Jetshack

Ipad’s vs Textbooks… THIS!!!

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Jonathan

Buying a new metal detector…

Posted on February 27, 2012 by Jonathan

I've been researching metal detectors for the last few weeks trying to determine what's going to be the best fit for me.

There are a bunch of factors that I'm looking at but the main ones for me are:
price range between $400 and $600
mainly a coinshooter
can deal with iron (I'm in red dirt country)
fast recovery
easily discernable tones
VDI display
Some things I don't care about:
waterproof (if the weathers bad I'm going in)
relics don't interest me yet

As of yesterday I had narrowed my list down to the Minelab 505, the Garrett AT Pro, and the Teknetics Omega 8000. Today I think I've made my decision. After speding some time on Youtube looking at MD videos (nerdy I know) I discriminated out the 505 as I just didn't get a good vibe on it. I can't describe it any other way than that.

So that left me with the 8000 and the Pro. I spent quite a while looking for a reason that the Pro would be a better fit for me, but regardless of how much I looked the Omega just seemed to suit me better. I know the Pro does some things that the Omega can't, but I don't care about those things. My decision was made for me when I watched this:

The Omega's MSRP is higher than the Pro's but the quote I received on the Omega was about $20 less than the Pro and to seal the deal, today I think I just sold 15 silver quarters which if I throw the cash from that in I'll be able to get the DD coil for the Omega OR I might get the ProPointer. I'll have to decide on that before making the purchase, but I think the hard part is done.

Categories: Metal Detecting

7 holes : 8 coins

Posted on February 25, 2012 by Jonathan

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I had to run to Lowe's today to pick up some light bulbs for the living room and some pre-emergent for the lawn. I waited to leave until after we'd put the baby down for his afternoon nap. Brady likes to sleep for at least an hour and a half. The Lowe's I go to is about 20 minutes from my house. That meant I'd have around an hour to spend at Lowe's. However, the Lowe's I go to is very close to the football field I mentioned in a previous post. So I scurried through Lowe's and grabbed the stuff I needed, the made a beeline for the football field.

Once I got to the field I had a total of about 20 minutes before I'd need to head home. So I decided to try and cherrypick 10 quick digs.

I didn't manage to get to 10 I only was able to dig 7 plugs. I don't know if that's respectable or not, one hole every three minutes. However, I found a coin in every single plug AND I found 2 coins in one plug. I found a total of 3 quarters and 5 cents.

I was a little overwhelmed by all the signals. Finding repeatable signals was a chore in and of itself. But as can be seen from my little cherrypicking adventure this spot has the chance to be special. However, I'm going to let it be for the time being. I have plans on purchasing a better metal detector in the next couple of months. I'm specifically researching detectors that will help me in this sort of environment.

I've narrowed my list down to three different machines. My next three posts wll be over those three machines. Maybe be writing out the pro's and con's it will help me narrow my selection.

EDIT:

I decided I was starting to slack on images… And I know they make things more interesting.

Here's a pic of the area I hunted today. I even added in a bit to show where I hunted. There were SO many targets I could have dug today in that little area, but I only dug the ones that I could get to regularly repeat their signal. I probably could have spent three or four hours in that little square and not covered it all. (You can click on the image to be taken to the full size version.)

Categories: Metal Detecting

Found what could be a GREAT spot.

Posted on February 20, 2012 by Jonathan

2 Comments

Track practice let out a little bit early because of a coming storm. My drive home was in the opposite direction that the storm was coming. My drive also passed by a spot I've been thinking about hunting since I started detecting a couple of months ago, a local football field (that I coach at) that's been in use since at least the 40's.

When I pass by the field I always make sure that the gate is locked and nothing looks suspicious. This time as I'm passing by I notice that the gate isn't locked. So I pull in do a quick search of the area and see that no one's there.

I realize at this point that I should probably hit the head as I doubt I'd be able to make it home without peeing my pants. So I pull in, park, unlock what needs to be unlocked and then use the bathroom.

As I'm heading back to the truck I notice that I probably have about 20 minutes before the storm hits me. I also remember that I have my detector in my toolbox. So I thought I'd just do a quick survey of the area to see if there were targets there.

So out comes the detector… I turn it on… and as soon as put the detector to the ground… before I actually swing… i get a "coins" signal at 2". So I brush my foot across the ground and see a nickel. I pick it up.

I think to myself "awesome". I then proceed to start sweeping. Actually I should use the term sweep because I only got through about half of sweep before the ace gives me another "coins" beep at 2". I look down, and there's a cent. I pick the detector up and start to sweep again, but it beeps at me at the exact same spot… 2" again… So I take out the digger and start a plug.

When I take the Lesche out to start the second side of my plug out pops another cent. I litterally hadn't moved away from the door of my truck at this point.

I look at the weather again… I think about the size of the facility… I decide to just do a quick survey of a couple of the areas I thought would be hotspots. I head to the concession area.

I start to swing and it sounds like my Ace is blowing up. There are so many signals that I can't target any of them. All of the signals are registering as either "coins" or "pulltabs". I start to smile.

So I head to the second area that I thought might be good. It's along a fenceline next to the stands. Once again I start to swing. Once again there are so many targets my Ace just looks at me and tells me that it gives up. No iron targets. I start to giggle.

I then head to the third area that I thought might be good. It was… there were a few trash signals but for the most part my Ace was sounding like a slot machine hitting the jackpot.

It was at this point I felt the first rain drop on my head. So I headed back to the truck and loaded up. As I'm leaving I nearly forget to lock the gate behind me. So I get out and lock it… I then thought… OK… just one more check…

I took the detector out again and started checking along the admission gate entrance. Once again the Ace freaks out on me. But not before it says "hey idiot… if you'll lean over right here you'll find 2 quarters".

I think this is going to be a great spot. I'm reasonably sure it has never been hunted. It's an old facility at one of the older towns in OK. It's been in constant use for at least 60 years possibly another 10 before that. The concession stand has always sold drinks in paper cups. The entire facility is gated with no outside food or beverages allowed. There are areas which will be trashy, but… I think the trash should be the same thing over and over (chin strap snaps, shoulder pad buckels)… so after I figure out what those signals are I can possibly choose to ignore them. I have no doubt there is silver there. After this initial sweep I suspect that the silver is laying beneath a carpet of clad.

The other coaches are going to LOVE me next season. One of the responsibilities that we like the least is making sure that after practice the kids are supervised until the last parent picks up the last player. I'm going to be volunteering right and left for that now as I can keep the kids in sight while I swing. (Added benefit… volunteering for that should get me out of having to drive the bus to games and I hate driving the bus).

(edit: Those of you that know me, know exactly where I'm talking about. If you don't know me, you should be able to figure out where I'm talking about.)

Categories: Metal Detecting

Breaking apart a Washington set.

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Jonathan

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I've decided to break apart a silver Washington Quarter set. I'm keeping the MS coins, but am getting rid of all the circulated ones. The highlights of the sale are the 32D and 32S. Id grade the D as a G4 and the S as a F12. Selling the pair for $160.

Here's the 32D

32d