Can you make a living out of MD

[gin&kin]

How many new hunters have sprouted up recently? I realize Japan is incredibly large from a MD perspective but since you guys have been posting all those wonderful 18K and Plat finds...how many new faces/coils do you see swinging away? BTW, how's that new MD club you guys were planning to put together comming along

I think it was the guys in Okinawa that were going to put a club together. Personally, I've never seen another detectorist here, but up toward the bigger cities like Osaka I think they have a few guys hitting the same beach sometimes. Not much to worry about...for the moment

 

[Michaeltime]

Metal Detecting is a Hobby

I would have to agree with anyone that says metal detecting is a hobby not a way to make a living. You would have to be one of those very lucky people that find jars of old coins or go to the beach every day all summer long finding gold rings. I read of those who have paid for their detector several times over and I just never had that kind of luck. With my 5 detectors I have owned since 1973 I have put out over $1,600 in detectors alone and one small coil $50 Head phones dig tools and maybe found over the years $500. But I don't swing fast all the time , don't have heavy used areas to search just after a crowd in grassy areas. I search sidewalk to curb I have avoided pull tabs to speed my search in the past. I don't want property owners on my back over digging a plug so I usually use a small screwdriver for the surface to 2 inch deep coins and a longer one for the deeper coins but do dig a plug if 4 plus inches. I also don't dig it all, all the time in sidewalk strips. I search 2 to 5 hours when I go out hunting. When I find a older coin I search for more close by and have to think the town is hard hunted because no more old coins usually show up near by. I think a lot about asking property owners if I can search their yard but don't like rejection so I haven't asked anyone but did get a offer of one garden where there use to be a old store back of it in the neighborhood.

White's M6 Greenville Michigan Mike

 

[ohiochris]

Have to disagree with the lottery odds comment... Beaches yield bling to those who learn and work them diligently. Much better chances of finding a ring than winning the lottery.

I'd love to take a month to do nothing but detect somewhere like Playa Del C and see what it would yield. Might can "swing" it next summer.

Only slightly better than winning the lottery since you are still not guaranteed a valuable find. Even the experienced hunter on a very good beach could go quite a while before turning up gold sometimes. But the point is that its more about luck , being at the right place at the right time. Sometimes luck is with you and sometimes it isnt.

 

[Diggler]

MD'ing could pay better than Social Security... And keeps your joints lubricated better than watching Jerry Springer (is that even still on?)...

 

[JerseyMike]

There is always a wise guy in every crowd.......................

Sounds like a bunch of baloney to me!

 

[Walterwayne]

Sure if you dont mind going 8 or 9 months out of the year with no money at all I think metal detecting finds could be more accurately be termed "bonuses" , in life and sometimes in the form of extra cash , but with odds of finding anything of real value just a little better than winning the lottery , and even all the clad you find not really adding up to enough to pay bills even in the best of circumstances , it sure wouldnt be much of a living. The real value in detecting is the enjoyable time spent doing it. On the other hand , if you were detecting gold nuggets in a gold rich area it could probably be done.

I like this outlook and agree completely. Metal detecting treasures should be considered "bonuses". Though the gold nugget hunting has possibilities! Happy hunting all!!

 

[SCYoungGun]

Don't quit your day job!! He he
As Forrest Gump would say "shrimpin is hard"
I can say I've found about a half dozen nice rings the past year, but on an average day I'm lucky to find enough to pay for parking...not even mentioning gas and the cost of equipment.

So yeah metal detecting is a great hobby just dont go overboard. It seems everyone is always hyping the latest greatest most expensive detectors as the key to success. I think location is even more important....maybe if you live in a third world vacation destination it could be done...provided you were receiving social security.

 

[Perry]

Not a chance in #*@$ !

 

[Lostlegion]

There was a U.S. made T.V. programme a few years back called "Million Dollar Detectorists" (or something similar!)

They wanted full time detectorists not "bought a detector at a garage sale...walked outside and found million dollar hoard/gold nugget" luck rather than skill examples.
None in the U.S. apparantly but six in Europe.

When asked for how others could do the same most said not to believe anything on forums or in magazines/books without checking it yourself. Use beaches to pay the main bills (some worked inland lakes as well). All had motorhomes and would stay on a site till it was worked out. All used P.I.'s but none recommended hoard hunters as you lost so many individual valuable finds looking for the big one that often didn't exist. All had several, even a dozen or more detectors and said it was fatal to stick to one brand. Don't have kids or they should have left home ! Work home country in the summer and go away to the sun directly the ground starts to freeze. All seem to have bought second homes in the sun.
Nearly forgot...you must have an in-ground test bed or two and live in a country with free health insurance.

I've house minded for two of them when they are abroad as the drawback of thousands of finds is it attracts thieves like bees round honey. This week Wales then Christmas in Italy for me for the price of a cheap flight. Gives me a chance to detect another area and have free board.

Anyway I'm going to give it a go now I've taken early retirement but thank God I'll have some pension income behind me.

 

[dogpound]

you can live like a king in a tent eatin cup-o-noodles

 

[Surf Master]

Gold Nuggets

Maybe if your in gold nugget land,but to find it on a regular basis,enough to pay the bill's,i would have to see that,land, and beach hunting nope,just love the hobby,happy hunting,don't quit your job,Earl

 

[Sandcrab]

you can live like a king in a tent eatin cup-o-noodles

 

[Lostlegion]

US sounds like a defeated country. As Kolby72 said, lots doing it in Europe and living well.

 

[looker]

Only if you can make a living off of nails, bottle caps, and a dime from 2010. At least thats about all I have found. But the enjoyment is priceless!!!!