Went back to area today where I dug first silver of 2021 about 2 weeks ago

[Coinboy]

I mean, there are the occasional gold ring... wait. I need to stop daydreaming. Metal detecting is more than just detecting metal I guess, it's about the "excitement value" when you pop out what looks like a penny, but is a circle, then you can put your finger through it... you won't ever get that doing jumping jacks!

Very true. There’s nothing I like more than hearing a nice deep coin signal in my headphones.

 

[Metal detecto]

Very true. There’s nothing I like more than hearing a nice deep coin signal in my headphones.

And finding a morgan? On a scale of one to ten, what was the excitement value? Or did you faint? I would love to faint.

 

[Coinboy]

And finding a morgan? On a scale of one to ten, what was the excitement value? Or did you faint? I would love to faint.

Probably 9 for the Morgan and 10 for my 2 2 reales. I got very close to fainting on those. Finds of a lifetime! Hopefully you’ll get something great soon

 

[Metal detecto]

Probably 9 for the Morgan and 10 for my 2 2 reales. I got very close to fainting on those. Finds of a lifetime! Hopefully you’ll get something cool soon

The next time you faint, that gold coin is mine!

 

[Huckleberry]

I can definitely relate to digging trash! Lots of things in the ground that sound great but end up being junk, that's for sure! 90 degree nails, copper pipe pieces, ect. My trash pouch is pretty big for a reason! But I also tend to be guilty of digging larger trash signals in case they are masking something good, a strategy that hasn't paid off thus far.

 

[GKL]

I can definitely relate to digging trash! Lots of things in the ground that sound great but end up being junk, that's for sure! 90 degree nails, copper pipe pieces, ect. My trash pouch is pretty big for a reason! But I also tend to be guilty of digging larger trash signals in case they are masking something good, a strategy that hasn't paid off thus far.

Thanks, I likely realized this in the past but it's good to have a reminder that it's not that unusual to dig a lot a good signals that turn out being trash

I do know to raise my coil to tell if a target is likely large trash, and while I know they can sometimes mask something good, I tend to save maybe trying some of those until I have scanned an area first

 

[Skippy SH13]

Another question:
Is it VERY common to get really good signals that turn out to be trash ?
All the trash I dug had good signals as I was trying to be somewhat picky instead of just digging everything
One TDI was a deep 38 and I thought YES !!!! .....but it turned out to be a short piece of thick wire at about 7-8 inches

So the answer is yes and no.

Yes, you're going to dig signals that turn out to be trash. That's a given. The simple answer is that some trash signals cannot be differentiated between good signals.

The no part of this is on how MUCH trash you have to dig. This comes down to a few things. The quality of the machine you're using, the experience you have with the machine, and your own personal ability to 'learn' what the sounds and display are showing you actually mean in terms of what is in the earth.

I'm now in my 3rd year of using the AT Max, and my trash count is less than ever. It's not uncommon for me to come home with more good stuff in the pouch than trash. Some folks would call this "Cherry picking a site," but that's grossly inaccurate. It's not "Cherry picking" if you know it's trash! Cherry picking is choosing the best of the "good signals" (such as grabbing only quarters out of all the change signals, or looking only for strong silver signals, and leaving other 'iffy' signals in the ground). I don't cherry pick. If it's iffy, it comes out. But what is iffy has gone WAY down over the years.

I couldn't do this with my machine 2 years ago. I couldn't do it a year ago. I'll probably be even better next year...

What it comes down to is the nuances that the sounds make that distinguish trash from treasure. IF... (and this is a big IF) you are able to make out tiny little differences in the way wire sounds vs treasure, or foil vs rings, or garbage vs coins, you'll be more successful at weeding out trash.

To keep myself honest, most of what ends up in my pouch is me predicting what it's going to be and then checking periodically during the hunt. I usually dig up the first 10 or so items no matter what they are (unless it is obviously trash), just to ensure my skills are sharp. I'll call it out in my head before it comes out.

Things like, 'Squished pencil topper (ferrul)', can slaw, aluminum fence wire, gum wrapper... all get named before I pull them out. I'm always trying to hone in on exactly what the items is. Then, after digging enough of them correctly, you can start to figure out what makes a signal 'off' from the normal ones. Sometimes, its not even quantifiable in terms of describing the signal sound.

"It just didn't sound right, so I dug it." is a common theme for me. Also common is, "I don't know what that is."

Bottom line is, "when it doubt, it comes out."

And, as I said, 2 years ago, a LOT came out. I put 400-500 hours on my machine every year. That's part of what keeps my ears sharp. And every year, I have two "dips" in my ability to find things. When I switch from cuffed earphones to earbuds in the summer, and then back again in the fall. Both those events cause me to have to re-learn a little bit, and my trash finds go up.

