Metal Detecting - The Complete Guide For Beginners In 2022

Hello and welcome to the Detectorists metal detecting for beginners guide. This will be a very detailed guide aimed at the beginner and seasoned detectorists alike. We will start with an introduction into the world of metal detecting.

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Metal detecting has been around for around years, and has rapidly become a very popular hobby and pastime.

With treasure seekers and history enthusiasts everywhere, the hobby has become a great way to keep fit, make some extra money, meet friends and unearth the history beneath our feet.

Many great finds have been discovered by the public with their metal detectors.

I have covered this in another post so be sure to take a look at the best discoveries made with a metal detector.

If you landed on this page looking for the best metal detector, be sure to check out this one below. It is my number one!

Garrett ace 400i is my favorite metal detector, I even own one and I'm talking from experience. Buy Garrett ACE 400i from Amazon

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Metal detecting has many benefits other than perhaps one day discovering a hoard of coins.

It is very beneficial health wise, because of the amount of walking, digging and being out in the fresh air it can help us stay fit, lose weight, tone up and increase stamina. It is not over strenuous and you can go at your own pace, so metal detecting can be enjoyed by all the family young and old, male or female.

Meeting friends is something else that comes part and parcel with the hobby, there are many clubs to join located all over the world, and many rallies to partake in.

You could also join forums on the internet and I also know there are some very good pages on Facebook including our own where you can meet new friends and join in the discussions or share your stories. The people are very friendly and if you have any questions I am sure there will be someone who will be willing to help you.

I have listed all of the known metal detecting clubs in the UK, and we plan on adding more from around the world at a later date. However if you are someone who likes to be alone, or just with the family then the hobby is perfect. I have known many people take their wives and children on a day out with a detector.

There is something very peaceful about the hobby, and in turn can help with stress. While you are out there in the open space around the country side, or on a beach your mind is focused on the treasure hunt which in turn can help day to day worries leave your mind for a while.

In my years of detecting, I have also seen some very beautiful sunsets and witnessed some incredible views. Sometimes in life we forget just how beautiful the world can be.

While taking in these views it really does help us put things in perspective.

Financial gain is another benefit of the hobby, now there are rules and laws to follow so be sure to read our code of conduct page and our UK laws page. However if your main goal is to make some extra money while doing something you enjoy it is very possible.

Not every day will be a good day!

but I did pay for my first metal detector with finds I made within the first 6 months.

You never know either you could discover the next hoard of coins and become extremely rich, we can dream at least! It’s not something you should consider as a replacement for a job unless you can afford to support yourself financially.

While out with your metal detector you are learning, learning about the history of our ancestors and their cultures. You will gain knowledge on coinage, tools, jewellery and other items people used years ago. It’s just part of the hobby taking home all of your finds, cleaning your finds and then researching them.

It’s exciting to find out what it is you have found, where it was from, who used it and why!

So if after reading all of the above you are starting to think that this is something you would perhaps enjoy then we can advance on to the next post, which will cover choosing a metal detector that is right for you, the tools you will need and why, and where you can go with your metal detector.

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Metal Detecting For Beginners

So you have decided that metal detecting sounds like it could be something you would enjoy and now you need the answer to the question.

What do I need to get started metal detecting and how much is it going to cost me?

You’re going to need a few things to get you started, A Metal Detector, Headphones, Clothes, Boots, something to dig with and an optional pin pointer.

Choosing a Metal detector that is right for you can be a task on its own, with so many options available and so many conflicting opinions on what is the best for a beginner.

Firstly you are going to need to work out your budget, I mean if you have plenty of money and this isn’t an issue then you can opt for an all singing all dancing machine, but if your working with a budget don’t worry there are plenty of options available still.

You should start by finding yourself a little time, and reading through reviews, I have a best metal detector reviews section of our website you can begin with.

What qualities and features are you looking for as a beginner?

Where will you be going mainly with your metal detector?

What is your budget. In my opinion to start with it is better to purchase a cheaper detector, but don’t worry cheap does not mean that it isn’t effective. I’d start with a low cost detector so if you decide it is not for you, then you can resell the detector. They hold their value rather well so you should not be at a loss. Some good beginner detectors are the Garrett Ace 150, Garrett Ace 250, Garrett Euro Ace, White’s Coinmaster pro, and the Fisher F5.

