Is metal detecting the perfect hobby
When you talk to people about metal detecting, they very often think of it as Geeky or Nerdy, in fact the reality is just the opposite.
Metal detectorists come from all walks of life, the typical age was at one time around 50, now it is as young as 8.
Join Gary as he detects a field in Hampshire.
Is metal detecting is good for your mental health?
It can be a great way to reduce stress, and connect with the great outdoors.
Metal detecting also helps to maintain fitness levels, although it is not as demanding as some hobbies.
What are the ground rules to metal detecting?
Before you buy a metal detector, you must be aware that search permission will always be required, even on open beaches and forests.
Joining a metal detecting club can be an ideal solution, be warned with a lot of clubs come politics.
Choosing the best metal detector for your money will be a large part of your detecting success, your budget should really be a minimum of £450 for a new machine, check out the socials for the best value metal detectors and avoid the cheapies, because they will simply not deliver performance or quality.
Learn your craft
This applies with any hobby, metal detecting requires several skills ranging from reading the land to sweep technique and machine knowledge.
The find identification skills can come later once you start recovering some cool items.
On the subject of recovering items, pay special attention to your hole digging, bad hole diggers are frowned upon in the metal detecting world and will quickly get you excluded from any organisation.
Tools for target recovery
It is advisable to use a nice flat sided spade which is sharpened at a point when digging on pasture or farmland.
Personally, I like to use a longer lightweight spade, rather than a shorter one, lots of people use specially designed stainless steel spades, I find them heavy and prone to fractures.
Once you have chosen your spade, you will need a pin point probe to exactly locate a target within the hole, this is an essential part of your kit.
What to expect when metal detecting
Expect to dig a lot of junk and try to remember this is the numbers game, the more you dig, the better your chances.
Searching on a good piece of land will fast track you to better finds, be aware the turn of the plough can change a good site into a quiet one, so just try to do your homework and not give up on a piece of land because it has little to return.
Site conditions are also important, stubble and rough plough, generally give less returns than nice flat soil.
If you need to know more why not have a look at the Skill School YouTube Chanel, we have a wide range of metal detecting and tech videos all free for you to watch.
