1) Metal detecting is like loosing weight. We know what it is we have to do to be successful, we just won’t do it.
I know that in order to lose weight I have to eat sensibly; lean protein, more vegetables, moderate fats, and less carbs. Also, I have to exercise. A combination of resistance and aerobic activities would be ideal. Yeah, yeah, pass the potato chips!
So it is with metal detecting. Select an area to work. 10ft x 10ft is a good start. Slow your pace and overlap your swings tightly. Work the area in a grid. Go North-South, then East-West. Last, work the area diagonally. Trust me. It blew my mind the first time I got a strong, clear signal on a silver quarter, that disappeared completely when I turned 90 degrees! When working around trees, work concentric circles around the tree trunk, then, work the pie slices towards the tree. Then work diagonally around the tree. Trust me again. I read a story from a guy who went around the same tree three times before he got the signal for two silver quarters in a pocket spill. Yeah, yeah…
2) The solution to all the trash in an area you want to hunt is…
Dig it! I know this is considered a draconian measure in the metal detecting world but really, there isn’t any other way to deal with the trash. Stop waiting for that magical new detector that will absolutely tell you that the signal you’re listening to is a bottle cap, not a quarter. Choose an area, work your butt off and dig all the trash, then you will not have to worry about it. I read an excellent strategy for doing this: Layers.
Layers: Bring down the sensitivity on your metal detector to the minimum. Go over the 10×10 area and dig all the shallow targets. Once you have covered the area following the grid method, turn up your sensitivity one third of the way up and repeat. Do it again at near full or full sensitivity. I haven’t personally tried this but I am dying to. I have a very old park that is heavily infested with trash and I just know there are all kinds of cool coins and relics there.
3) Join the 21st century and get a pinpointer…geesh!
I still hear people out there proudly exclaiming that they don’t need a pinpointer. Really? Let me tell you, a pinpointer is an essential tool, not a gimmick. By using a pinpointer, you will dig more targets in less time. Digging more targets is a sure fire way to find more cool stuff.
Just do it.
Thank you for looking.
The Dirt Is Good To Me 
I dug everything once on a 10’x10′ took every ounce of will power I had. You can see my results here http://treasurebone.blogspot.com/2011/07/my-10×10-dig-everything.html …LOL Thankfully I can laugh about spending a day searching a 10X10 in 100 deg. heat. The again…maybe I cooked my brain that day. That days video started all of my silly parodies.
LOL! I did see that video. I have been waiting for the temps to drop to try it. Really, I have an EXCELLENT old park that is just insanely covered by trash so I know no one hunts it for that reason. Plus is all sandy loam so it is easy to dig. I hope to video my efforts for future generations.
I look forward to seeing it. Hopefully you have better luck than I did!
“Digging more targets is a sure fire way to find more cool stuff.”
That, plus good sites = BINGO!!
Excellent blog, good advice that we probably won’t follow HAHA