Hi, I'm new to MDing .... just got our new MD a Minelab Elite. I tried it out at Newport Beach. Found a little change, bobbypins, foil, can tabs etc, but otherwise pretty clean.
The other day my friend and I took our kids to a local park. She wanted to try it out. So we did. We found mainly rusty nails in the sand - not many, but a few and a penny. We decided to go on the grass. We got many hits - but we were not sure if it was illegal to dig up the grass...make a divet and then replace it..... is it illegal?

Digory
Minelab Elite

Coin Retrieval Techniques In Grass
There are different tools for different jobs. These tools are for grass retrieval . It may not be a complete list of tools, but they are the tools that I have found that work.<o:p></o:p>

Probe, screw driver, ground shark, gator trowel, sun glasses, electronic probe, and handkerchief.<o:p></o:p>

Most coin’s can be removed from the grass areas in a lawn area or a athletic field by simply using a screw driver as a probe and once the coin is located with the probe, working it out of the grown with a screw driver. The screw driver doubling as a probe and the screw drive/ removal instrument. One instrument serves two different uses. <o:p></o:p>

Removal for this first technique goes like this: The coin is located using the detector. The pin pointing is done with that detector as per manufactures recommendations. Once the coins approximate location is located, the screw driver is pushed slowly and deliberately into the ground in an effort to find the coin. <o:p></o:p>

You will get better at determining if it is a rock or a coin once you have been at it for a while. Note: notice I said you push the screw driver into the ground slowly . You don’t need to be stabbing the ground. You are searching, take it easy. If you don’t you will scratch your coin. It could mean the difference in several hundred dollars if you have a rare coin under your coil. Trouble is you never know when this is going to happen.<o:p></o:p>

Once you locate the coin, gently enlarge the hole around the coin so as to work it out of the ground. <o:p></o:p>

How to enlarge hole: Withdraw your probe/screw drive, and gently insert it into the ground about a half inch away from the coins location and make a circular motion with your screw driver, after you have it berried to the handle. If this is done several times around the coin it will provide you with enough room to work the coin to the surface without damaging it. <o:p></o:p>

After the coin is removed, another nice trick is to re-insert the screw drive into the ground and push the hole openings closed from the outside, this can be done to some extent to give the lawn back it’s original appearance. You always want to close any holes that you make. <o:p></o:p>

I mentioned sun glasses, I like to wear a pair when I’m using a screw driver to retrieve coins. It seems, it’s always my luck to be prying up on a coin that gives way and I accidentally throws dirt in my eyes. That can ruin your day. <o:p></o:p>

One other item that I think every single coin shooter ought to have is a lock jaw shot from the doctor of your choice. I didn’t mention that you will run up in broken glass, rusty metals of all type’s and have the opprotunity to cut your self to hell and back, so wear gloves when you play in the dirt. I keep a pair handy but I don’t like to wear them a bunch because they get in the way, but if I’m working in the area the there is a lot of broken glass, and rusty metal, I don’t mind putting up with the minor inconvenience.

The only other item I have yet to mention is knee pads. They are a must. Please pick yourself up a pair. They are to cheap not to have them and use them. I use mine in the parks as well as any where else. If you have ever had a hurt knee, you won't even question this logic. A hurt knee will put you on the bench for a whole summer or longer.

It is LEGAL to metal detect at Parks and Schools. There must be open access to get onto school grounds. 99 percent of the schools I find are usually fenced and locked - cant get onto school grounds. This is true for Los Angeles area schools.

As for parks, local parks are usually legal to detect - be sure you learn how to properly cut a plug in the grass and replace it after you find the target (fill that hole!). Federal and State parks are off limits but I have heard some people able to detect on State parks - they managed to get permission from the Rangers. Permission will vary from State Park to State Park, Federal parks like Yosemite are more than likely off limits.

The most common digging method for grass is cutting a U-shape flap and carefully removing the target from underneath. I use a Lesche type digger for grass although the screwdriver type method will work for shallow targets.


What area do you live? Are you in Southern California?

No kidding about the "dirt that got away", a kid was watching me too closely. A good chunk of dirt landed on his face! B): He cleaned it off and he went back to watching me dig up a target.(like nothing happened)


Knee pads: serves another purpose besides saving your knees... it will also save a pair of pants from tearing at the knee area. :blink: B)

I use a small hand towel I carry in my back pocket instead of knee pads. It's mulipurpose and you can double fold if for more comfort when you get in to rocks or gravel. Saves your kness and keeps your pants clean when you want to go to Applebees after the hunt for a beer . :D

I tried the towel method.. it didnt work too good for myself so i got a a decent pair of kneepads. I still get my jeans dirty and muddy (sometimes). The kneepads do cushion the knees on hard ground.

Yes, parks and schools are ok to detect, as long as not an obvious historical landmark, or specifically posted. If someone wants to come along and tell you otherwise, they're welcome to. Consider yourself no different than someone who's going to use the drinking fountain, or fly a kite there, etc...., as long as you're not a nuisance, leaving a mess, etc....

If you're a beginner, I'd practice in turf that's not a public park or school. Like.. front yards or friends or neighbors. Reason is, you will no doubt start off with pinpointing problems, and then...... yes, you would be a "sore thumb" in the local park. Start off by digging your first 100 or so coins, only stuff within a few inches of the surface. Only stuff you can reach with a screwdriver, probe, feel, pop out, etc....

When you get good at that, then graduate to deeper coins (hopefully older) by making plugs, with a catchmat. Keep the plug and dirt in-tact. The grass will die if not connected to a large deep dirt base. When you re-pack it, step on it, to compact it back, ruffle up the grass blades to dissipate any surface dirt, etc...

Try to hook up with a club, where a turf-pro. can give you some examples.

Hey Digory,

Yeah, Newport can be a tough nut to crack. It's often way too clean and can be frustrating, although on occasion you can really pull some booty out of there.

I'd focus on parks and schools, if you're just starting out, for the simple reason that you will tend to hit more targets and will more quickly learn the subtleties of your machine. There's no substitute for time spent detecting and experimenting and learning what your machine is telling you. Most parks and schools are fine to detect, although you might want to avoid private schools.

HH,

Dan

City and county parks are usually fine. Stay away from any and all federal parks. Also stay away from State parks (other than beaches) unless you're sure it's okay. But, beaches are mostly okay except for a few like San Francisco beach.

Schools are mostly okay unless posted otherwise but most So. Calif. schools are heavily fenced and locked. They are mostly okay to hunt if there is easy access and you don't interfere with any school activities.

Fill all holes. And, if somebody asks you to leave, do so even if they're wrong.

Oh, and find lots of goodies and post them here.

EC