David Mac Donald

I can’t say Thank You enough, But I will spread the word nation wide in our industry of how useful your services are. (2020)

I am an I.B.E.W. Journey Lineman, working a 220kv Transmission line in the hills above Fillmore, Ca.

On 4-2-2020 we were in the process of Dead-Ending the new conductors we had recently strung in by pressing the Dead-End bodies with a 60T hydraulic press when the top die slid out of the press and fell 100’ to the ground. Despite watching it fall all the way, and knowing where it hit, the ground help was unable to locate the die. We resumed work with another set and 10 minutes later, another die slides out of the press. I didn’t see it fall, but it bounced 3 times off the tower before hitting the ground and no one saw where it went.

It’s not so much the cost of replacing the dies, but the fact that they are 6-8 weeks out (or longer because we are in the middle of the COVID-19 Pandemic) for replacement, and we now only have 2 sets of dies for the entire job.

After pondering buying a Metal Detector myself, I decided to find a professional. After about 30 minutes of internet searching, I came across The Ring Finders and David Mac Donald. It was 9:40 pm on a Sat. night and I pondered texting him so late, but I only had about a 4hr. window on Sun. mornig to search before a weeks worth of rain set in and makes access to the structure impossible for next 7-10 days, so i texted him.

He immediately texted me back, and was more than happy to help out, and full of questions. What are we looking for?, How big of a search area?, What are they made of?, Can I supply another one to ping his detector with?, and How early do you want to meet?

We met at 7am, and by 7:45 we were at the search area. It only took about 3-4 minutes to find the 1st die. Even though my guys had dug and pulled up weeds and bushes, it was still burried another 3-4” just from the shear impact from that height. The seach area for the other die, I figured could be about a 50-100’ dia. area around the tower as I had no idea what direction it went when it bounced off the tower. So we said a little prayer, and with his good nature and positive attitude, It took David about another hour of searching in a grid pattern,( working his way out on a pretty steep, overgrown hillside, most of the time holding onto the brush with one hand to maintain balance), when he hit pay dirt. He found it about 6’ from the opposite tower leg and still about 3” deep.

I can’t say Thank You enough, But I will spread the word nation wide in our industry of how useful your services are.

John Probst

I wish I had known about Dave Mac Donald and Ringfinders (2017)

I wish I had known about Dave Mac Donald and Ringfinders months ago. My engagement/wedding rings were lost on the beach just before Thanksgiving. Less than a week later sand was shifted by bulldozers and pipes were laid to begin dredging the harbor. We also have had the worst rain to hit the area in a decade. I tried several times on my own with a friend to go over the area with a metal detector, to no avail. I was feeling really disappointed and crushed that this cherished symbol of love and marriage that I intended to pass down to my granddaughter was lost forever. But I was having a hard time accepting the reality of that fact.

More than six months later I thought I would make one more desperate attempt and posted an ad. While I was nervous about what kind of person might respond, I was blessed that Dave found my ad and offered to help. I am a firm believer that "God does not close a door without opening a window"'. Dave and his helper came down to the beach, made a huge grid of the area and set off to work. I was uplifted and hopeful that they were also Christians and we prayed for God's help. After they conducted a methodic and thorough search for hours, it was determined that maybe the ring was too deep in the sand and might require more sensitive equipment. Dave acquired the equipment and searched again. He put tremendous effort into finding my ring, but unfortunately, it has not been recovered. Yet. There is a possibility that the ring settled a few feet below where it was lost (which I understand is common), but due to the build up of several feet of sand during this time of year, it may still be hidden there. Dave has assured me that he will keep on the quest as conditions change. I hope it may yet be found. It may be a few months or a year, or maybe never. But I feel as though every effort was made, and will be made, on my behalf. It has lightened the load on my heart a little.

There are other things in life and family that mean more. I am grateful that God brought Dave to me. He has been a blessing. I hope to hear from him again someday with the news that he has found my ring. But even if that never happens, at least I know we did all that we could. And I have a good man praying for my family and I.

Thank you,

Cathie Schmalholz