Beach metal detecting: ways to make money

[KTP]

I have heard of a guy in Florida who has already found over 38 gold and silver rings (some diamond) beach metal detecting with a $150 Ace 250 metal detector in Florida.

If only I lived close enough to a warm sandy beach where idiots wear a $5,000 engagement ring while playing in the surf....

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

The valuable lesson in this for me is that I should leave all jewellery at home (or in hotel safe) when I go to the beach!

How do people lose their ring at the beach? Set it on a towel and forget about it? Why take your rings off if you have them at the beach anyway? Trying to avoid those annoying ring finger tan lines?

[KTP]

It is a pretty easy scenario to visualize.

You have been in the sun all day, possibly are a bit dehydrated and thus your ring is fitting a bit looser. You wade into the surf to cool off. A decent wave knocks you down, but you get up quickly, laughing and having fun...until you notice that your ring has slipped off your finger.

It must happen a lot if that guy has found 38 rings...since the start of THIS year.

[GinerD]

I tried this too. The drawback is that I live in land-locked Oklahoma (our "beaches" are at the lakes). I invested in a metal detector. I learned to use it. I found metal (not the valuable kind). I discovered it will take much more time than I have to commit to it, so I sold it to someone who has probably found all the rings I never did! Now I have found other ways to use that time to make money.

[junosama]

You know ive always wanted to treasure hunt something inside me makes me want to hunt for stuff like this. I think when i have some extra money i may do it ive heard some crazy stories of people finding awesome stuff.

Alot of times if you find great old stuff you can sell it to museums i think you get to keep half or something.

I even saw a show on tv where people hunted for meteors with giant home made medal detectors tied to the back of an ATV, then they would sell them to museums and schools.

[Saving_spree]

I never wear expensive things to the beach...

Once i found a purse but my bad luck only credit cards...

[cptacek]

People could lose rings because they are putting sunscreen on and it makes their fingers slick...

[jeffrey]

When I retire, you are going to see me out there doing exactly this just for the fun of it

[aurielle]

Originally Posted by KTP

It is a pretty easy scenario to visualize.

You have been in the sun all day, possibly are a bit dehydrated and thus your ring is fitting a bit looser. You wade into the surf to cool off. A decent wave knocks you down, but you get up quickly, laughing and having fun...until you notice that your ring has slipped off your finger.

It must happen a lot if that guy has found 38 rings...since the start of THIS year.

This is how DH lost his wedding band in Hawaii in 2005. After the fact he mentioned his ring was a bit loose fitting.

[Credit Girl]

I wonder how long it took him to find all those rings! That's a lot of time invested and he's probably laughing all the way to the bank...

[Mike75]

Ok so let's see if I got it right!

You want us to purchase a metal detector, take time off from our work or our family and go to the beach and roam around with a metal rod in our hands, like a lunatic?

No thanks dude!!

[jeffrey]

Originally Posted by Mike75

Ok so let's see if I got it right!

You want us to purchase a metal detector, take time off from our work or our family and go to the beach and roam around with a metal rod in our hands, like a lunatic?

No thanks dude!!

It's all perspective. While you may view it that way, I would view it as a better way to spend my time than sitting in front of the TV plus it negates the need for a gym membership since it also will give me my daily exercise. Bonus, I may even make a little bit of money while doing it.

[KTP]

Originally Posted by Mike75

Ok so let's see if I got it right!

You want us to purchase a metal detector, take time off from our work or our family and go to the beach and roam around with a metal rod in our hands, like a lunatic?

No thanks dude!!

Funny, I see guys all over PAY to roam around with a metal rod in their hands looking like a lunatic. Sometimes they even ride around for a bit in a little electric cart.

I guess it all depends what you find fun...

[Mike75]

I think instead of wasting our time in earning money through such means, we can put that much energy into finding a real job or doing something really creative.

[KTP]

Originally Posted by Mike75

I think instead of wasting our time in earning money through such means, we can put that much energy into finding a real job or doing something really creative.

hmm, like posting useless things on the internet?

[jeffrey]

Originally Posted by Mike75

I think instead of wasting our time in earning money through such means, we can put that much energy into finding a real job or doing something really creative.

I had a lot of people say the same thing to me when I started this website about it being a waste of time and how I shouldn't spend so much time on it. Now it provides me with my "real job" - Just because you don't see it as a viable job for you doesn't mean that it can't be for others. I am certainly proof of that.

I think that someone who was motivated could do quite well blogging about their finds and building a community on that topic because of the natural allure of "treasure hunting" to many people. It would also lead to product selling opportunities for the equipment needed for those that are interested. I would consider that quite creative and certainly the potential to eventually become a "real job"

[Mike75]

Originally Posted by jeffrey

I had a lot of people say the same thing to me when I started this website about it being a waste of time and how I shouldn't spend so much time on it. Now it provides me with my "real job" - Just because you don't see it as a viable job for you doesn't mean that it can't be for others. I am certainly proof of that.

I think that someone who was motivated could do quite well blogging about their finds and building a community on that topic because of the natural allure of "treasure hunting" to many people. It would also lead to product selling opportunities for the equipment needed for those that are interested. I would consider that quite creative and certainly the potential to eventually become a "real job"

You are right. If you have the drive to do something then you can do it. But what you are talking about is doing a business. Searching for valuables on the beach is not a business. Next he will say that we should lurk around street corners and weight for someone to drop their wallets or purses etc....

[jeffrey]

Originally Posted by Mike75

You are right. If you have the drive to do something then you can do it. But what you are talking about is doing a business. Searching for valuables on the beach is not a business. Next he will say that we should lurk around street corners and weight for someone to drop their wallets or purses etc....

Not wallet and purses, but race track betting stubs: Stooping - Pick Up Betting Slips At Race Tracks: Ways To Make Money

[msi56]

I might just have to buy myself a metal detector