New to the (hole) experience

[MilesofTx]

I just received my F5 yesterday. It is my first metal detector. I am happy with it so far, and I'm sure I will be much happier when I learn how to use it properly. So far I have been to an old abandoned house in the woods, a dry creek bed and a forgotten 1700's-1800's cemetery. I have found nothing but trash. a few modern coins, but mostly just junk. I have tried discriminating and all metal modes, seems like the places I have been so far are just full of cans and fence wire. Is there a problem with my technique, or are some sites just not good producers? By the way I dig almost everything right now just to figure it all out. Any tips would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[dave5710]

At least you have a good sense of humor.
Some sites just don't produce. Some have been hammered hard already.
Try thinking outside of the box. Take the cemetery for example. If people lost coins there, the most likely spot would be where the buggies parked. A man could lose a coin climbing into the buggy. That spot might be covered with trees now. The road going to the cemetery now, might be in a much different place than it was 150 years ago.
Old schools, churches, ball fields, picnic areas, camp grounds, circus and rodeo set up areas, that is the sort of place to find the older coins. Even if hunted before some goodies are always left behind, and if you find a virgin site, you'll have lots of pictures to post for us.

Welcome to the forum. Dave

 

[Alimo88]

Hi, bring home the trash and learn the numbers, then you can choose your settings for discrim' notch etc'. For a while i doublesided taped a small sheet of paper to my machine will what I thought were common and relevant numbers. It only takes a few trips out to get used to the numbers you see. Remember that these machines are good at numbering targets but not perfect. The same item can read different just from it's orientation in the ground, and Pull tabs with or without beaver tails span about 15 of those numbers. oh and the difference between a good hunt and a bad hunt can just be location. some of the parks here are duds and some very good. Sent us all a message titled "F5 finds in AWESOME spot" when you find one please. Good luck

 

[MilesofTx]

Great advice, your right, I worked the cemetery road real hard thinking people parked and got out right there. But who knows where the road was back then. I ignored the wooded and over grown areas. Hope to have some pictures soon. Thanks a million.