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These aren’t your only choices just highly recommended.

You can buy any of these either new from Amazon, Ebay, a specialised Metal detector shop, or second hand from Gumtree, Ebay and local Facebook groups.

Headphones are not necessarily mandatory, however I would always advise to begin with purchasing a set as they help you hear the tones the Metal detector makes more clearly, and you don’t annoy anybody with the beeps!

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You can expect to purchase a pair to be pretty cheap. The headphones are optimised for metal detecting, with increased frequencies so that you can hear when there's something nearby. Another nice feature that they have is that they have extra durability because you may get a little tedious at times when you are unplugging them all day.

Some metal detector packages will have headphones included, but usually those bundles are in the range of $$$$ so you shouldn't worry too much about this.

You can buy the headphones from Amazon

This will help make your day a little more pleasurable as you do not have the worry of getting tangled, or tripping over any cables.

It is advised to purchase the right attire to Metal detect in this would be wellington boots or some rigger boots (not steel toe cap for the obvious reasons) depending on the season, a jacket for summer or winter and either a cap or beanie hat depending again on whether it is summer or winter along with a finds pouch (some metal detectors will have one in the box for free)

When choosing your digging equipment you will have many options you have to weigh up what is best for you as an individual. I would advise making sure you purchase something of a little higher quality, when I first started I got a cheap combat shovel and it did not get through the ground very well!

I went home with sore feet and absolutely knackered!

You can purchase a mini draper shovel from your local building merchants for around £15 which is a good starting shovel, Nato Shovels from ebay come at around £20 these come with a pouch, the shovel folds away and can be used as both pick and shovel. Then for the bigger budget you could look at specially designed stainless steel, foot assisted shovel called the Black Ada. This will cost around £40

A pin pointer is something I would advise from the off, although again not mandatory, it will help you huge amounts. It will save you time thus increasing your chances of finds. It will also decrease the amount you have to dig so you won’t be as tired!

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The pin pointer is a probe shaped metal detector device which helps you locate your “target” you can scratch around in a hole with them and when you are close to the item it will beep, so you will know exactly where to dig.

There again are options however in my opinion for the lower budget the White’s Bullseye II at around or the Garrett Pro Pointer below.

You can buy the headphones from Amazon​

Insurance is an option you should consider although you do not need it.

Having a public liability insurance helps to give the land owners peace of mind when you are asking for permission to detect on their land.

Lets say you forgot to close a gate and all of their live stock escaped?

Who will pay for this?

Perhaps you hit a pipe digging who will cover the repair costs?

Insurance is usually required for rallies but comes inclusive with the FID or NCMD memberships. You should also consider insurance for your equipment. We will elaborate further on Metal detecting insurance in a later post.

A positive mental attitude and patience are mandatory.

When you begin detecting don’t head out expecting to find treasure although it is possible, and there are stories where this has happened.

To start with you will be getting to know your metal detector and like with any new hobby or activity it’s about learning.

You will be digging a lot of “junk” signals until you learn to determine how to “discriminate” and determine the target sounds.

Do not worry though it does not take long to learn, and after a few outings you will find you are hitting good targets and less junk.

Get to know the detector you have chose, read the manuals, watch some youtube videos and practice in your garden. You can set out items and run tests yourself so you can see how your detector reacts to them.

OK you got the above! Still interested? You are now going to need somewhere to go with your metal detector the next section in the beginners series is named Where can I go with my metal detector?

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Where Can I Go Metal Detecting

So you are on to part three of our beginners guide. I’ll assume you have purchased your metal detector and equipment and you are now ready to get out there into the big wide world and find treasure.

In this post we will answer the question you are probably asking by now where can I go Metal Detecting legally without getting in any kind of trouble.

We will start with the place you can go pretty much instantly.

The Beach

Going to the beach for metal detecting can be very rewarding, plus its really fun to find all those hidden treasures, just that you will need a permit for your activity. The beaches are owned by the British Crown Estate, and you will probably have to check if you need or not a permit.

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