Bottom line here, is that you CAN get more out of your machine. I've got over 1000 hours on mine, and I'm still squeeking out more and more good finds vs. trash. And when you can avoid digging something, you automatically save time for more swinging for good stuff.

To be clear, I'm not out here trying to win a competition. I just am trying to be the best MD'er I can be with my machine. I don't want to waste my own effort digging up trash. That's lame. LOL

Skippy

 

[jordanmills]

Thanks, I think that's the one I've used in the past for another area but hadn't yet thought to try it for this hunting area, appreciate the reminder, (I had been looking online for old photos and articles) will check it out later today, will be busy for a while today.

I was going to suggest the same thing. The images from 1955 look like they would be pretty useful. The sidewalks went right up to the front doors on the school, though the concrete has been torn up now. Also there is an area in the back that was surrounded on three sides by buildings that was probably used as a recreation area that you might want to target. You'll also see where the building stood (which you can still kind of see from modern aerial photos) that is probably not worth scanning as closely. Also you might want to check out some of the paths through the woods out back, but the school yard would probably have better hunting.

 

[Skippy SH13]

I mean, there are the occasional gold ring... wait. I need to stop daydreaming. Metal detecting is more than just detecting metal I guess, it's about the "excitement value" when you pop out what looks like a penny, but is a circle, then you can put your finger through it... you won't ever get that doing jumping jacks!

Amen to that. Just pulled my third gold ring for the year, this weekend. Still riding the high.

 

[GKL]

So the answer is yes and no.

Yes, you're going to dig signals that turn out to be trash. That's a given. The simple answer is that some trash signals cannot be differentiated between good signals.

The no part of this is on how MUCH trash you have to dig. This comes down to a few things. The quality of the machine you're using, the experience you have with the machine, and your own personal ability to 'learn' what the sounds and display are showing you actually mean in terms of what is in the earth.

I'm now in my 3rd year of using the AT Max, and my trash count is less than ever. It's not uncommon for me to come home with more good stuff in the pouch than trash. Some folks would call this "Cherry picking a site," but that's grossly inaccurate. It's not "Cherry picking" if you know it's trash! Cherry picking is choosing the best of the "good signals" (such as grabbing only quarters out of all the change signals, or looking only for strong silver signals, and leaving other 'iffy' signals in the ground). I don't cherry pick. If it's iffy, it comes out. But what is iffy has gone WAY down over the years.

I couldn't do this with my machine 2 years ago. I couldn't do it a year ago. I'll probably be even better next year...

What it comes down to is the nuances that the sounds make that distinguish trash from treasure. IF... (and this is a big IF) you are able to make out tiny little differences in the way wire sounds vs treasure, or foil vs rings, or garbage vs coins, you'll be more successful at weeding out trash.

To keep myself honest, most of what ends up in my pouch is me predicting what it's going to be and then checking periodically during the hunt. I usually dig up the first 10 or so items no matter what they are (unless it is obviously trash), just to ensure my skills are sharp. I'll call it out in my head before it comes out.

Things like, 'Squished pencil topper (ferrul)', can slaw, aluminum fence wire, gum wrapper... all get named before I pull them out. I'm always trying to hone in on exactly what the items is. Then, after digging enough of them correctly, you can start to figure out what makes a signal 'off' from the normal ones. Sometimes, its not even quantifiable in terms of describing the signal sound.

"It just didn't sound right, so I dug it." is a common theme for me. Also common is, "I don't know what that is."

Bottom line is, "when it doubt, it comes out."

And, as I said, 2 years ago, a LOT came out. I put 400-500 hours on my machine every year. That's part of what keeps my ears sharp. And every year, I have two "dips" in my ability to find things. When I switch from cuffed earphones to earbuds in the summer, and then back again in the fall. Both those events cause me to have to re-learn a little bit, and my trash finds go up.

Bottom line here, is that you CAN get more out of your machine. I've got over 1000 hours on mine, and I'm still squeeking out more and more good finds vs. trash. And when you can avoid digging something, you automatically save time for more swinging for good stuff.

To be clear, I'm not out here trying to win a competition. I just am trying to be the best MD'er I can be with my machine. I don't want to waste my own effort digging up trash. That's lame. LOL

Skippy

Thanks for the detailed tips, it is appreciated, I admit I tend to "cherry pick" the best sounding signals when first covering an area new to me but part of that is depending on my schedule/weather each week I might only get one or two 2-3 hour hunts per week and want to maximize my chances of finding good stuff

.....besides, like you said: "I don't want to waste my own effort digging up trash." I know we will dig some trash, that is hard to avoid, but I'm sure we all like to try to keep the trash digs to a minimum and you seem to have done pretty good at that !

