bobbulge
Elite Member
Just for the sake of asking what did your wife say after she saw what you found or didn't you tell her...lol!!!
Is metal detecting worth it?
- Thread starter MurdochBaines
- Start date
Just for the sake of asking what did your wife say after she saw what you found or didn't you tell her...lol!!!
lizzard
Junior Member
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2009
- Messages
- 81
Go out an buy a $50.00 cheapo. If the hobby isn't for you well your out $50.00 and not A PENNY LESS. - WHAT COINS YOU FIND.
Pass this on to the next maybe wanna be detectorist. I did not read all of the posts until now. I see he Bought one already! MY BAD.
Pass this on to the next maybe wanna be detectorist. I did not read all of the posts until now. I see he Bought one already! MY BAD.
metaladdict
Elite Member
Ive been hunting for a year or 2? At first I thought hmm $212. is kind of alot for my first detector but a little more money for a better machine is good,so I got the ace 250. I became hooked right away finding new coins! I wasnt sure I would like the hobby because I tried it not knowing what I was doing with a radio shack detector in 1983. It took about a year to pay it off but I love detecting more than the money part. It is such a thrill to get a signal and find what pops out of the ground!
SEARCH and you shall FIND!
P.S. when love doing something you will be willing to spend alot doing it.
SEARCH and you shall FIND!
P.S. when love doing something you will be willing to spend alot doing it.
chopz54
Senior Member
It looks like detecting is not for you then, the main subject of your questions
is will I make a profit from my detector outlay.Why not try another
hobby making things,then you could sell them and make a profit.
If you did take up detecting you would soon give up.
is will I make a profit from my detector outlay.Why not try another
hobby making things,then you could sell them and make a profit.
If you did take up detecting you would soon give up.
(Heavy)
Elite Member
welcome... some of us might just be adding Metal detecting to a list of things to do when we RV
something to do when you get to where you are going or perhaps the reason you actually went
A Hobby is supposed to be a socially acceptable diversion
Photography - cameras, lenses, batteries, film, processing, enlarger, chemicals, more lenses. -> gave away pix
Leather craft - tools, finishes, leather. I can make a leather belt that can last for decades for about 25 dollars in materials and a few hours of my life. Everyone says it is great, but why don't I charge $6.00 like Walmart does.
Now I make leather things for people I love/like as presents.
Metal detecting - detector, pointer, digger, scoop, batteries, etc.
I have not bought any MD stuff yet, but when/if I do, it is for my own enjoyment.
I would be happy to find a few washtubs full of gold, but I think it more likely that i will spend some time walking in the fresh air (Actually, Kuwait has no fresh air. Kuwait stinks up the land breeze and Iraq stinks up the sea breeze).
Get away from the work of teaching onery little boys, and find a little peace.
I have reached the age where I have fulfilled most of my major duties and in my remaining time, I intend to do a few things I WANT to do, just because I can.
The things I do as a hobby are more precious than gold or old coins. I do them because I like to.
OK, I am off my soapbox.
Thanks,
John Morton
Photography - cameras, lenses, batteries, film, processing, enlarger, chemicals, more lenses. -> gave away pix
Leather craft - tools, finishes, leather. I can make a leather belt that can last for decades for about 25 dollars in materials and a few hours of my life. Everyone says it is great, but why don't I charge $6.00 like Walmart does.
Now I make leather things for people I love/like as presents.
Metal detecting - detector, pointer, digger, scoop, batteries, etc.
I have not bought any MD stuff yet, but when/if I do, it is for my own enjoyment.
I would be happy to find a few washtubs full of gold, but I think it more likely that i will spend some time walking in the fresh air (Actually, Kuwait has no fresh air. Kuwait stinks up the land breeze and Iraq stinks up the sea breeze).
Get away from the work of teaching onery little boys, and find a little peace.
I have reached the age where I have fulfilled most of my major duties and in my remaining time, I intend to do a few things I WANT to do, just because I can.
The things I do as a hobby are more precious than gold or old coins. I do them because I like to.
