atari1050
New Member
Hi Folks-
I've been hunting off and on for about 30 years. I first started with the Radio Shack's series when I was a teenager in the 80's with the joy of finding my first wheat cents and a Buffalo nickel at my mom's school in Ohio! I first became a coin collector because of my buddy and my job (selling newspapers).
I instantly fell in love with coins and their artwork. My mom had always had an interest in metal detecting and my dad (being an electrical engineer) built us several hobby models over the years ( I think our first one was a BFO with only a meter to look at to detect metal).
Over the years, I kept getting the newest models from "The Shack" and would find some good things here and there. I soon discovered "Western and Eastern Treasures" which fired my interest even more. It was through W&E that I learned the Code of Ethics and how to dig properly (Old School! with a long screwdriver and NO pinpointers!!). It was also through this wonderful magazine that I learned of an old dumpsite in Tampa, Florida where there were still a lot of old bottles (the bulldozers just pushed it all to the sides of the lot). For those living in FL that is all gone now.
However, if anyone is near Ybor city, I would go there and check to see if they have all of the sidewalks torn up with the dirt exposed! That city has a lot of history and I am sure there are some good hunt sites left. Just get permission and do NOT go alone. There are some sketchy areas around there.
In the 90's my mom got the most expensive detector at the time, the White's Spectrum XLT. It's an incredible machine and very complex. And I still use it today! I just found some custom settings I want to try out in my highly iron-mineralized soil here in GA. I also have a Garrett Ace 300 that my wife just bought me. I still have to learn it as well.
If there's anyone else here in GA who would like to share their custom program settings, I'd sure appreciate it!
I am also looking to start a club here. We are kind of isolated from the greater Atlanta area, otherwise I would join their clubs. I might still do that. The big thing out here is the history of the area. I encourage everyone to join your local historical society. They can be your best friend if you are willing to listen to them and if you donate to them (consider donating your finds!) they will be able to get you into sites you never thought you could.
Thanks for letting me share!
Mike
I've been hunting off and on for about 30 years. I first started with the Radio Shack's series when I was a teenager in the 80's with the joy of finding my first wheat cents and a Buffalo nickel at my mom's school in Ohio! I first became a coin collector because of my buddy and my job (selling newspapers).
I instantly fell in love with coins and their artwork. My mom had always had an interest in metal detecting and my dad (being an electrical engineer) built us several hobby models over the years ( I think our first one was a BFO with only a meter to look at to detect metal).
Over the years, I kept getting the newest models from "The Shack" and would find some good things here and there. I soon discovered "Western and Eastern Treasures" which fired my interest even more. It was through W&E that I learned the Code of Ethics and how to dig properly (Old School! with a long screwdriver and NO pinpointers!!). It was also through this wonderful magazine that I learned of an old dumpsite in Tampa, Florida where there were still a lot of old bottles (the bulldozers just pushed it all to the sides of the lot). For those living in FL that is all gone now.
However, if anyone is near Ybor city, I would go there and check to see if they have all of the sidewalks torn up with the dirt exposed! That city has a lot of history and I am sure there are some good hunt sites left. Just get permission and do NOT go alone. There are some sketchy areas around there. In the 90's my mom got the most expensive detector at the time, the White's Spectrum XLT. It's an incredible machine and very complex. And I still use it today! I just found some custom settings I want to try out in my highly iron-mineralized soil here in GA. I also have a Garrett Ace 300 that my wife just bought me. I still have to learn it as well.
If there's anyone else here in GA who would like to share their custom program settings, I'd sure appreciate it!
I am also looking to start a club here. We are kind of isolated from the greater Atlanta area, otherwise I would join their clubs. I might still do that. The big thing out here is the history of the area. I encourage everyone to join your local historical society. They can be your best friend if you are willing to listen to them and if you donate to them (consider donating your finds!) they will be able to get you into sites you never thought you could.
Thanks for letting me share!
Mike
... from the cold & snowy state of Minnesota! 
Thanks for joining, we're glad to have you with us. 
