Metal Detecting After a Rainstorm

Metal detecting is amazing. That rush of adrenaline, that thrill when your metal detector beeps and reveals the hidden treasures. It’s just an amazing experience, but what about metal detecting after a rainstorm? 

Do we go for metal detecting in such a case? If yes, what should be expected? What strategies should be adopted to dig for treasure and not trash?

Should I Go Metal Detecting After a Rainstorm?

If you just want to know whether or not to go metal detecting after a rainstorm, then it’s an absolute yes. You can go metal detecting at your selected site after it rains.

Rainwater or moist soil does not hinder the metal detector’s performance. Moist soil does the opposite. Wet soil is easier for a metal detector to scan. 

You can scan deeper, with the detector picking up clear signals of metal of every type. So, it’s the best time to go metal detecting.

Why Metal Detecting After a Rainstorm is Effective

If we do a side-by-side comparison of selected sites before and after a thunderstorm, metal detecting after a rainstorm is more effective. 

There are three main reasons for this, which we have discussed in detail.

1. Moisture and Improved Soil Conductivity

Moisture in the soil after a rainstorm increases its conductivity, making it easier to scan. Metal detectors work by transmitting a magnetic field; when that field is disrupted by any metal object, it is sensed by the receiver.

Wet ground makes it easier for the signals to pass through, and moist metal parts respond better. So you can scan deeper, better, and more efficiently.

2. Erosion and Exposed Targets

If there was a heavy rainstorm, there was a fair chance of soil erosion, leading to potential exposed targets. Heavy rain during thunderstorms on landscapes with natural slopes will result in a stream of fast-moving water. This stream of water can cause erosion, thus exposing targets that you might have missed by an inch or so.

3. Soft Ground is Easy to Dig

The best reason and advantage of metal detecting after a rainstorm is that the wet ground is much easier to dig. It takes less effort, and you can do more without getting tired.

This also protects your tools from high wear and tear that might happen with hard soil. Soft soil also makes it easy to remove soil from metal objects you might find, making object identification quicker and easier.

Best Locations for Metal Detecting After a Rainstorm

If you haven’t pinned down a specific site for metal detecting before the thunderstorm, there are several potential sites to explore afterward.

1. Beaches and Coastal Areas

Beaches and coastal areas are ideal for metal detecting after a rainstorm, considering the vast area, the number of people visiting, and the soft sand to dig. There are two things to consider when evaluating a beach or coastal area for metal detecting after a rainstorm.

• The first thing to consider is the tide. 
• The second thing to consider is the sand or soil deposition. 

Low tide is needed to scan the area, as high tide will make it impossible to work. Other than this, if a storm has deposited a significant portion of sand on the beach rather than eroding it, this might not be the right time for metal detecting. Freshly deposited sand from the sea will bury valuables deeper, making them harder to detect.

2. Parks and Public Fields

Parks and public fields are also potential sites, as they have many visitors and, thus, a higher potential for lost items.

When scanning parks and public fields after a rainstorm, it’s best to scan areas on higher ground or a natural slope. These areas experience more soil erosion due to flowing rainwater, with most of the soil gathering on lower ground.

Other potential points include benches, underneath trees, and jogging tracks. These are places where people spend more time and are more active, increasing the chances of dropping valuables.

3. Places of Historic Importance

If you know any place which is historically important, such as an area known for trade in old times or a former village of wealthy people, it would be a great place to dig after a rainstorm. Rain softens the ground, and erosion might have removed some soil.

Two Tips for Quick Evaluation of Site

1. Care needs to be taken here. If any of these places are near industrial or domestic installations, a rainstorm can bring in metallic debris. 

If you find a lot of metallic debris after a rainstorm, it’s best to move to another site.

1. Also, if you notice fresh soil built up on-site after a rainstorm, it may be best to use a powerful metal detector for deep scanning or avoid scanning altogether.

Fresh soil deposits due to the thunderstorm may have buried treasure deep inside the soil.

Tips for Successful Metal Detecting After Rain

Although moist soil conditions work in your favor, there are still some tips to help you get the most out of your time.

1. Choosing the Right Metal Detector

Not all metal detectors are the same. So, when metal detecting after a rainstorm, make sure you have a waterproof metal detector. If not, at least use one with some water resistance.

Using such a metal detector will ensure that water doesn’t make it malfunction, allowing you to avoid digging for nothing.

2. Optimal Sensitivity for Wet Ground Detection

Metal detector sensitivity is important when detecting wet ground. Wet soil increases conductivity, which makes the job difficult if settings aren’t optimal.

Start by lowering the sensitivity slightly to reduce false signals from small, less valuable metals that can become more pronounced in wet ground. Experiment with low sensitivity until you strike a balance that allows you to detect desirable targets without too much noise.

3. Discrimination Settings Based on Initial Site Response

Since you can never be sure what debris a rainstorm might have brought, it’s better to adjust the metal detector settings based on the initial response. If you initially find a lot of iron-based waste material like nails, make the settings ignore ferrous metals.

Tuning sensitivity and discrimination settings to match conditions will improve your detector’s accuracy and help you avoid digging unnecessary holes.

4. Slow Sweeping with Proper Coil Position

When metal detecting after a rainstorm, it’s best to go slow with proper coil positioning. Ensure the coil is parallel to the ground and kept at a fixed position. The gap between the ground and coil should avoid collisions with surface debris, which can cause false signals, while not being too far to compromise scanning range.

Sweep at a slow, uniform rate while maintaining an appropriate gap between the coil and the ground.

Safety Considerations When Metal Detecting After a Rainstorm

Safety precautions are important for your and your equipment’s protection. Especially under unpredictable and potentially dangerous conditions after rainstorms.

1. Checking for Weather Warnings and Flood Risks

It’s important to stay informed about your area’s weather. Keep updated about thunderstorm or flood warnings, and avoid these conditions at all costs. If there’s a chance of heavy rain, flood warnings, or high tide at the beach, it’s best to avoid metal detecting.

2. Handling Muddy or Slippery Terrain

When metal detecting after a rainstorm, be extra careful and avoid any slippery or muddy terrain. Many types of rocks, when combined with mud, become very slippery after a heavy thunderstorm, so avoid them at all costs.

3. Waterproof Boots and Weatherproof Clothing

When metal detecting on wet ground, it is best to wear waterproof boots and weatherproof clothing. This not only protects you from water but also from potential dangers like venomous reptiles.

What Can Stop You from Metal Detecting After a Rainstorm

One scenario that can prevent you from metal detecting after a rainstorm is flooding. If your site is flooded with a few inches of water, it will be difficult to use your metal detector and dig for treasure.

Metal detectors designed for land scanning won’t work well in flooded areas, as they are not waterproof, so it’s not recommended to metal detect in flooded areas.

You can metal detect in flooded sites if you have dedicated waterproof metal detectors and other metal detecting tools like pin-pointers.

Conclusion

In conclusion, you can go metal detecting after a rainstorm, as moist soil is more conductive, helping you scan better and dig more easily. However, you need waterproof or water-resistant tools and the right techniques to maximize your success.