I still have that first detector— a beat-up VLF from the ’90s, coil held together with duct tape. Found it in my grandpa’s garage, dusted it off, and marched to the park. Swung it over the grass, and—beep-beep-beep—it screamed at every nail, soda tab, and rock. I dug 12 holes, found one rusted washer, and … Read more
First detector I ever bought? A shiny $150 model from a discount site. “Perfect for beginners!” the ad screamed. I unboxed it, raced to the park, and… nothing. Swung over a penny I’d buried 6 inches down, and the thing barely beeped. Then it started chattering like a nervous squirrel when I swung too fast. … Read more
First detector I bought? A shiny Garrett ACE 200, because some guy online said it was “perfect for beginners.” Took it to the park, swung it over the grass, and—beep-beep-beep—it screamed at every nail. I dug 10 holes, found one rusted washer, and thought, “This is stupid.” That’s when I met Carla. She runs “Carla’s … Read more
First detector I ever owned? A $150 “beginner special” from a discount site. Shiny, lightweight, and advertised as “perfect for parks and beaches!” Spoiler: It lied. Took it to my local saltwater beach on a sunny Saturday, coil hovering over wet sand. It chirped like a wounded bird—beep-beep-beep—at every grain of salt. Dug 12 holes, found zip … Read more