Do you guys make money from metal detecting?

[wishooter]

As with any hobbies it has it's rewards now and then.

A lady had dropped her rings in the sand from her chair.
She walked up and asked me to locate them for her.

They were indeed very nice rings to find.
Her coin purse held 2 twenties and a ten.

She gave me all she had, she was so thankful.
I took the wife out to eat at Red Lobster.

 

[hillbillydigger]

I sell some of my junk rings and other garbage for profit. Stuff I don't care too much about. Some of the junk items you don't think are worth much can go for $10,$20, or even $60. I've made $100 on just a couple small items I didn't even consider valuable or unique. Some people will pay for the dumbest stuff.

Like what sort of items? I'm curious.

 

[goes4ever]

I sell some of my junk rings and other garbage for profit. Stuff I don't care too much about. Some of the junk items you don't think are worth much can go for $10,$20, or even $60. I've made $100 on just a couple small items I didn't even consider valuable or unique. Some people will pay for the dumbest stuff.

Yep arent you glad i showed you that on ebay? I sell my junk relics, and wheats on ebay. People on there will buy anything! I will not sell my good stuff ever, I am saving it all to leave to my son.

 

[GrayDetecter]

A "hobby" is meant to provide enjoyment and relaxation. When one's hobby is thought of as a money making proposition, enjoyment and relaxation go out the window.
All hobbies, from detecting, coin collecting, model railroad, rocketry, etc., all usually end up costing more than is earned materially.
The gain in enjoyment in finding relics, antiquities and the occasional coin, is reward enough for most.
What other hobby requires one to dig holes, recover a pull tab, place in pouch, refill hole, repeat.
One of the signs of mental disease is doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different ending.
Now, excuse me, I have some pull tabs to dispose of.

 

[EmptyHole]

Like a lot of things, you get out of it what you put into it. I'm one of the average hobbyists, generally I'm doing good to find enough to pay expenses, which is great for a hobby. The real payoff is the friendships that have developed over the years, the satisfaction of helping someone fine a lost keepsake and having a hobby that gets me outside taking in a little fresh air. I also get some personal satisfaction in knowing more about the local history than some of the old timers and historians. If you are starting out hoping to make money, well ....

 

[zeemang]

Yes, but that's not why i do it...

 

[Thatsit]

It all depends on what you find. I like to do it for the thrill of the hunt. But it is probably the only hobby that does kinda pay ya back eventually...LOL.

 

[nyshooter]

I do coin-shooting and every time I get a decent amount of clad It go to the hobby lol

 

[Rusty Nails]

In June I bought a $117.00 used detector and a $17.00 Cen-tech pinpointer.
So far I have found $138.00 in clad, some silver jewelry, 4 silver coins, and a nice watch.

I made a profit of $4.00 not counting the silver coins and jewelry.

After gas money to get back and forth to different hunting locations, I am sure
that I am in the red.

I am having a lot of fun though.

 

[ohiochris]

You really cant look at it as a way to make a profit. The benefits of this hobby is the exercise and the fun of the hunt , and the great feeling when something nice turns up. If you are lucky you can find something valuable and make some money but more often than not our treasure is a pocket full of change and a good day in the great outdoors

 

[Mr. Bill T]

My first detector cost me my high school ring, ( priceless to me ), but needed to pay for it.
2nd one a gift from my grandkids, they all got one too, kids versions for them.
3rd one $700.00 plus............

NO WHERE CLOSE TO PAYING FOR THESE WITH FINDS!
BUT , THE BEEP KEEPS THE BLOOD PUMPING STRONG!!!!
Go out, have fun, enjoy quality time together. Good Luck and hope all your finds are fun!

 

[Chipk]

Profit?????

BWHAHAHAHAHA!

I cashed in over $3200 in clad my first couple of years. But I don't redeem my silver or gold finds and I keep buying more machines. And batteries. Lots and lots of batteries. And gas. And liniment for sore muscles. And more.

Happily, profit is NOT the objective.

 

[FelixtheCat]

I think I calculated once that the hours I put in at a minimum wage are far more money than my finds for the hours detecting.

 

[BufordCityDawg]

I make more money doing this than I do at my other hobby, fly fishing. That being said, not by much.

What I read here is confirmation of what I have felt which is very few people make much money at this and the ones who do don't live near me. Figure your hard core beach hunters in 12 month vacation places can probably turn some good coin. Those guys and anyone lucky enough to not have much competition around them are the only ones who can find enough to make any real money.

BCD

 

[Edward1971]

It all depends on how much you hunt. Some of us are in it for money, and unless you really get lucky and find the mother load. Don't plan on being rich. Lol it he din of the hunt and being around good friends.

 

[Crackerjack]

Yep arent you glad i showed you that on ebay? I sell my junk relics, and wheats on ebay. People on there will buy anything! I will not sell my good stuff ever, I am saving it all to leave to my son.

Yup!

 

[Ice Scratcher]

One can do okay under the right circumstances for a little while..

The biggest thrill is the hunt and the moment you realize you've chosen wisely...

<°)))>{

 

[Beach digger]

i have gotten back into detecting this year , that same question came up over here. Do I actually make any profits from this? The answer would be yes ,as of today I have spent $1,050 dollars on all my equipment ,so far. . Two weeks ago I found a lost ring for one of my neighbors, I did not accept any cash but let me tell you their story was worth it. In actual money , I have not counted it yet but it looks like I have about 15 - 20 dollars in coins in the jar. That's just from this year, I started the year with a ACE 150 and pin point , now I have that and a ATPRO. Yes it will take time to make the money back, maybe one day I'll get that big find that pays more until then it will have to be done one cent at a time . Also I really enjoy detecting and that's worth a lot to me.

 

[matmit]

I just like to see a 6 year old thread revived!!
Definitely a losing proposition for me because I save all my silver coins.

 

[sandgroper]

Yes, I definitely make a profit, but I don't do it to make money, but because I like digging up history, and knowing what's beneath our feet.

The detector I got as a birthday present, so no need to pay anything off there.
Batteries my parents pay for
Petrol money my parents pay for

The only thing I've spent money on is

A new coil because the other one broke ($165AUD)
My Pro-Find 25 ($175AUD)
And about $25-30 in public transport (to and from sites)