OK, I am off my soapbox.
Thanks,
John Morton
Do you have a dog?
As a teacher, I have often wondered if homework has an expiration date. I know that dogs and cats seem to crave homework more than steak. If you have a pet, please offer the homework to your pet and send me the result.
Uh, I meant, please post your findings.
Ok, just tell us what happened will be enough of a report.
Thanks,
John Morton
As a teacher, I have often wondered if homework has an expiration date. I know that dogs and cats seem to crave homework more than steak. If you have a pet, please offer the homework to your pet and send me the result.
Uh, I meant, please post your findings.
Ok, just tell us what happened will be enough of a report.
Thanks,
John Morton
If you're doing it for the money then get a job at McDonald's you'll make more for the hours that you put in.
I bought two detectors and a pointer. I also bought another $100 in tools. So total investment is about $900. Will I ever find nine-hundred dollars worth of coins or relics? Who knows!
My interest in getting into this hobby is to spend time with my two young boys (4 and 7). The more time they are with me means the less time spent indoors playing video games or getting into trouble. So $900 is a BARGAIN if I can get them interested in this hobby.
In regards to my other hobbies (shooting and training), $900 is a deal. If I attend a 3 day pistol class, it will cost $700 + food + lodging + ammo. This doesn't include my pistol, holster, mags and other related gear (which easily tops $1500).
So no, this hobby isn't expensive and in fact can actually create income!
Edited to add, you also get to be outdoors, learn history AND get some exercise! Can't beat that.
There's no price I can put on getting out in the desert alone, away from car stereos, noisy motorcycles, screaming kids, barking dogs, noisy/nosy neighbors, etc., etc. Out there it's just me, the mountains and God (and my detector). I value time spent like this very highly and there is no dollar sign attached to it. It' not a hobby for everyone, but if it IS for you, you'll know it in a short time....
Dusty
Dusty
bigboar
Elite Member
thats like saying no one should play sports, race cars,etc. If youre not going to go pro(less than 1% do)why bother. maybe some of us simply enjoy it. It definately sounds like youre in the hobby for the wrong reason.
NevTrac
Forum Supporter
Well said Dusty.
One of my first hunts when I started this hobby was on an abandoned road in the Sierra Nevada Mountains that hasn't been used regularly since 1862. All I found were some square nails, along with some nuts & bolts. The weather was perfect and I didn't see or hear anyone all day. Can't wait until spring to get back up there and find nothing.
Keith
Sandbox
Full Member
Easy exercise the way I look at it, that's my justification for getting into this, finding stuff is 2nd.
donnyjaguar
Senior Member
I'm guessing the guys, and gals, who unearth fantastic and valuable treasure will not be sharing these stories on this forum for a few reasons. Hence, there are more eye-popping finds than this group would indicate.
digdug1968
Elite Member
One of my cheapest hobbies ever.
I've had many, many hobbies over the years.
I used to race in autocross/ solo 2 / slalom events - did so from mid 1980's til 2002 or so. Anyhow, set of 4 slicks? $800. In a good year you'll use up four sets. $2400 that is worthless when you're done using them. Note that that doesn't include the cost of the car, trailer, tow vehicle, engine, driveline, suspension work, gas money, entry fees, and so on.
I could buy an Etrac for about what 1/2 a season's tires cost!
What do I have to show for the untold $$$$$ that went up in smoke, racing?
Couple boxfulls of trophies. They are up in the attic somewhere.
My Vaquero was $420, and I bought a used spare coil (5.25) for $80 shipped. I think I've found around $100 worth of clad, jewelry, relics and collectible coins, total, in two years. I'll eventually recoup the investment, if I'm at it long enough, but if I were doing it as a business, well............ I'd have bailed out in the first week - a job at a mini market would be far more lucrative. I enjoy the hunt, and that's what drives me - to see what the next find is. Could be a ring, or pulltab, or..................
