Make up a water and ammonia solution, usually around 10% concentration will be just enough to get results and not cause any irreversible damage. Dip the toothbrush into the solution and gently work around the button. (please do not brush your teeth) Some local authorities are very strict with the “No Metal Detecting” Rule while others are more relaxed allowing you to detect as long as you follow the code of conduct and the treasury act. Before going out to detect metal, prepare a plan of action of where you plan to go and for how long you plan to metal detect. Another crucial thing, always make sure that the battery last that much and you have anywhere from 1 to 4 hours left. Some common places to metal detect As a beginner the thought of this could sound very daunting however there are some very simple methods which I will elaborate of further in a moment. NO TRESPASSING: Remember all land has an owner, and before you set out to metal detect on it you should ensure you have obtained permission from the owner or tenant. To avoid arguments and disputes it is a good practice to have this permission in form of a contract or writing. Along with an agreement of what happens to any subsequent finds you may unearth

Sit and write a list of all the places you have seen and thought I would like to metal detect on there and begin researching to find out who owns the land. Hello and welcome to my final post in the beginners guide to Metal Detecting. I hope you have found it useful so far. Please remember the techniques, and methods I have talked about are of my own opinion, from other resources, and have been recommended to me. You will find your own ways, and learn your own methods eventually. This series of beginners guides, are just a start to point you in the right direction. Notice how you start to see the land differently, sometimes we can’t see things like old paths, where buildings used to be, ancient water courses etc while we are on the ground. Using Google maps will help you spot these things.There are other ways of researching, but I feel for now this is enough to get you started and keep you busy for a long while. 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? So you finally get on some land and you discover something that you think may well be classed as treasure?

You could write a letter, if you have no idea where to begin with a letter then take a look at our metal detecting permission letter. Other ways include, making telephone calls, asking friends and family if they are connected with a local farmer, posting on the Facebook farmer groups or internet farmers forums. The scheme funds the posts of Finds Liaison Officers at county councils and local museums to whom finders can then report the objects they found to. The Finds Liaison Officer is qualified enough to analyse, research and examine the find and then give the finder more information on it. If the item is prehistoric it will be then classed as treasure if any part of it is gold or silver.

Some other techniques include baking soda and tinfoil. This technique can be seen in the following video. GROUND CARE: It is good practice to wherever possible detect on land that has already been disturbed for example ploughed fields. If you are metal detecting on undisturbed pasture you should ensure that no damage is done to the archaeological value of the land. Ensure all holes are properly filled and use the correct tools. Fill holes as neatly as possible.

It is good practice to adhere so the hobby of metal detecting can continue to be successful and so we do not get a bad name. Before you go out and metal detect it is a good idea to follow on through our beginners series, the next part covers the Metal Detecting Code of Conduct. 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.If you have time professionals would often recommend bathing your items for days at a time in distilled water or olive oil and repeating the process for as many times as needed. This is the safest way of cleaning, no rubbing involved and no damaging the coins.

The map documented the names of anyone living there and the owners. It also documented what the land was used for. Tithe maps are a good place to do research of land. Under the English Laws, landowners have the sole title and ownership to any archaeological artifacts found on their land or property. It is good practice to make an agreement, preferably a written contract with the landowners or tenants before you metal detect on their land. This agrees that you will share any monetary proceeds from sales of the treasure. Items that are less than 300 years old, that are made substantially of precious metals, that have purposely been hidden with the intent of recovery and whose rightful owners or heirs are unknown will fall into this category. Gold does not react with minerals found in the soil, therefore when you find them they should be in pretty much the same condition as the day they were lost. Apart from a soil build up, the coins do will not have corroded or oxidised. So cleaning should only occur to remove the dirt. A very cautious approach should be taken, and no chemicals will be needed.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. These rules are not so much laws however they are what you should try at all times to follow, they are a guideline. Google Earth and Google Maps are two of the most valuable tools when researching the land you want to metal detect. Obviously if you are in a brand new house then the garden may not be to interesting, never the less that is not to say you won’t find anything. 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.