Have you ever hunted under the house?

[SheDigger]

Yesterday a business associate was telling me that her recently deceased father in law had hidden several caches in the crawl space under the house. They were able to find two of the caches, but according to the FIL's notes, there were a total of 4, and she was wondering if I would be willing to help.

The cache they found was paper money wrapped in foil, inside a mason jar, and then placed inside an old coffee can - so this should ring up nice and loud on most any machine.

So any tips or advice about how to search while crawling on your belly, dealing with plumbing, duct work, and so forth would be greatly appreciated.

The worst part of the deal is that while I'm not claustriphobic per say, I'm not thrilled about being under a house!

The best part (besides being able to help these people) is I'll be able to hunt the old homestead as much as I want, or at least until the property sells.

[LoL]

Sounds cool. Maybe make the detector smaller and straiten the coil i dont know let us know what you find.

[Bonesquat]

I'd use a high powered pin pointer.

[iDugit]

My parents own a house that was built around 1850. It has an addition on the back of the house that built 50 years later, with a crawlspace underneath. I've started working my way through there (slowly). My advice to you is to cover up as much as possible. I'm even wearing a dust mask. Long sleeves, long pants, and gloves are a must as well...you don't know what type of animal is defecating down there.

[Coin_Master]

That is a typical crawlspace.

I would not be in one if there was a 50 pound gold ingot in there.

I hate spiders, and they love crawlspaces.

I think it would be hard to use a detector in there. You might be ok if you only took the control box, and used the coil by hand.

The propointer goes about 4" deep on large targets, so I would try that 1st.

[Bonesquat]

Originally Posted by iDugit

My parents own a house that was built around 1850. It has an addition on the back of the house that built 50 years later, with a crawlspace underneath. I've started working my way through there (slowly). My advice to you is to cover up as much as possible. I'm even wearing a dust mask. Long sleeves, long pants, and gloves are a must as well...you don't know what type of animal is defecating down there.

Yeah you never know what animals are taking a huge dump at any given time.

On another note I've found some really cool things underneath an old house porch. Crawled under there with my bounty hunter and found some wheats, a WW2 dogtag and a 30s toy car. Never know.

[needler420]

I worked construction for 2 years and even took inspection classes and i would still never go under crawl spaces unless i knew for sure treasure was there.

Also that summer is here you better wear very protective clothing.

My house doesn't have a crawl space but i know all around the structure are centipedes and i don't mess with those.

[KingTotsalot]

Just talk to a local plumber and find out what he normally wears when he crawls under a house....he will know!

I would not be scared to go under the house space shown above...but I would have a reliable flashlight, plus a head lamp and have on some coveralls. Put rubber bands around your wrists and pants legs and wear some good tight boots and leather gloves.

If there were two more possible stashes, I would first find out where the others were found, and work outwards from them. Likely they were all stashed within viewing distance of the crawl space entrance. So the man could look in there and see if the spots had been disturbed! Kinda like someone putting a stash in the yard near the bedroom or kitchen windows so they could keep an eye on them!

Also, find out how deep the others were buried..if only covered with a little dirt, then the pinpointer idea is good, but if 4 or 5 inches deep, then you will need your MD.

[Dustyloins]

Considering how "tight" the previous owner of my house was, I doubt a trip to my crawl space would yield anything. He installed the lawn sprinkler system himself and the only reason it passed "code" was that he was the town Fire Chief. Ditto for the heating system. He also had a BBQ grill that was so close to the house it melted the vinyl siding!! Great Fire Chief!!!!

Dusty

[robby4570]

Originally Posted by Detecto

That is a typical crawlspace.

I would not be in one if there was a 50 pound gold ingot in there.

I hate spiders, and they love crawlspaces.

I think it would be hard to use a detector in there. You might be ok if you only took the control box, and used the coil by hand.

The propointer goes about 4" deep on large targets, so I would try that 1st.

That's GOOD compared to some of the crawlspaces I've been in. In addition to spiders, in New Mexico we had Venomous Spiders, Venomous Snakes, Venomous Scorpions, Hantavirus risk, Plague risk, and just generally mean critters that will chew on you if they get a chance.

And I once heard a story of a plumber who went under a house and found the wife of the owner who had supposedly ran off years ago.

[007tallguy]

Originally Posted by robby4570

And I once heard a story of a plumber who went under a house and found the wife of the owner who had supposedly ran off years ago.

i take it that she was hidden as opposed to hiding down there.

back on topic, i'm not too crazy about crawl spaces either. (nor am i all that agile anymore either)
as i was reading some of the posts, i was actually thinking about saying to take the coil off the shaft and swing it by hand but someone beat me to it, lol. and i agree with bundling up good and the dust mask idea. even mouse droppings can be quite harmful to your health.

Pete

[SheDigger]

Well it's a go, we're schedule for early next month as everyone's schedule this month is pretty hectic -Ugh I don't wanna wait

Not worried about poisoneous creepy crawlies, as far as I know Washington State doesn't have any (except stingy things like wasp & bees), but definetly will wear protective gear and coveralls, with elastic bands around wrist/ankles, don't want anything crawling up my leg !

I like the idea of removing the shafts from my md and holding the coil in my hand, the first two cans were buried about 8 inches so doubt the pinpointer will find them by itself (but will give it a shot just in case).

Will let you know what we find (if anything)!

[KingTotsalot]

Keep us posted!

[Burien]

hey neighbor!

winter is a great time to be crawling around under a structure. two reasons this is important here in Western Washington - brown recluse and the lovable wolf spider - either of which can cause you much pain, staph infections and the wonders of MRSA - assuming you survive the bite! know four, including my son, to all experience this in the past few years.

[Burien]

oh yeah, on the other hand -

[PaPa Smurf]

give her your, show her how to work it, and set there at the hold and talk to her while she under the house.....who know you might have her buying one and becoming one of us.....

[Dirtynails]

I just MD'd under an old closed in porch...I had about 18" to work with. I turned on the ACE 250 and held the shaft about 12" behind the coil and dragged the rest. Instead of watching the screen I was listening to the tones. I did not find anything.

I spent the last 29 years working in the building/remodeling business...I have been in and under houses way worse looking than the one posted above. where a tyvek suit duct tape to your boots and to your gloves. I also Highly recomond a mask of some sort,and goggles. worst thing that got me was a skunk once...that stunk!

[SheDigger]

Originally Posted by Burien

hey neighbor!

winter is a great time to be crawling around under a structure. two reasons this is important here in Western Washington - brown recluse and the lovable wolf spider - either of which can cause you much pain, staph infections and the wonders of MRSA - assuming you survive the bite! know four, including my son, to all experience this in the past few years.

Gee thanks Burien, did you really have to remind me of those two {{shudder}}?

[nscrcr8z]

Watch out for spiders and snakes

[beerdoodle]

No reason to be scared of spiders and snakes. The squeaminish of folks amaze me.