Anyhow, as long as you aren't out to have the latest and greatest machine, buy a solid machine and stick with it, the initial investment, is the only investment. I like the maintainance cost of 4 or 5 9volt batteries a year vs/ $800 rounds of tires - 4 times a year.. Wotta bargain MDing is!
I've had many, many hobbies over the years.
I used to race in autocross/ solo 2 / slalom events - did so from mid 1980's til 2002 or so. Anyhow, set of 4 slicks? $800. In a good year you'll use up four sets. $2400 that is worthless when you're done using them. Note that that doesn't include the cost of the car, trailer, tow vehicle, engine, driveline, suspension work, gas money, entry fees, and so on.
I could buy an Etrac for about what 1/2 a season's tires cost!What do I have to show for the untold $$$$$ that went up in smoke, racing?
Couple boxfulls of trophies. They are up in the attic somewhere.
My Vaquero was $420, and I bought a used spare coil (5.25) for $80 shipped. I think I've found around $100 worth of clad, jewelry, relics and collectible coins, total, in two years. I'll eventually recoup the investment, if I'm at it long enough, but if I were doing it as a business, well............ I'd have bailed out in the first week - a job at a mini market would be far more lucrative. I enjoy the hunt, and that's what drives me - to see what the next find is. Could be a ring, or pulltab, or..................
Anyhow, as long as you aren't out to have the latest and greatest machine, buy a solid machine and stick with it, the initial investment, is the only investment. I like the maintainance cost of 4 or 5 9volt batteries a year vs/ $800 rounds of tires - 4 times a year.. Wotta bargain MDing is!
Attachments
For potential tax reasons, some of us don't post all our finds. Same goes for people in bankruptcy, going thru a divorce, or just living in a bad neighborhood (bad guys have computers, too). Nothing wrong in posting a coin or two, but showing all your goodies can lead to problems, especially if you keep them at home. I keep my best finds in a safe deposit box and have it in my will that my kids get the items inside of it.
Dusty
Dusty
Neil in West Jersey
Full Member
I have been detecting for 10 years, and have never until recently sold a single find. I recently calculated that I have over $1000 in common silver coins based on melt value alone. I am tempted for the first time to sell it for scrap because of the ridiculously high prices. I did the same recently with some of the gold that I had found so I could pay off some debts.
For me it is not about the money at all. I would not consider selling any of the more valuable coins or any of the artifacts I have found. I would sooner donate them to a museum.
It is the thrill of the hunt. The idea of finding something old. I set my goals high and that is how I pick my sites.
It is no lie when I tell you that I said to myself one day that this was going to be the day that I found my first Spanish Silver coin, and I did.
Does a fisherman fish because it is profitable? Does he do it because he needs to feed his family? No, he does it for the sport of it!
It is the same for me.
For me it is not about the money at all. I would not consider selling any of the more valuable coins or any of the artifacts I have found. I would sooner donate them to a museum.
It is the thrill of the hunt. The idea of finding something old. I set my goals high and that is how I pick my sites.
It is no lie when I tell you that I said to myself one day that this was going to be the day that I found my first Spanish Silver coin, and I did.
Does a fisherman fish because it is profitable? Does he do it because he needs to feed his family? No, he does it for the sport of it!
It is the same for me.
Well put, My wife and I have no kids, so I think I'm gonna sell some finds,and use the money to visit dusty and learn how to find some gold in natural state....
havin_fun
Full Member
I'm pretty new to this hobby myself, and I LOVE it and did the very first time I went out. For me, it's not about the finding, it's about the hunting. It's being outside and lost in my own little world where there are no troubles and no problems. I get a very calming inner peace when I'm out hunting, best place for me to meditate and just let life's struggles go. I haven't found anything of value...yet, but every time I get a signal, I get a rush of excitement! Yeah, I agree with what many have already said, "if you don't love it the first time out, find another hobby".
Well put, My wife and I have no kids, so I think I'm gonna sell some finds,and use the money to visit dusty and learn how to find some gold in natural state....
We have a brand new Hampton Inn that just opened up this week!!!!
Dusty
