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How to Use a Treasure Finder

Treasure finders, better known as metal detectors, generate an electromagnetic field that detect objects. As much as it may be tempting to assemble your new metal detector and start searching for treasures, get accustomed with your metal detector at home. This way you can understand how it works and how to properly use its controls.

Things You'll Need

Shovel
Sand scoop
Metal bottle cap
Pull tabs
Nickels
Gold ring
Nail
Foil
Pen
Paper

Instructions

- 1
  
  Bury the metal objects at different depths.
  
  Gather various metal objects and bury each at different depths. Use metal objects that you hope to find once outside searching.
- 2
  
  Practice with your metal detector in your yard.
  
  Switch on your metal detector and swing it slowly from side to side over the buried objects. Hold the coil as close to the ground as possible. Practice until you find the most productive and most comfortable search coil sweep technique, which includes speed.
- 3
  Listen to the different sounds produced by each buried object. Most detectors are equipped with "audio discrimination," which means that a different audio tone will be emitted based on the type of material detected. Start with minimum or no discrimination, which means all metal types will be detected.
- 4
  
  Expect to find more trash than treasures at first.
  
  Increase the level of audio discrimination gradually. Your metal detector should no longer detect the presence of pull tabs, small nails and foil when you increase it. Scan above the buried metal objects again and record the results. Be careful, though--if you set the discrimination too high, you may miss good targets such as gold rings and coins.
- 5
  
  Expand your searches as you gain experience.
  
  Find places worthy of exploring such as river beds, old mines, battlefields and beaches. Turn on your metal detector on carefully sweep the area. Keep track of the areas you search. Always have a shovel or sand scoop with you for digging out your treasures.

Other Collecting