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Ground Balancing
1) Ground Balancing (allows the
detector to balance itself to the current conditions of where you are working).
2) Sensitivity adjustment (allows the
detector to be less sensitive or more sensitive when necessary, especially in areas with a
lot of electromagnetic activity, such as power lines).
3) Volume adjustment (doubt if you
could find one without a volume control).
4) Discriminator (to reject trash such
as old nails and cans, unless of course that's what your after).
5) Visual and audio target
identification, showing depth to target and target ID (quarter, nickel, dime, etc).
Where to metal detect
Where to metal detect? Search out
those areas known to produce gold nuggets. Many recreational prospecting and metal
detecting clubs have claims that members can work. There are also areas open to the public
that can be worked. If your after coins, you need to search areas that have been
frequented by lots of people. Parks, ball fields, church yards, fairgrounds, beaches,
school yards, Old battlefields, bivouac sites, march routes, wagon trails, old
homesteads, ghost towns. We have several metal detecting clubs you can join located in
Wisconsin and you can find them on our links page...Historical
Society Links
Detecting Tips
Keep your eyes open for road
construction. A hundred years ago these roads were just dirt and well used and. Also look
for sidewalks that are being pulled up in the same area, if there are old businesses there
the sidewalks in front were most likely boardwalks and plenty of coins fell through the
cracks...
I always keep a small notebook and a
pen handy when I'm driving around town, especially a town I have never been to. This way
you can write down an address of a potential site, directions to an out of the way area,
and locations of landmarks.
If you know of some elderly persons in
your area ask them if they can tell you where the old vacant lots and playgrounds were
located when they were kids.
Check your local library for books
about ghost town in your area. Ghost towns used open wells for most of their drinking
water and sometimes townsfolk would throw things in the well to hide them from the local
sheriff. One must use extreme caution when exploring Wells, Most of then can be
death traps..
The next time you are driving in the
country after the crops have been harvested, look the fields for any form of depression.
If you can see one, chances are good that there was a home there at one time and the fill
that was put in the cellar hole to fill it has settled into that depression. These
depressions are much more noticeable after a heavy rain or if snow had been blowing around
and filled it in. Also search for old fence posts or tree stumps in the area because some
farmers who didn't believe in modern banking would hide cashes of loot near landmarks on
their own land. And don't forget about the outhouse.
The number one key to success is
location. This is the factor that dictates your time in the field. If you spend at least
50% of your time researching a spot to hunt (that others have not pounded), your quality
and quantity of finds will double. It's those out of the way sites that you can find by
simply asking an old-timer from the area, or using maps, that will lead you to an
UN-hunted site to search..
 Please
Remember
Never Trespass - Respect Property
and Always Get Permission.
Dig Properly - Fill All Holes. Leave the Area Cleaner and Better Than When You Arrived.
If you discover any item of significant historical interest, notify the local historian or
museum.
If you discover any lethal object, do not touch, notify the police.
Dispose of litter or trash in proper containers.
Obey all laws and ordinances that may pertain to a site.
Protect our heritage of natural resources, wildlife, and private property.
Be courteous to all, you are a representative of our hobby/sport.
Cleaning Coins
As a general rule, coins should not be cleaned at all as
doing so may end up ruining the coin's numismatic value. The wisest course is to
leave your coin collection untouched and stored in the proper holders.
The reason that cleaning coins is rarely a good idea is
that cleaning is apt to alter a coin's surface or toning in an undesirable manner (such as
leaving small "poct marks", spots or scratches on the coin's surface) unless
great care is taken and the proper cleaning method is selected.
It is a good idea to consult a coin dealer or other coin
expert to assist you in deciding whether cleaning a particular coin is a good idea. When
in doubt do not clean a coin.
If you decide to clean your coins, here are some
pointers to keep in mind to avoid or minimize the chances of damaging them.
Dirt and grime that accumulates on coins can often be
safely removed by applying a layer of Vaseline to both surfaces of the coin with a QTip
and then gently rubbing these surfaces clean with a very soft lint free cloth.
Soaking a coin in olive oil or mild soapy water is
another method that can often safely remove dirt or other substances adhering to a coin.
Always use non-abrasive cleaners such as rubbing alcohol
or olive oil to clean coins. Commercial jewelry and metal polishes are usually too harsh.
Never, for example use silver tarnish remover to clean silver coins as it will adversely
affect a coin's natural toning.
Always rinse the coins with distilled water after
cleaning. Tap water should not be used as it contains minerals which may create spots on
the surface of a coin. Let coin air-dry after cleaning - never rub a coin dry.
Tarnished coins should only be cleaned (if at all) by a
professional using a process known as "dripping". Do not attempt this process
yourself.
Some collectors like to use baking soda as a cleaning
method to make a worn coin look shiny and new. This is not recommended as it will
generally ruin the numismatic value of a coin.
Never clean touch or rub the surface of any Proof coin.
If there is dust on the coin simply blow the dust away gently.
Finally it should be noted that specially made
commercial coin cleaners are available at most coin supply shops but these tend to be
rather expensive.
Join
our metaldetecting forum
  
Wisconsin Prospectors Web Pages 2003
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