I was interviewed a while back for an article to be published in SJ Magazine. It finally came out this week. Here is the link to the article. Both myself and fellow Ring Finder Jeffery Laag appear in the article
Thank you to Kate Morgan and SJ Magazine for writing an article that portrays metal detecting in a POSITIVE light.
Deja Vu All Over Again!!
Many of you know that I have pulled off some epic April Fool’s Pranks on my birthday. This is not one of them, this is a true story!
Joe contacted me 2 weeks ago. He thought that he lost his ring in his yard while raking leaves in the fall. He said that this isn’t the 1st time he has lost his ring. It is the 5th time and I found it for him several years ago. That time he also lost it while doing yard work.
He said he would be home on Friday & I had some free time, so I headed over. The last time I found it within 10 minutes. I noticed that the yard has changed. The back yard has a metal fence, not good. Plus, there is a large garden in the middle of the yard that also has a metal fence around it.
Joe stated that he bought a $150 metal detector. He has been trying to look for it, but the machine is always beeping. So he thought it was time to reach out again.
Joe showed me what he was doing that fateful day. He was raking leaves & dumping them in multiple locations. I started searching in the areas that he thought that he lost it. All of those spots were near the fences. I brought multiple machines and lowered the sensitivity really low, but the fences are just to overpowering to my metal detectors.
I moved to other areas of the yard. I searched out front where he said he piled the leaves for the township. I was hoping that the leaf machine didn’t get his platinum wedding band. After 2.5 hours of searching I had to leave, I had another appointment.
Our schedules wouldn’t line up till 1 week later on April Fool’s Day. After leaving work at 8:30 am and getting my equipment. I called Joe to make sure we were still on. He said that he completely forgot. He had made an 11am appointment to get a newer car. He said that I could come over to look even if he wasn’t there. I told him that I would be there in 20 minutes.
Joe was out back moving some of the tomato cages out of the way in hopes that he lost it in the garden while he was dumping leaves. I did a quick search and I couldn’t get close to the edges because of the fence. It wasn’t in the rest of the garden.
I only had a small area in the back yard that I didn’t finish the last time that I was here. So I detected that. No ring. I got another machine with a 3-inch coil to try to get closer to the fences. No luck. I’m getting frustrated and getting ready to give up. I really wanted to find this ring, AGAIN. Joe would be my 1st repeat customer and 1st successful repeat customer.
I saw a rake in the garden and decided to rake all around the fence at the garden, both inside and out. I did it twice. The second time around I was down to the dirt. I moved some more dirt & leaves and there was a platinum ring right up against the fence.
I took a few pictures and went to the house to show Joe. He couldn’t believe it. He was so excited; his expression was better than the first time that I had found his ring. He asked if he could hug me. We hugged. He said that his wife isn’t going to believe this. I suggested that he puts the ring on a chain or gets a replacement that fits. He said that he would look into it. I also told him that I had a good feeling about finding it today since it is my birthday.
He now has my magnetic business card on his refrigerator for next time. I said it better be for a referral.
If you lose a metal item, call a professional. It takes a lot of time to learn what a metal detector is telling you. Most people think that you can just turn on a metal detector and go. You need to be able to know how to adjust the detector to different types of minerals in the soil and different metals. Save time & money and call your local Ring Finder!!
The day after our 22 inch snow storm, I received an email from Paul. He wanted to know if my metal detector could find his keys in the snow. He thinks that he lost them while he was shoveling. I told him that yes I should be able to find his keys. This was 6:30 at night.
He wanted to know when I could get there. I told him that I had to work the next 2 days so Wednesday would be the earliest. He asked if there was anyway I could come out later that night. His wife was very worried about someone finding the keys and having access to the house and/or cars. Paul said that he was out right now but would be home around 8pm.
I met Paul at his house in Haddonfield at 8pm. It was a corner house with a lot of sidewalk area. I got a really bad sinking feeling. This was going to take me all night. Paul showed me the property. He explained that he started shoveling the driveway and then the rest of the yard. It took him hours.
I went back to my truck to get my Minelab CTX 3030 with a 12 inch coil. I told him that I would start here near my truck and then move on. Did I mention that I would be walking though this 22 inches of snow while searching? In most spots it was deeper because of the shoveling. I was beat already from shoveling my yard, my in-laws, my dad’s house & my brothers. Over 5 hours of shoveling (our snow blower had broke). I really didn’t want to be here.
About 5 minutes into the search I got my 1st signal. I dug down with my gloved hands and it was a miracle, I had his key in my hand!! I shouted over to Paul and said “I got them!!” He yelled OMG I can’t believe it. He must have said that 10 times. Paul said that his wife will be greatly relieved that no strangers will be finding the keys.
It took me longer to find a parking spot than it did to find his keys. When I got home my wife asked if I gave up because it was to deep. I said no, that I had found them already. She said that I was only gone 15 minutes. I didn’t even miss a quarter of the NFL Playoff game that I had been watching.
I settled down and watched the rest of the game with a Coney Island Hard Rootbeer. Another successful search. I was very happy that it was so short.
I received an email from a newlywed couple saying that the husband lost his wedding ring in the back yard while raking leaves and playing with some kids. They found me through a referral from the internet.
We set up a day to meet for me to hunt. Turns out they live on the next street over from me, we’re neighbors.
We met on a Sunday afternoon, and they showed me the area that he believed that he lost it. The far back of the yard near a tire swing. They left me to hunt as they had things to do in the house since it was getting near Christmas.
