Allergies

David Cowley

Tips on Renting a Metal Detector Before You Buy

Wouldn't it be nice if you could take anything and everything out for a test drive before you bought it?  Sure, a car you can spin around the block a few times but imagine if you could live in a prospective house for a week before buying, or could wear those new shoes for a few days before purchasing, and so on.  But one thing you can do is rent a metal detector for just about as long as you want before you decide to actually buy one.  Why would you want to do this, and is it really that important?

A lot of people have dreams of finding buried treasure on a nearby beach and so they rent a metal detector to comb those beaches.  This looks fun and somewhat romantic even, the idea that coins and valuable artifacts can be found in the sand.  But in reality hunting for buried treasure can be something of a long and tedious prospect, especially on beaches that are well populated.  This means that many other treasure hunters have come before you!  So it might be a good idea to rent a metal detector for a while to see if this is really something that you would enjoy doing for hours and even days on end.

Sometimes a person will rent a metal detector in a place where they know there's buried or washed up treasure, but remember that in some areas of the country and world the government steps in and claims these artifacts for themselves.  You may get a finder's fee or small payment, but thinking you're going to stock your own home or get rich from this type of thing may be shortsighted.  This is why you may want to rent a metal detector rather than invest in one; it's surprising how often people just don't understand the laws governing such activities. 

There are many different types of detectors on the market.  Renting several different models can also assist you in determining the type of metal detector you may want to purchase in the future.  You can look at all of the different options available for the model of detector you are interested in.  Do you need a detector with a sensitivity meters which you can adjust, depending on the ground surface over which you'll be hunting?  Is the view screen to your liking?  How about the weight of the device?  Do you get tired after a few hours of treasure hunting?  Is the display easy to see and read?   All of these questions can be answered before you purchase your dream metal detector.

This isn't meant to put you off from the idea of treasure hunting, which can be great fun if you live near a beach or are going on vacation.  Most resorts and public beaches will allow you to rent a metal detector and many people have found great souvenirs and other items even during their first time out hunting.  You can also ask some of the locals for a good recommendation when it comes to whether or not to rent a metal detector as many have been combing the beach for years.  But just to be sure that this is a hobby or activity you know you'll enjoy for the long run, it's recommended that you rent a metal detector before you actually buy one just to be sure that you're getting your money's worth and will be using it for years to come.

Where to Get a Good Deal on Metal Detectors

Metal detecting is a hobby that is not only fun but can be educational as well.  Having the children get out from behind the computer and on the beach or open field to actually hunt for valuable artifacts, jewelry and precious metals can go a long way toward piquing their interest in their own schoolwork.  But no matter your reason to start treasure hunting, you may be on the lookout for discount metal detectors, especially if you're going to get your whole family involved.

Getting a good deal on several metal detectors can go a long way in keeping the peace on the home front.  Having to share one detector between several children is not going to get anyone interested in the hobby!  There are some great places where you can snag a bargain on discount metal detectors, both in person and online.

For example, do you have a used sporting goods store near your home?  They may have some great discount metal detectors that are gently used, and many of these models will last for years so there's no reason you shouldn't consider them.  You can even try them out right there in the store!  You can scour flea markets, garage sales, and check the classifieds of your newspaper to see if anyone is selling used models.

Of course the internet is probably going to be your biggest source of discount metal detectors, either new or used.  Typically new discount metal detectors are those that are from a few years ago; they haven't been used by anyone and the seller needs to get them off of their shelves so that they can bring in the new models.  This is much like what any other retailer does; they offer deep discounts on older models or older styles of virtually everything so that this year's models can be sold.

Of course a lot of these metal detectors will not have all the features that this year's models may have, but they're still very workable and usually have enough good features so that they're perfectly useable and will be enjoyable as well.  You can always add add-ons too your metal detector as you become more experienced with the device.  If you are primarily using the metal detector at a beach you may want to consider a visual reference option so that you can determine the type of metal being detected before you even dig it up.  This means that when you don't need to waste your time pulling up every bottle cap or aluminum can pull tab you come across and can concentrate on gold and silver jewelry and coins.

Some metal detectors have built-in sensitivity meters which you can adjust, depending on the ground surface over which you'll be hunting.  If you are treasure hunting on a sandy beach all of the time you may not need this option so why pay for it?  If your treasure hunting expands into wooded area then you may want to add this optional feature to your metal detector.

You can of course checks sites like eBay or CraigsList but sometimes it's better to shop for new models when looking for discount metal detectors.  That's not to say that you can't find great deals and great items at these other places but sometimes you can find new models for just as much as you can used ones, so why not try the new ones?

Buying discount metal detectors can be viewed as an investment in your own enjoyment but in your family's education as well.  It's a great way for the entire family to spend a weekend or beautiful day on the beach, and if you happen to actually find something valuable as well, that makes it all the better!

Treasure Hunting for Lake Superior Agates

 Agate Banded
 
Did you know that the official gemstones of the state of Minnesota are called agates?  Of all the beautiful rocks and gemstones that could have been considered, these beautiful stones that are readily available along so many beachfronts of that state are so treasured that they now have that official title.  If you're interested in treasure hunting of any type, why not consider treasure hunting for some Lake Superior agates of your own?

These colorful rocks are more than just your garden variety types of stones.  They were actually formed literally billions of years ago, when the North American continent began to split because of molten rocks shifting deep beneath the surface of the ground.  Water vapor and carbon dioxide became trapped in areas of these lava flows, forming the colorful rocks we now call agates.  Their beautiful and unique striped design is what makes them so treasured.

 Agate Ring
 
There are two ways to hunt for agates in the Lake Superior area.  The first is to scuba dive in Lake Superior for these gemstones.  A two hour non-certification class is offered in Copper Harbor and the class covers the location and identification of Lake Superior Agates.  Air is furnished for this one tank dive class.  Many of the better quality of agates are found on the sand bars in Lake Superior.  The water is quite cold and can be very cloudy at times so always use the buddy system when diving.

The second way to hunt for agates is to search the lake shore of Lake Superior and nearby lakes.  Hunting for Lake Superior agates isn't as easy as you might think.  Their unique banding usually becomes more visible when the rocks are polished and cut a little bit, and not always visible to the naked eye.  Prospectors often need to look for other clues when searching for agates.  Most have a glossy or waxy appearance and a pitted texture.  They also seem to have a glow or translucence on sunny days, usually because of the quartz deposit on the rocks.  A brighter day is usually better for hunting than a cloudy one.

 Fire Agate Polished
 
The best way to treat agates is by tumbling.  This is when the rocks are put into a large vat with polishing grit and tumbled for several days until they are shiny and smooth.  Usually areas where you can find Lake Superior agates have places that will do this for you, for a small fee.  They may also have many specimens available that have been found by others and that you can purchase for your own.  The larger ones are cut with diamond slabs until they're shiny and then are set in pieces of jewelry, belt buckles, and so on.

You don't need to be in Minnesota to find Lake Superior agates.  Any waters that empty into Lake Superior will have deposits along the banks of their rivers and streams; up and down the Mississippi River is a great hunting ground for Lake Superior agates.  Hikers, campers, and just casual beach goers have found a wealth of beautiful gemstones in many of these areas.

Treasure hunting takes on all forms these days; you can look for coins, shipwrecks, and even valuable rocks and gemstones.  For a great vacation activity, why not try hunting for Lake Superior agates?  They make great souvenirs for anyone.

Happy Treasure Hunting.

• Previous Posts:

• Tips on Renting a Metal Detector Before You Buy
• Where to Get a Good Deal on Metal Detectors
• Treasure Hunting for Lake Superior Agates
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