I was going to suggest the same thing. The images from 1955 look like they would be pretty useful. The sidewalks went right up to the front doors on the school, though the concrete has been torn up now. Also there is an area in the back that was surrounded on three sides by buildings that was probably used as a recreation area that you might want to target. You'll also see where the building stood (which you can still kind of see from modern aerial photos) that is probably not worth scanning as closely. Also you might want to check out some of the paths through the woods out back, but the school yard would probably have better hunting.

Thanks for the tips, Last night I was checking out the various years of those old aerial photos to see how it changed over the years in that area.

I had also found a very short article online that included:

"The ten classrooms built in 1922 were also quickly outgrown, and by the 1950s the Everett School had been expanded to twenty-two classrooms, an auditorium, a home economics laboratory, and a textile school workshop."

So it started out even smaller than what the 1955 photo shows, so I was wondering if stuff dropped in areas before the building expansion in the 1950's might still be there, I guess it depends if they dug up the ground much when expanding in the 1950's.

It would be neat to see a photo from 1922 but 1955 is the earliest photo I know of thus far.

 

[Soil Surgeon]

Is it VERY common to get really good signals that turn out to be trash ?
All the trash I dug had good signals as I was trying to be somewhat picky instead of just digging everything
One TDI was a deep 38 and I thought YES !!!! .....but it turned out to be a short piece of thick wire at about 7-8 inches


Yes , especially curved iron nails , Those suckers can be deep too ! At least that shows though , that your detector can dig good deep targets as well .
Also , I tend to dig too many iffies that turn out to be junk and a waste time and energy . I'm going to be even more fussy in the future .

 

[Soil Surgeon]

So the answer is yes and no.

Yes, you're going to dig signals that turn out to be trash. That's a given. The simple answer is that some trash signals cannot be differentiated between good signals.

The no part of this is on how MUCH trash you have to dig. This comes down to a few things. The quality of the machine you're using, the experience you have with the machine, and your own personal ability to 'learn' what the sounds and display are showing you actually mean in terms of what is in the earth.

I'm now in my 3rd year of using the AT Max, and my trash count is less than ever. It's not uncommon for me to come home with more good stuff in the pouch than trash. Some folks would call this "Cherry picking a site," but that's grossly inaccurate. It's not "Cherry picking" if you know it's trash! Cherry picking is choosing the best of the "good signals" (such as grabbing only quarters out of all the change signals, or looking only for strong silver signals, and leaving other 'iffy' signals in the ground). I don't cherry pick. If it's iffy, it comes out. But what is iffy has gone WAY down over the years.

I couldn't do this with my machine 2 years ago. I couldn't do it a year ago. I'll probably be even better next year...

What it comes down to is the nuances that the sounds make that distinguish trash from treasure. IF... (and this is a big IF) you are able to make out tiny little differences in the way wire sounds vs treasure, or foil vs rings, or garbage vs coins, you'll be more successful at weeding out trash.

To keep myself honest, most of what ends up in my pouch is me predicting what it's going to be and then checking periodically during the hunt. I usually dig up the first 10 or so items no matter what they are (unless it is obviously trash), just to ensure my skills are sharp. I'll call it out in my head before it comes out.

Things like, 'Squished pencil topper (ferrul)', can slaw, aluminum fence wire, gum wrapper... all get named before I pull them out. I'm always trying to hone in on exactly what the items is. Then, after digging enough of them correctly, you can start to figure out what makes a signal 'off' from the normal ones. Sometimes, its not even quantifiable in terms of describing the signal sound.

"It just didn't sound right, so I dug it." is a common theme for me. Also common is, "I don't know what that is."

Bottom line is, "when it doubt, it comes out."

And, as I said, 2 years ago, a LOT came out. I put 400-500 hours on my machine every year. That's part of what keeps my ears sharp. And every year, I have two "dips" in my ability to find things. When I switch from cuffed earphones to earbuds in the summer, and then back again in the fall. Both those events cause me to have to re-learn a little bit, and my trash finds go up.

Bottom line here, is that you CAN get more out of your machine. I've got over 1000 hours on mine, and I'm still squeeking out more and more good finds vs. trash. And when you can avoid digging something, you automatically save time for more swinging for good stuff.

To be clear, I'm not out here trying to win a competition. I just am trying to be the best MD'er I can be with my machine. I don't want to waste my own effort digging up trash. That's lame. LOL

Skippy

Great post Skippy !

