My 2011 Suburban Park Prospecting results...

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
Clawhammer said:
Awesome thread Auspm...thanx for sharing.

..and if you find my keys can you let me know :D
Click to expand...

No joke, I find at least 2 or 3 keys every single hunt.

People lose keys at grounds and parks like you wouldn't believe.

I toss the ones I find but some strange people collect them.

ie

2595_keys.jpg


(that's a key collection from one of the detectorists I know from QLD!)
 
That's a great hobby auspm.

I have been thinking about prospecting for a while and must admit I like your idea of going to parks instead of long travels to places like the goldfields.

Think I will start looking for a cheap dectector soon.
 
auspm said:
skipau said:
don't you get in trouble if you start digging up the ground? I always wondered about that...
Click to expand...

Not at all.

There's a process to properly dig a plug in areas like this that when followed correctly ensure the place looks like you've never even been there at all.

ie
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTDKXethwnk[/youtube]

I've never had a problem with digging my plugs this way and I've even had a ranger watch me do it.

As long as you're not out there with a pickaxe and leaving dirty great holes all over the park, you'll have no problems at all in Aussie parks and I've got contacts in all states of Australia who report the same thing.

In fact, good detectorists who practise these methods are considered a boon by local rangers because we pick up and remove sharp metal objects from the ground for free, almost a community service if you prefer.

My digging tool of choice is one of these :

http://www.benmeadows.com/images/xl/Lesche-Digging-Tool-and-BEN-_i_BMM101246.jpg

Imported directly from the US for about $60 (including postage), this is considered the 'rolls royce' digging tool for metal detecting enthusiasts. I've probably dug over a 1000 holes with this thing so far and it's still just as good as new, the thing is almost indestructable in my experience and I cannot recommend them highly enough.

http://predatortools.com/
Click to expand...

That is the "rolls royce" tool for digging in parks, but next to useless in the goldfields. When digging in clay, quartz, ironstone and slate I use a Walco pick. Aussie made and tough enough to break through the hardest ground. They come in a few different sizes. I use the one with a 600ml handle, retail around $80.
 
Eureka Moments said:
That is the "rolls royce" tool for digging in parks, but next to useless in the goldfields. When digging in clay, quartz, ironstone and slate I use a Walco pick. Aussie made and tough enough to break through the hardest ground. They come in a few different sizes. I use the one with a 600ml handle, retail around $80.
Click to expand...

Yeah for sure. I have no experience with anything except the park scene.

Beach goers use a scoop, Gold field detectorists use a solid pickaxe, us 'softies' in the parks use a trowl.

Right tools for the job, your environment and all that. ;)
 
Actually on the beach I find a small goldpan and a sieve work great - usually if it's a coin it's going to be in the first sieve scoop. If not, I use the small goldpan as an oversized scoop - no need to frig around exactly pinpointing, just scoop and test each pan in front of the coil.

Easy to be messy when filling your holes is just a kick of your foot.

Hitting a local park tomorrow.
 
Auspm, out of curiosity which part of Sydney have you searched in? No need to be specific - North, South, Eastern or Western suburbs?

I wonder if people in the posh Eastern and Northern suburbs lose more stuff therefore greater rewards in those areas.
 
Byron said:
Auspm, out of curiosity which part of Sydney have you searched in? No need to be specific - North, South, Eastern or Western suburbs?

I wonder if people in the posh Eastern and Northern suburbs lose more stuff therefore greater rewards in those areas.
Click to expand...

Inner west

Judging by reports of the other detectorists I know, parks (in general) are much better for coins where as beaches tend to yield more jewelry.

But you can be pretty much assured that any 'high traffic' zones over an extended period will yield results one way or another. I actually get the most success from the smaller recreational parks and not major sporting fields, probably because sports fields certainly have high traffic but the players don't take valuables onto the pitches etc where as the casual parks have 'pissed uncle ted' kicking a footy with the kids etc

It's almost like fishing in many ways, being able to 'read' the likely drop zones on a park can yield better results once you get the hang of it. There's certainly an art to it I can say.

If people want to just give it a go for the first time you really don't need to jump in with anything high end. Just get an older Minelabs Xterra 30, 50, 305 or 505 (you can get these all for under $400) and you're pretty much ready to go.

