TH'ing

When I am not working on my boat or driving my taxi I am either out on the beach treasure hunting with my metal detectors, or reading about other people out on other beaches treasure hunting with their metal detectors.

We call it TH'ing for two reasons: first-'treasure hunting' takes too long to type and second- people seem to give you odd looks if you tell them you are on a city beach looking for treasure. I understand. I don't think there were many pirates sneaking ashore to bury ill gotten gains in California.

  That being said there are treasures to be found. For the most part it's 'clad', circulated coins that are in varying stages of encrustation.

  But on wonderful occasions rings and brooches, pendants and chains, watches and bracelets can turn up.

  Summer is the best season to hit the beach.With hundreds of thousands of sun worshipers every day the odds are high that something is going to slip off a suntan lotioned hand.
  The downside is that there is a smaller opportunity to TH before it gets crowded again. I hit it predawn and evenings or even the middle of the night.
  During the Fall and Winter finds are fewer but are still there, if you don't mind long periods of walking between targets. On the plus side there are no crowds so you can TH all day.

  I have owned several different MDs over the years, but at the moment I am  down to two.

     I have a Whites Surf Pro for the wet sand areas and in the water, then I have an Ace 250 made by Garrett for the dry sand and parks. 
  I purchased the Surf Pro several years ago from a seller on Ebay. He had not used it much, and included four books on TH'ing with the deal.
  When I first started using it I left the control box on the shaft but found it to be quite tiring and changing swing hands was the only way to keep at it. Now I have the box on a belt around my waist, which makes a world of difference. Much lighter to swing, I can go all day!
  It is a great machine, with only two controls; Gain and Tuner, it is easy to set up and go.There is no discrimination on this unit so you have to dig every signal and hope for the best. On the wet sand and shallow water there is not as much trash as on the dry and after a while you can start to tell by the tone what the target is likely to be, although I still dig every target.

14kt with 19 diamonds  

 

                                                                                                                        
There is nothing like the feeling you get when you finally see something round and shiny in the bottom of your scoop!












  My Ace 250, made by Garrett, also came from Ebay. It the worlds best selling detector they say. I would not doubt it. It is very affordable, even at retail. Light weight, simple to use and with its preset modes makes a great detector for the more trashy areas.
  The first time I used it on the beach was a very crowded summer day so I was practicing in an area away from the people. After a while I was approached by a girl who told me that a lady had lost her wedding ring and asked if I could help in finding it. So over we went.  The lady was very distraught, crying and freaking out. 
 Within minutes I found the ring for her and was on my way. Ten minutes later she came up to me and insisted I took a reward for my trouble, $100!! That's two thirds of what I paid for the Ace. 
  I keep at least one MD in the taxi when I am driving and if the cab business is slow I try a little TH'ing.
  When my boat sells I intend to buy a class B RV and travel around more TH'ing as I go. I live in a 27 foot class A, but it uses way too much gas to really go far in it. It will become my 'mother ship' and the other one will be the 'pod.'