anytime they see somebody with a "shovel" on their turf. That little folder knife also resides in the trash pocket, out of sight...If I get a good signal, I can usually target it with the probe, ream out the hole a little, and pop it out...really fast! If I cant hit a coin sounding target with that, its usually a ring! The probe could also be carried in the center apron pocket that was intended for a carpenters pencil, again with a hole poked in the bottom...i have plenty of leather carpenter pouches and belts around the house, (used to work in the trades) but have never liked to wear them for their weight, even then...with the apron on, I can still jump in the truck and head to another spot without removing it...oh, deepest good find this summer? was a 1910 barber dime at 8" in shallow center field, we do have some nice sandy/loam soil here with little or no gravel, If I was in a tougher spot, the the lesche would be employed more often...
 
Dang, Tom you are bringing up subjects that I am anal about. I have a tried and true way of hanging my stuff off my belt and if I vary from that one little spot on my belt I am LOST and feel real uncomfortable. I have to have my holster for my pinpointer on my right hip, far enough to my backside that the end of my detector does not touch it while swinging. My digger is always off the front of my left hip, more to the front (laying against my left front jeans pocket). If it is two inchs back I can't get the Lesche in the holster. My apron has to be at a certain height on my hips or my screwdriver probe digs in my leg when I kneel down to dig. Now for the capper. My hat has to be just right on my head or my phones don't fit right. They slide forward if my hat is not pulled down enough. When I have everything just perfect, I am bound to have a great day of detecting. R.L.
 
How'd you know my first name by the way? From the QXT Tips? Just curious, unless this is Fern's friend Rich?
 
RLOH brings up a good subject...Hats! I found on a soccer field a Underarmour "beanie" style hat...i have been wearing the thing every day since (after washing of course) its great, and retails around 20 bucks, theres a blood stain on the inside of it now that I left there after banging my head underneath some bleachers! danged near knocked me out! I stumbled over to the porta pottys and packed the wound with some buttwipe, and continued swinging...Its warm when its cold out, cool when its hot out, and covers my old bald head nicely..making the earphone sweat not untolerable...
 
Tom, I read your QXT tips years ago when I first got a QXT. I didn't know you were the same guy until somebody said you were the world famous Tom Hill. By the way I think the QXT was one of my favorite Whites detectors. I had much more success with that detector than the two XLT's I owned. R.L.
 
Heavy leather belt and pouch from discount store. I usually carry a pinpointer, brass probe and screwdriver, magnifier, Ames 7in1 digger, and a silicone baking sheet (instead of a towel).
2010-02-01_21.03.08.jpg
 
World famous.... :biggrin: I hope not, because that would probably mean I'm being searched for by the FBI or something. :biggrin: Yea, I still feel even to this day that the QXT was the best Whites unit ever made so far in terms of depth on silver/copper coins and some other features. The XLT didn't hold a candle to it IMO, nor do the current "flagship" Whites with too many tweaks and still not enough performance to make it worth the effort messing with them.
 
Good discussion. When MDting, I believe in "traveling light" and personally dont care for all that "stuff" hanging on to me. JMHO. Got the Lesche in left hand / MDter in right. DX-1 eliminates need for pinpointer in a pouch. Got a carpenter's nail apron from LOWE's - less than $3. Tie it up good and snug - - Trash goes in left side / Goodies on right. Never had a problem. Usually will keep a long screwdriver (handle down) in back pocket for coin popping if needed. Nice finds can always go deep down into the front blue jean pocket and get looked at closely once home. CCH.
 
Now this is an interesting topic!
Below is my latest creation.

The bag is a two pocket leather screw/nail pouch, the inside pocket is the larger one, in it I mounted my leather screwdriver probe holder and beside that I mounted the sheath for the soil knife.

The idea for the two pockets comes from my old hunting days of the nail apron having two pouches, one for good finds, the other for junk (trash) The mounted tools still leaves room for the trash, the smaller outside pocket is for the good finds.

I'm now looking for a better belt and someday maybe a better pin-point probe.
Enjoy the pictures!

Mark
 
I'm a newbie, so what's the deal with the screwdriver? I made one in shop class in Jr. High that looks like the same size that many have posted in pix...but what's the benefit? :confused: I've read about digging tools and plan to buy a Predator. Yet, so many have posted about the screwdriver, how do you use this in the field?

BTW, I just ordered a pin pointer so thanks for all the tips on how to carry it. It comes with a belt sheath, but I may carry it in my tool belt or jeans instead, can't wait till Spring!!!
 
auggie69 said:
I'm a newbie, so what's the deal with the screwdriver? I made one in shop class in Jr. High that looks like the same size that many have posted in pix...but what's the benefit? :confused: I've read about digging tools and plan to buy a Predator. Yet, so many have posted about the screwdriver, how do you use this in the field?

BTW, I just ordered a pin pointer so thanks for all the tips on how to carry it. It comes with a belt sheath, but I may carry it in my tool belt or jeans instead, can't wait till Spring!!!

The screwdriver has been re-worked to be used as a probe, the tip was cut off and then grounded off round and then polished (see pictures).
Its a 6" long small shaft and in the right place its priceless! (The one in the picture is the one I have used sense around 1982)

The idea is that in some places you don't want to just dig a big open ugly hole, yea, your going to fill it back in but it REALLY looks bad during the process and can get you ran off just because they think your tearing up the place, but if you just have your finger in the ground they're fine.

After you have located and pin-pointed the coin with the detector you use the probe to probe for the target in the ground (find it with the probe)

After you make contact with it your going to lift the probe back off the target a bit and tilt it at an angle and push it back into the ground but out past the coin a bit.