On the parks with just modern coins I usually just use use a filed down flathead screwdriver to find & lever out the hardy modern coins which are usually right near the surface and don't use the digging tool at all. Just get your average flathead with a longish stem and file the two squared corners so they're rounded and you'll not damage your moderns at all.

ie

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4QKpLxz9rM[/youtube]
(Snoops is using his Xterra 705 in this clip, a screwdriver and his pinpointer only)

But I never go this route until I am sure the park I'm hunting has no pre-decimals. As a detectorist, my worst nightmare would be to whip out the screwdriver and stab a 1930 penny :/

The advantage of a screwdriver for moderns is that you don't even need to dig... it's a great tool for the park scene that most people will have in their toolbox. If the target is within a couple inches of the surface, it's pretty much a sure bet it's a modern coin, but if I get a read of 6" or below, I generally dig.

Like I said, there's an art to it all that you get with a little experience and whilst I didn't have anyone to show me personally, I was able to learn from the experienced guys online and it's been great. I'd love to go out today for a swing, but it's currently pissing down here in Sydney :/
 
auspm said:
Clawhammer said:
Awesome thread Auspm...thanx for sharing.

..and if you find my keys can you let me know :D
Click to expand...

No joke, I find at least 2 or 3 keys every single hunt.

People lose keys at grounds and parks like you wouldn't believe.

I toss the ones I find but some strange people collect them.

ie

http://forums.silverstackers.com/uploads/2595_keys.jpg

(that's a key collection from one of the detectorists I know from QLD!)
Click to expand...

you know most keys are brass or alumin(i)um, right? Some look like steel but they're plated. might as well throw em in a jar and scrap em when you get enough. not too much trouble to do that.
 
auspm said:
Ag said:
That's fantastic!

Well done - so you are almost breaking even on the clams outlaid?
Click to expand...

the 18k diamond ring alone was worth more than double my outlay.

http://forums.silverstackers.com/uploads/2595_29-09-2011-02.jpg

That's after I bought the detector, a pinpointer and digging tool.

Mind you, rings are not as common in the park scene as say the beach, so I got very lucky with this particular find.

But I do get a lot, LOT more coins (which is what I'm mostly afteranyway).

So yeah, I'm well in front so far ;)
Click to expand...

Awesome thread auspm. Just curious, I assume common law applies and that you just keep finds like the above ring as opposed to handing them into the local police station and waiting out the no-claim period?
 
Meltup said:
Awesome thread auspm. Just curious, I assume common law applies and that you just keep finds like the above ring as opposed to handing them into the local police station and waiting out the no-claim period?
Click to expand...

Don't know the specifics on the legal side of things Meltup.

Never heard of any detectorist in Aussie being told to surrender their finds though. Unless there was very specific markings on your finds to identify them or it's of a unique design, it's almost impossible to prove ownership in any sense.
 
samboyellowsub said:
you know most keys are brass or alumin(i)um, right? Some look like steel but they're plated. might as well throw em in a jar and scrap em when you get enough. not too much trouble to do that.
Click to expand...

Funny you should mention that actually as there was a recent discussion on this on my MD forum. People are starting to 'keep' the scrap metal as well and after a while take it to a scrap dealer for cash.

Today I finally scraped all my metal detecting junk and scored a little over $200 for my efforts. I figured I'd start this post to pass on a few things I learnt. Values indicated are current Brisbane prices and if you can get higher than the upper limit then grab it :).

Comments are as per my current understanding and by all means if I have stated something incorrectly clue me up 8)

If this post takes off, perhaps the mods can make it a sticky thread.

- Phone around for the best price
- Limit your scrap amounts to under $300 or the payment needs to be run over an ABN
- Mixed metals will be run at the lowest metal price in the mix so always separate them first
- Residual steel on copper and brass is ok as long as its minimal
- Corrosion or dirt on the metals is fine. No need to clean them first
- Copper scrap is classed as 'burnt' copper and currently gets between $4.50 and $5.50 per kilo.
- 1 and 2 cent pieces get a little less than 'burnt copper' but I suspect this may be wrong
- Brass goes in as brass and gets between $3.50 and $4.50 per kilo
- Screw caps and can slaw go in as 'dom ally' and gets about $0.80 per kilo
- Rusty steel goes in as 'light gauge' and gets about $0.10 per kilo
- Sinkers and scrap lead go in as lead and get between $0.60 and $1.00 per kilo
- GST gets added to the final amount
- A disclaimer is signed upon sale and a drivers license needs to be sighted

Cheers,
CR
Click to expand...

