What are the rules for metal detecting?

Private Property: Like any other activity, if you wish to metal detect on private property, you must have permission of the property owner. Metal detecting on private property without the owner's permission has the potential to lead to charges of trespass and theft.

What are the three golden rules of metal detecting?

Regardless of the region that you detect, there are a number of best practices that should always be adhered to: Do not trespass; always respect private property and do no metal detecting without the owner's permission.

Can I keep what I find metal detecting?

Any finds discovered will normally be the property of the landowner, so to avoid disputes it is advisable to get permission and agreement in writing first regarding the ownership of any finds subsequently discovered.

What are the rules for a metal detector?

Can you use a metal detector anywhere?

You must obtain permission from the landowner before using a metal detector. This includes land to which the public have rights of access such as beaches, footpaths, or council-owned land.

The NCMD guide to the basic rules of metal detecting in the UK

What is illegal metal detecting called?

The majority of detectorists comply with the law and the Metal Detecting Code of Conduct. However, illegal detecting – or 'nighthawking' – is undertaken without the permission of the landowner and with a total disregard for laws which safeguard the preservation of Scheduled Monuments and other protected sites.

What Cannot be detected by a metal detector?

Metal detectors have a tough time detecting metals like stainless steel, which have very poor electrical conductivity. Stainless steel has low magnetic permeability, which means it does not produce a signal strong enough to be detected. Other items that metal detectors won't be able to locate include: Gemstones.

Do zippers go off in metal detectors?

So, don't worry, you won't be asked to remove them! Some people might be concerned that metal buttons and zips on jeans will set off the metal detectors at airport security but these metals are so small that they're unlikely to get picked up.

How deep do most metal detectors go?

Most metal detectors can detect objects about 4-8ʺ (10 - 20 cm) deep. In ideal conditions, a mid-range metal detector can reach 12-18ʺ (30-45 cm) underground. Some specialized detectors can go as deep as 65' (20 m).

Can you walk through a metal detector with gold?

One of the most common questions we get is Does The Metal Detector Detect Gold? The answer is YES, they all do.

Can you metal detect in graveyards?

Who owns the land where you will be searching? This is the most important question to ask. You should never use your metal detector on graves themselves because it is likely that that land is owned by the families of the individuals who are buried there.

Is it worth metal detecting on a beach?

Beaches are one of the best places to search for buried treasure. Not only are there often hidden treasure finds to be found in the wet sand, but the saltwater is also great for helping to break down metals and make them easier to detect.

Can I metal detect in local woods?

Yes, you can metal detect in woods! Woods and forest areas are excellent places to metal detect, as they are well-used paths littered with treasures and relics that have been dropped over the years. Research is key to have the most success when metal detecting in woods (we have some tips on this coming up)!

Are headphones necessary for metal detecting?

Perhaps the most important reason to wear headphones is the clarity that they provide. They'll allow you to pick up signals that may be impossible to hear with just the external speaker on the detector. Also, headphones will help you identify different metals. If you're hard of hearing like I am, wear headphones!

Do metal detectors detect shooters?

Metal Detectors 101

They work by detecting the presence of metal objects, which can include firearms.

What frequency do you need to detect gold?

Gold can be found at 14 kHz and higher. At frequencies between 3 kHz and 7 kHz, silver, copper, and brass can be found.

What is the greatest weakness of metal detectors?

Disadvantages of metal detectors include: Only able to detect electrically conductive or magnetic objects. If a contaminant is neither ferrous nor conductive, it will be essentially invisible to a metal detector. Because of this, metal detectors are rarely used on their own for quality control.

How fast should you swing a metal detector?

Garrett Metal Detectors, for instance, recommends 3-feet per second for their At Series Detectors. Which, is relatively fast. Here are some examples and reasons why you may want to swing your metal detector fast or slow.

Can a metal detector detect diamonds?

This leads to an important point: metal detectors will not detect non metal items such as gemstones, diamonds and pearls. What a metal detector can do is lead you to indicator minerals, which are used by prospectors. Prospectors follow the indicator trail back to gold or the volcanic pipe which may contain diamonds.

Do bones set off metal detectors?

If you have a hip replacement, knee replacement, a metal plate and screws, a metal rod inside your bone, or one of many other types of orthopedic implants, you may set off the airport metal detector.

What interferes with a metal detector?

Machines and devices that emit radio waves, electromagnetic fields, or high vibration may cause interference and false signals. High current load equipment running on the same power source as your metal detector may also cause false rejections by creating spikes in voltage.

What can disrupt a metal detector?

Any high-salt, high-moisture products, complicated by air bubbles and differing densities, can negatively impact a metal detector's ability to distinguish between actual non-ferrous metal contaminants and the false signal given by a combination of typical product attributes.

What metal is easiest to detect?

Ferrous metals are easiest to detect due to their magnetic properties. Magnets attract iron.

Will gold set off a metal detector?

Gold, platinum, sterling silver, and other fine jewelry rarely causes an alarm. That means you can wear your rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and watches. The only gotcha is when your jewelry is bulky or contains a lot of metal.

What rocks set off metal detectors?

Iron-bearing minerals within most "hot rocks" will cause a metal detector to go off. These iron bearing minerals are predominately the iron oxides: magnetite, hematite, limonite, maghemite and lepidocrocite.