Now, lift the handle up like a lever and tare the sod a bit. (you may have to do this a couple of times at different angles)

Lift the probe back up straight and rest the tip back on top of the target.

Take the index finger of your other hand and follow the shaft of the probe down to the coin, use your finger and push the dirt around a bit until you can feel the edge of the coin.

Now lift the probe up just a little and push it over and down past the opposite edge of the coin.

Your now in position to get the coin out of the ground.

With the probe flip the coin up on its edge, your index finger is still on the target so you can feel it flip up, now pinch the coin between your finger and the probe tip like chop-stix and pull the coin out of the hole.

When your done just take your fingers and push the tare closed.

It takes practice but after awhile you get good at it.

No, it don't work for coins past about 5".

Mark
 
auggie69 said:
I'm a newbie, so what's the deal with the screwdriver? I made one in shop class in Jr. High that looks like the same size that many have posted in pix...but what's the benefit? :confused: I've read about digging tools and plan to buy a Predator. Yet, so many have posted about the screwdriver, how do you use this in the field?

BTW, I just ordered a pin pointer so thanks for all the tips on how to carry it. It comes with a belt sheath, but I may carry it in my tool belt or jeans instead, can't wait till Spring!!!

Most people use a screwdriver to locate the target, some use a brass probe so it will keep from scratching the target, my screwdriver has a round shaft but the tip is rounded and I added brass to the tip. You use it to probe the ground after you have pin pointed, if your in a area you can just dig you don't really need to probe but in a area where you have to keep a small hole you can retrieve a coin easy if its not deep. Hope this helps.

Rick
 
MarkCZ said:
The idea is that in some places you don't want to just dig a big open ugly hole, yea, your going to fill it back in but it REALLY looks bad during the process and can get you ran off just because they think your tearing up the place, but if you just have your finger in the ground they're fine.

After you have located and pin-pointed the coin with the detector you use the probe to probe for the target in the ground (find it with the probe)

After you make contact with it your going to lift the probe back off the target a bit and tilt it at an angle and push it back into the ground but out past the coin a bit.

Now, lift the handle up like a lever and tare the sod a bit. (you may have to do this a couple of times at different angles)

Lift the probe back up straight and rest the tip back on top of the target.

Take the index finger of your other hand and follow the shaft of the probe down to the coin, use your finger and push the dirt around a bit until you can feel the edge of the coin.

Now lift the probe up just a little and push it over and down past the opposite edge of the coin.

Your now in position to get the coin out of the ground.

With the probe flip the coin up on its edge, your index finger is still on the target so you can feel it flip up, now pinch the coin between your finger and the probe tip like chop-stix and pull the coin out of the hole.

When your done just take your fingers and push the tare closed.

It takes practice but after awhile you get good at it.

No, it don't work for coins past about 5".

Mark

That is a pretty good description of the way I retrieve the majority of my coins. However my hands take quite a beating from the dirt so I switched to wearing gloves late this fall when it was getting cold. For coins down to about two inches it does not seem to be a problem wearing gloves since I use my screw driver to bring the coin to the surface. Have not tried this method for deeper coins yet will have to wait until spring. Just wondering if you wore gloves or not?

Jerry
 
Here's some picks of my pouch, it and my A.M. Leonard Soil Knife have been working well for over 10 years. I hardly use the Old Hickory butcher knife but its nice to have around. The probe is rounded with brass tip. I just ordered a new DetectorPro Pistol Probe but the CEN-TECH works fine in warm weather.
 
I used a Craftsman leather carpenter pouch (still do) and this canvas one (which has just a tad more room):
Belt.jpg


Which I'd added a couple hooks to hold my T-handle shovel
Belt-RS.jpg


I like my "screwdigger". Made the probes, but never use them.
ProbesScrdgr.jpg


Small bag good for keys, cell, smokes, etc. Sometimes if "going light", I just wear it (not the larger).
IM003596.jpg


Smitty
 
I forgot to mention....

I got a Garrett ProPointer last year, and tried the supplied holster, but didn't like it (shoulder problems make it more comfortable to reach tools in the bag as opposed to my belt), so I got into the habit of dropping it into the carpenter pouch. Well, one day in a plowed field I'd dropped it, and spent the next 15 minutes looking for it. Luckily I found it, but now I use the holster that came with it.

Their shape just tends to make them easy to lose, so be careful!

Smitty
 
Jerry-Wi said:
That is a pretty good description of the way I retrieve the majority of my coins. However my hands take quite a beating from the dirt so I switched to wearing gloves late this fall when it was getting cold. For coins down to about two inches it does not seem to be a problem wearing gloves since I use my screw driver to bring the coin to the surface. Have not tried this method for deeper coins yet will have to wait until spring. Just wondering if you wore gloves or not?
Jerry

No, I've never worn gloves, but this late fall I went hunting with one of my brothers and it was cold enough that my finger did get cold sticking it in the ground. In the past I haven't done any cold weather detecting.

Mark
 
I also use a probe. Mine is an ice pick with the point rounded off.

It can retrieve coins up to about 4 inches deep. I normally probe till the target is found and then I rotate the shaft of the probe to make a small hole. After the hole is made is walk the probe to the edge of the coin then go under it and pry it up on edge. Follow the shaft of the probe down with your finger and hold the coin against the probe shaft and pull it out of the ground.

If you should lose the target you can stir the dirt with the probe in the hole to re-find it and repeat the above operation.

Everybody develops their own methods, whatever works for you is the correct one. :>)

I carry my small digger, pin pointer, probe etc.... in a small tool pouch purchased at local hardware chain. Attached to web belt for easy on and off. The large pocket is for junk and the small one is for keepers. Sorry no pictures.



Ray S ECenFL
 
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