I'm going to get a few storage bins I think to start putting that scrap metal 'rubbish' aside for more cashola as I do dig more 'junk' than anything else when metal detecting.

Don't get me wrong, the lewt piccies above tell a positive tale, but you do dig around 5 to 1 of this in 'junk' as well. If I can convert even that to more cash, I reckon it'll be even better!
 
auspm said:
samboyellowsub said:
you know most keys are brass or alumin(i)um, right? Some look like steel but they're plated. might as well throw em in a jar and scrap em when you get enough. not too much trouble to do that.
Click to expand...

Funny you should mention that actually as there was a recent discussion on this on my MD forum. People are starting to 'keep' the scrap metal as well and after a while take it to a scrap dealer for cash.

Today I finally scraped all my metal detecting junk and scored a little over $200 for my efforts. I figured I'd start this post to pass on a few things I learnt. Values indicated are current Brisbane prices and if you can get higher than the upper limit then grab it :).

Comments are as per my current understanding and by all means if I have stated something incorrectly clue me up 8)

If this post takes off, perhaps the mods can make it a sticky thread.

- Phone around for the best price
- Limit your scrap amounts to under $300 or the payment needs to be run over an ABN
- Mixed metals will be run at the lowest metal price in the mix so always separate them first
- Residual steel on copper and brass is ok as long as its minimal
- Corrosion or dirt on the metals is fine. No need to clean them first
- Copper scrap is classed as 'burnt' copper and currently gets between $4.50 and $5.50 per kilo.
- 1 and 2 cent pieces get a little less than 'burnt copper' but I suspect this may be wrong
- Brass goes in as brass and gets between $3.50 and $4.50 per kilo
- Screw caps and can slaw go in as 'dom ally' and gets about $0.80 per kilo
- Rusty steel goes in as 'light gauge' and gets about $0.10 per kilo
- Sinkers and scrap lead go in as lead and get between $0.60 and $1.00 per kilo
- GST gets added to the final amount
- A disclaimer is signed upon sale and a drivers license needs to be sighted

Cheers,
CR
Click to expand...

I'm going to get a few storage bins I think to start putting that scrap metal 'rubbish' aside for more cashola as I do dig more 'junk' than anything else when metal detecting.

Don't get me wrong, the lewt piccies above tell a positive tale, but you do dig around 5 to 1 of this in 'junk' as well. If I can convert even that to more cash, I reckon it'll be even better!
Click to expand...

Have you contacted any scrap metal places yet? I wonder if they accept silverplated items.
 
Decided to add some info. Spent $300 on a nugget snoop pro and despite some of the negativity around cheap brands, the lightness and accuracy of this baby allowed me to find two $2 coins, a 10c coin and a home made lead sinker within my first three hunts on beaches in wet and dry sand.
It is really fun! Thrill of finding stuff you can't see and all that. Very cool. I went for a cheap option as I wanted to see if I would be able to do it regularly and not get worn out by the monotony of it .. And it would be easy to get very tired by the swinging if you don't have a harness- which I don't yet. But the nugget snoop is pretty light and very easy to use.

My first find was located when I was on the beach with my gf. My eyes lit up when I found ten cents.. Then soon after I found two bucks! JACKPOT! I thought.. But my expression said it all... I may as well have found holtermann's nugget!

You may not make a fortune, but it's a very fun hobby!
 
Quick trip to the park yielded $5.65, quick run around the back yard got a 1c coin and a US dime (not silver), but the front yard yielded the best treasure - a key to the internal doors that now means we can lock our bedroom and laundry doors :)
 
Wife just pulled a 1941 penny out of the median strip in front of the house. Might need to venture down the street a little and raid the neighbours :)
 
goldpelican said:
Wife just pulled a 1941 penny out of the median strip in front of the house. Might need to venture down the street a little and raid the neighbours :)
Click to expand...

Many people take up prospecting so they have an excuse to get away from their wives. :)
 
Anthony said:
Please close this thread.

Each additional post makes me want to spend money on a detector!
Click to expand...


lol, i know right?

Still, its the best new thread going at the moment, most of the others seem to just turn into s#!t storms.

Would be awesome if an SS group prospecting trip was put together. i can just imagine, a line of stackers storming a beach like it was Omaha :lol:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top