DetectingWales.com

We all got to start somewhere
In this day and age most Hobbies start with a quick keywords Search,  a spark of interest can turn into a raging fire before you know it
Forums are the new books
If you got any advice on getting started in our Hobby Please share it with our new Detecting buddys  ;D

Regards Phil Jones

first step advice this detecting can become adictive please be warned many a relationship built ,mainy lost you can wander in a dream from day to day looking for what we may never find the treasure untold.
it's fun keeps you active so go on start .

You need the next day to recover sometimes, it can be absolutely Kn*****ing so you need to be able to do at least 50 push ups to last the day. Or you can keep stopping and talking to your mate about what you haven't found, that's not so physically demanding!

Make sure your waterproof,  :) flask & butty"s, :)  detector balanced on settings,(not to much sensitivity)  :) Slow & Low with
machine. :) be tidy. :) enjoy the day.

driving a car will never be the same again you'll be looking at every field you pass thinking i bet there's some stuff in there.  mike

hi there, firstly its better detecting with a friend or friends, most clubs will have a code of conduct be familiar with it, then its all the basic  detecting rules, fill holes close gates etc   etc   etc we all know them. golden rule if uncertain of a signal dig it anyway. good luck and happy hunting   mick

You are right about the car driving Mike, It is dangerous at times looking at fields  ;D

meet some people that have knowledge ask lots of questions find whatsgood whats bad the buy, not before i like one type you may not try if you can but if you do take up this hobby enjoy it and abide by its rules.

Dont start off with an over complicated machine, loads of buttons and features does'nt mean that it will find more than a simple switch on and go machine!

Good point Trys, should start with switch on and go, and don't swing the detector like a pendulum keep the coil as close to the ground as possible on all areas of your swing!
Don't throw anything away if you don't know what it is, don't try to clean anything until you know what you are doing, just pop your finds in water and clean with a very soft brush (not a wire/toothbrush). If possible go out with an experienced detectorist the first few times, they will give you lots of good advice.

my advice for beginners would be, before buying a detector, to join,or even visit a club.
when i started, years ago, a guy joined the club the same time as me and had bought a detector form ebay that was supposed to be worth over £600 for £90 (made in China).
it couldnt pick up a horse shoe on the surface with the coil 3" above it!
not only could the advice save you a small fortune you'll learn about identifying ,cleaning,preserving and recording your finds correctly. you'll meet some really interesting people with a vast knowledge across the board and see some amazing artifacts and coins. what could be better?

I can only agree with zorro join a club and try before you buy.

Don,t give up. Get to know your machine. Practice at home with the settings and a few coins from your pocket and a few bits and bobs out of your dads shed. Search the net for advice from people who have the same detector. Refill your holes. Respect the landowners animals like now while the sheep are lambing. Shut gates. common sense, blah. blah, blah.  ;)

if you have already got your detector and are ready for a rally i say dont go off on your own detect close by to people
so as if you got any problem you have got some one to ask advice off   DES

My advice would be to get a easy to use detector eg whites prizm.c.scope.x.terra and just get out into the fields and give it a go! ;)

Finding something is just the beginning of the enjoyment of detecting. Finding out what it is can be just as enjoyable and informative. Asking others and searching the internet for that elusive information about your find can give you hours of pleasure.

When friends tell you that your FIRST find is just a rusty mail ... ignore the idiots... your rusty nail was probably one of the first iron nails produced at the begining of the iron age or used on a roman charriot and all you have to do now is find something else to test their knowledge with.

Your first encounter with something silver in colour is not just a "pull ring" from a beer can.. it is the FIRST silver coloured item you have found which gave you excitement and it shows your detector can find something hidden below that dirty and muddy soil.

Friends tell you to use discriminate to eliminate "pull rings" but would your next signal have been for that elusive aluminium article or small coin worth millions of pounds?

Every detector gets excited when they get that bleep booming through their headphones.

Even if that booming bleep turns out to be junk then you will have benefited from that mental rush and using your muscles to dig it up.

Best advice ... If in doubt ... dig it out.

i think before  you get into the depth thing don't worry too much.
me and charles both have a garrett i've the 150 he's got  the 250 is a really good detector and it's worth paying that little extra for that one.
all you need to do is learn whatever detector you get .
all the best jan and charles

As a new detector you will probably be invited to travel with others in a car to a site.

Remember to take carrier bags or similar with you and after you have finished for the day, use the bags to cover your dirty shovel, detector, wellies etc. to keep their car clean.

An important part of detecting is your detecting clothing... wear them for detecting only to keep car seats clean. Travel in clean clothes and travel home in clean clothes.

Trust me, if you leave a mess in someones car you will not be invited to travel in that persons car again.