Night Detecting

[Coin Striker]

Hello everyone. Every year here in Michigan we have several lakeshore beaches that host 4th of July firework presentations. I camp near a beach every 4th of July where hundreds of people gather on the beach to watch the fireworks. Once the fireworks are over all these people leave in a mass confusion like a highway during rush hour and all of this is done in the complete dark with everyone shining flashlights and the kids waving their glow sticks. For the past 2 years I have tried to get to the beack early in the morning only to find out that the tractors and "sifters" have already been there. I call these things sifters because they are an attachment pulled behind the tractors that literally take the top 6" of sand and mechanically screen the sand before spreading it back onto the beach. Its actually the greatest contraption I've seen clean the beach. This thing rolls around sounding like a slot machine spitting out millions of dollars in change. Somehow the city workers go through all the finds after the beach is done and either pocket the goods or they have to give them to the city. I'm sure that these machines have already been paid for from the findings over the past 10 years. Sorry this story has taken sooo long, but the question is: has anyone ever detected at night? and what is the best way, attach a light to the detector shaft? I thought about zip-striping a glow stick to the top of the coil so I knew exactly where it was as I was swinging.

[DIGGER27]

Attaching a light to my detector makes no sense to me since it won't help much when you are digging a hole and recovering targets.

This cap light works great...I can see the coil, face plate on the head unit and the area for digging a hole, and it is very easy to see and recover targets.
Like day hunting...really!

http://metaldetectingforum.com/showthread.php?t=59366

[andrewjames]

More than one light is not a bad option! They sell great lights that attach right to your metal detector shaft at your local bike store. These lights mount easily to handlebars as well as MD shafts. They are brigh, light, and reliable! A headlamp is a grea idea too it frees your hands up to dig and there is always light where you're looking! Good luck! I'm going to buy one of those beach Zambonies! ;-)

[dogpound]

i try and use the least amount of light as possible, this allows my eyes to adjust to the night darkness and also see my sorroundings better. when it comes to recovering my target then i'll click on a cap light or if i'm in the dirt i'll just use the propointer LED.....for me less light is better

[nittany1]

Siesta Key, FL at sundown.

When I go for a night hunt at the beach I just swing away. My Minelab XS and White's VX3 are both backlit. And my pointer has an LED light in it to help see the dig hole.


Explorer XS with backlight on, barber dime detected.

[cfuller3]

I agree with the "less light is better" theory. I've used cap lights but don't really like putting out that much light if I can help it. I've wanted one that comes on red as first light... and option of not going to white light unless I wanted it. Seeing a backlit screen or a light swinging away out somewhere at night is just an invitation for visitors. Some might not be the kind you'd want around. Good hunting.

[Coin Striker]

I definately wouldn't want a beacon so everyone in the neighborhood can see me, lol. I have a sand scoop and a belt sifter box on my side so I really don't mind not knowing everything that I'm finding at that moment. You would really need to know where you heard the beep to be able to get your sand scoop there.

[carcur]

Originally Posted by Coin Striker

I definately wouldn't want a beacon so everyone in the neighborhood can see me, lol. I have a sand scoop and a belt sifter box on my side so I really don't mind not knowing everything that I'm finding at that moment. You would really need to know where you heard the beep to be able to get your sand scoop there.

how do people hunting in the water up to there neck know where to scoop

[emoryjim]

Get a headlight that has both the "white" light and red light. I go to the beach at night/early morning and the red light is perfect. you can use the white light if needed but the red works great.

[DINOSAUR1]

I detect at night I do`nt even bring a flash light. Your eyes adjust look at your finds when you get home.

[Coin Striker]

Sorry, guess I didn't think about the people who detect in the water. I'll look for a red light with the optional white light if needed. Thanks everyone.

[ewemule]

Still, I'd like to have my old one that also had the red LED. Green may be nice.
Perhaps when this one dies.
Marty

[DIGGER27]

Energizer® TrailFinder® Performance LED Cap Light

Features and Benefits:
Bright white LED delivers 30 lumens
3 light modes: Red night vision/ Low/ High

[KingTotsalot]

If you are hunting a beach then you do not have the potential obstacles as a grass, dirt, or totlot hunt in the dark. Unless you stumble across some couple that are busy on a blanket in the dark!

Do not have a backlight on any of my machines but would tone hunt with either the Tracker or the ATPro...just digging the mid and high tones only. Do have a cap light velcroed on my Tracker simply because banging around at night around trees and such, I don't want to damage my coil. I use a white headlight with 3 light levels....low for hunting and high for digging. Most of the deeper coins I find are dirt colored and difficult to see in the daylight, much less at night....even with the ProPointer screamin at me that its here....right here!

an led caplight is cheap, and gives a broad light path rather than a focused one like a a headlight....and I have one of those on strapping that I wear too.

Yep you need to beat those sandsifters to the goodies! As soon as the folks are mostly gone, KT would be out there with the hunt...checking the chair line first! Who knows, you might even find someone's car keys when they come back to look for them!

[Martin_V3i]

http://www.lightsforalloccasions.com...FQNntgod7WWUEA

I read somewhere about a hunter using these thing attatched to the lower rod, saying the battery life is long, batts are like a quarter. They are cheap enough. I think that I'd still need a light for the really dark digging though, even though the Pro Pointer does have a light. Some areas get too pitch dark to work, and there's always the chance a sly water moccasin could be cooling himself where I might decide to kneel down! martin

[Dirtynails]

as a matter of fact.. in about an hour I will be heading out to get some afterdark hunting in. although not as easy as day hunting the backlight on the E-trac helps...even though I often hit the noise cancel instead of the quick mask and have to stand still all over again
the propointer serves as just enough light in the hole to recover the target. I am hitting one site that has givin me silver and one big site that is completely VIRGIN to MDing

[chevyman10709]

I hunt personal or family property at night fairly often and use my $10 headlamp from walmart. It's an energizer with led and red light. Works great

[nittany1]

At night on our beaches there are more couples, um, yeah, than metal detectorists. I think it's more important to have layers with you to keep warm than light to see by because most pinpointers have LED lights on them anyway. That's really the only time you need to see anyway. You can hear targets.

[ATProGuy]

Originally Posted by Martin_V3i

http://www.lightsforalloccasions.com...FQNntgod7WWUEA

I read somewhere about a hunter using these thing attatched to the lower rod, saying the battery life is long, batts are like a quarter. They are cheap enough. I think that I'd still need a light for the really dark digging though, even though the Pro Pointer does have a light. Some areas get too pitch dark to work, and there's always the chance a sly water moccasin could be cooling himself where I might decide to kneel down! martin

http://metaldetectingforum.com/showthread.php?t=102670

[swendog]

I saw this post and had to respond..try out -Paklites. just google them. These little LED's pop on top of a 9 volt battery (very useful because you can use your old detector batteries for them!) They last forever. are very tough, can get wet,and are super bright. they come in white,blue,red,green,yellow and even Blacklight and UV. you can velcro them, stick on a magnet strip, elastic band, whatever. I have 10 different types and love 'em!!! oh yeah..they glow in the dark too!!
I do NOT work for them...just love a product that actually works!!
Check them out.. I think its Paklite.com
These are used in the Military so you know they're tough.
...just my .08 clad cents, adjusted for Obamanomics...