 

[GKL]

Is it VERY common to get really good signals that turn out to be trash ?
All the trash I dug had good signals as I was trying to be somewhat picky instead of just digging everything
One TDI was a deep 38 and I thought YES !!!! .....but it turned out to be a short piece of thick wire at about 7-8 inches


Yes , especially curved iron nails , Those suckers can be deep too ! At least that shows though , that your detector can dig good deep targets as well .
Also , I tend to dig too many iffies that turn out to be junk and a waste time and energy . I'm going to be even more fussy in the future .

Thanks, I try to be careful but some of those signals that turn out to be nails are just too good to pass up

I'm getting ready to head there now as I have time to get at least a quick hunt in today and maybe at least one more hunt by the end of the week, will check back here later.

 

[Soil Surgeon]

I can definitely relate to digging trash! Lots of things in the ground that sound great but end up being junk, that's for sure! 90 degree nails, copper pipe pieces, ect. My trash pouch is pretty big for a reason! But I also tend to be guilty of digging larger trash signals in case they are masking something good, a strategy that hasn't paid off thus far.

Sounds like me ! Last night alone I dug three pieces of copper tubing . Also that digging up the larger trash signals to see if it is masking something good hasn't worked yet for me either ( kind of like digging up zinc signals looking for an Indian head !

 

[Divin]

Here are some photos using google maps and historic aerials....pretty neat area....

 

[Divin]

Here is one from 1938 but it is very difficult to see....
https://digital.tcl.sc.edu/digital/collection/scai/id/1152

 

[Divin]

Here is a zoom in

 

[Knottyoak]

USGS 1904 map shows a building in your park area, between 8th St. and the ball field. May be worth checking out.
The exact coordinates are 34.36048N-81.09107W



Or, that's where it ought to be if they got their stuff right, I have located old house sites in the woods that were as much as 200 feet from where the old USGS surveys showed them.

 

[GKL]

Here are some photos using google maps and historic aerials....pretty neat area....

Here is one from 1938 but it is very difficult to see....
https://digital.tcl.sc.edu/digital/collection/scai/id/1152

Here is a zoom in

USGS 1904 map shows a building in your park area, between 8th St. and the ball field. May be worth checking out.
The exact coordinates are 34.36048N-81.09107W

View attachment 483014

Or, that's where it ought to be if they got their stuff right, I have located old house sites in the woods that were as much as 200 feet from where the old USGS surveys showed them.

Thanks Divin and Knottyoak your help is appreciated !!!!

Divin - good work finding the pics, and that is a pretty neat area, but it's begining to look like past detectorists might have picked most of the good stuff out years ago but hey, I enjoy the challenge of trying to find what they missed

Knottyoak I'll have to look at that spot in person later on and see about that 1904 building area. Very good research !

 

[GKL]

I was going to suggest the same thing. The images from 1955 look like they would be pretty useful. The sidewalks went right up to the front doors on the school, though the concrete has been torn up now.

Also there is an area in the back that was surrounded on three sides by buildings that was probably used as a recreation area that you might want to target.

You'll also see where the building stood (which you can still kind of see from modern aerial photos) that is probably not worth scanning as closely. Also you might want to check out some of the paths through the woods out back, but the school yard would probably have better hunting.

I took your advice and based on the old pics (I printed copies to take with me) I did start out and spent most of my 3 hour hunt detecting and digging the area you mentioned might be a recreation area. (you likely could be right) Then I spent about 1/3 of the time finishing up where there should have been grassy area out front.

Okay, first let me say I am not discouraged, I knew there was a very good chance this area was picked over long ago by past detectorists, I was hopeful of still maybe finding a few goodies they missed, what gave me more hope was the Merc and Wheatie I dug right across the street near that old basketball court on a recent hunt a short while back.

Now I am not giving up on these areas, I enjoy the challenge of finding stuff past detectorists missed but I also need to start researching for more new areas to try as well as try for more private property permissions.

Okay, here are the results from today's hunt, it took a while before I found that coin and I am glad I did, it kept it from being an all trash hunt

(with buildings having been torn down there in the past it is not surprising to find the nails I did)

Trash 14 coins 1 (like I said, the area was likely picked over long ago )
.....but those trash signals sounded so good !


My first dig was a really promising signal and deep, after spending about 15+ minutes on this dig it turned out to be the end of a pipe I could not budge


This hole might have been another one of those deep pipes but I stopped digging after it got so deep and the pinpointer was so loud it likely had to be a pipe or other large trash.


Here is the one coin I found, a 1982 cent