Winter comes quickly here in Canada. One day you’re out detecting, the next day your knee high in snow. So you store your equipment, pull up a chair by the fireplace and dream of the arrival of the “New Spring”. This is when the Winter Blahs, or Blues if you prefer, will get you. They’ll sneak right into your head, and before you know it, nothing else matters. All you can think of is detecting. Yes, you start off thinking about the great finds you discovered, but then those not so good days will come to mind. You begin to doubt your ability to detect, and indeed, your dedication to metal detecting. It’s a downward spiral from there.
Okay, so I’m exaggerating. You can have a lot of fun in winter, such as skiing, tobogganing, snowshoeing or even just building a snowperson (see what I did there). But you don’t need me to tell you that. What you may not know is that you can still be involved in metal detecting! That’s right! There’s more to metal detecting than the actual detecting side of things, and winter provides the ideal time for you to prepare for the upcoming season.
First thing first.
Properly store your equipment
It’s best not to put your kit away dirty at any time, but definitely not when you’ll be storing it for a few months.
So, starting with your detector(s) and coil(s). Remove the batteries from the detector and pin-pointer. This way you will avoid any damage that may occur if your batteries leak during storage. It’s also always best to start with fresh new batteries every season or at least carry a few unused extras as part of your kit. Keep your used and unused batteries separate.
The next thing you’ll want to do is clean off any dirt that has accumulated on the afore-mentioned detector, pin pointer and coil. You can do this with a damp rag and a mixture of water /multi-purpose detergent. Whatever multi-purpose detergent you use, make sure that it is appropriate for what you are using it for. Once you have removed the dirt, give the equipment a wipe with a dry, soft cloth.
Spades and trowels once void of dirt can be sprayed with WD40, or a similar product, before storage. This will avoid any rusting. Again, do your homework before using any product.
Now that your equipment is all clean and put away, and if you have a mind to, you can clean your finds. I won’t be going into how to do this in this article, but perhaps in a later one. However, there are plenty of websites that will help you with this, if you want to go searching.
Finding new permissions
Winter is the ideal time to research and seek new permissions. I have written a couple of articles that will help you in this department. Check them out! Historical Research – Is It Worth It? and Seeking Permission From Your Local Farmer.
Here are a few other things you can be doing related to metal detecting
- Investigate the history behind some of your favorite finds.
- Start your own blog or website and tell the world about your finds and this great pastime.
- If you are in the market, why not use this time to research equipment that you are interested in?
This is just a short list just to get you thinking about what you can do, metal detecting wise, through the winter. I’m sure you can think up more.
Don’t let the Winter Blahs get you !