As I started to search the area I was getting a lot of iron signals. The area this house is in was in the same general area where there was a stage coach stop for people traveling from Philly to the shore in the 1700 & 1800’s. I had to turn down the gain on my machine a lot to make it stable.
I searched the area for about a half an hour with no luck. I then decided to expand my search area. Most people think they lost their item when the notice it missing, but a lot of times it isn’t even close to where they lost it.
After about another 15 minutes I get a very good signal in my headphones. I separate the thick grass and there is a white gold ring. The inscription inside is “Duet – The Way You Are”.
I go up to the house and knock. They look disappointed. When they opened the door they said I guess you are giving up. I asked them if the ring had an inscription. They said yes and told me what it was. I then said I guess this belongs to you then, and opened my hand with the ring inside.
The were so amazed that it had been found. I get more hugs from strangers after finding items, then I get from my family. They had already inquired at a local jeweler about a replacement. We took some pictures and they asked me about some of my stories that are on my website.
2015 was a very good year for me returning lost items. I am hoping for a better 2016!! Thanks for taking the time to read my adventures.
A couple of weeks ago, My son was contacted via text message, asking if I still hunt for missing items. He told them that I still enjoyed the HUNT and would contact them shortly.
I got a hold of the dad and we decided on a time to meet at the possible location. Early on a Sunday morning we arrived. There were some very large piles of leaves at the side of the road.
The story goes that some high school buddies were leaving a party to walk home. They saw all of the large piles of leaves and started to rough-house, push and roll in the leaves. When Ian got home he realized that his very expensive key to his vehicle was missing.
I started to search and found out that there was a drainage pipe running along the road under the piles of leaves, causing a constant beep on my machine. I kept searching hoping for a different tone. I did manage to find a large piece of iron railing and some soda cans.
We went to a different pile. Same pipe setting my machine off. After about 15 minutes I heard a different sound. I dug down in the pile & discovered a karabiner with some keys attached. It was them. Another successful hunt!! I saved the owner about $300 for a replacement key.
If you have lost something metal, contact a professional metal detectorist. If you try renting or buying your own machine, it takes a very long time to learn how to use it. I can find items on land and in shallow water. If you need it found, I’m your man, The Metal Detecting Man
My wife received a message, in late September, from a friend who has been reading some of my recovery stories. Apparently her mom, who passed away late last year, lost a gold ring about this time last year. Her mom insisted that it was lost near the driveway at her house. She asked if I could look for it.
I am always up for a new search. I had some time to spare this week so I got the address for her dad’s house and packed my truck with 3 detectors and assorted other necessities.
I arrived at the house and it looked like no one was home. I started to search the very thick Zoysia grass. I was thinking to myself that there is no way a ring could penetrate this carpet, it would just sit on top.
I searched the area and received 2 possible targets. I moved the grass around to see if the ring was under the grass. Nope I marked them both to check after I finished the area, because it would take a little work to look in the ground with the thick root system of the Zoysia.
After finishing the search of the area I went to the first mark. Carefully with out destroying the grass I was able to probe and pop out a nickle. I was about 2 inches down in the dirt. After the recovery I fixed the ground & no one will ever know that the ground was disturbed.
I went to the 2nd target that I marked. I was probing the area with a 10 inch flat head Craftsman screw driver that I use a a probe. After a few tries I hit something that wasn’t a root. I tried to pop the target out of the ground, no luck. I then dug a very small hole in the dirt. I see the sparkle of GOLD. It was the ring, but it was intertwined in thick roots of the Zoysia. With in a minute I had the ring in my possession. I was amazed at how deep the ring was in the dirt after only being there about 1 year.
I fixed the ground and you can’t tell that anyone was there. I took the ring home, and cleaned it up. I took a few pictures and then sent a text with just the picture to Denise. I got a message back saying “OMG!I Love u!!! Ur making me cry!!!”
The whole searching of the area and the recovery of the ring only took about 10 minutes. It took longer to pack my truck…
A post from Denise:
If you don’t believe in miracles then read this!!! I appreciate
Dave finding it more than he’ll ever know. It’s an only child ring – my stone is in the middle and my parents’ stone on either side then my mom added each of the boys’ stones. I want her to be buried with it but I guess she wanted me to have it.
I received a call earlier in the week from Rob, asking if I was the guy who finds lost rings. I told him that I was and asked how I could help. He said that there are 2 missing rings in front of his residence in the flower bed.
He was out of town on business until the weekend, so we planned to meet up on Saturday morning. I assumed that they lost them while planting the flowers. So it should be an easy find.
I arrived and met Rob. I asked him to show me where he thought that they were. I asked him how long ago that the flowers were planted and about how deep were the holes when they planted them.
He said they were lost about a week ago during an argument and were thrown there. Well there ya go you know what happens when you assume. They spent a couple of hours looking for them with flashlights.
I asked where she was standing when she threw them. He said that he threw them. There ya go another assumption! He showed me the direction. I went back to my truck to get my equipment.
I had to fight the sounds from the sprinkler system in the ground. After about 20 minutes I got a good repeatable signal. Looked through the flowers and found the wedding band. Rob was amazed.
We were now looking for the engagement ring. I continued with my machine and Rob then jumped into the flower bed and started hand searching the bushes. He said that he thought one went farther then the other and that one made it to the bushes.
After about 10 more minutes I hear Rob Shout, “I got it!!” And there it was. A few high fives were thrown. He stated you saved my life!
I took a few pictures and gave him my business card just in-case there was a need in the future. He was a happy man… My wife said after I got home was “I knew it! I knew they were thrown!”
I have responded to so many lost rings because they were thrown in the heat of the moment. Call me 1st, I’ll take the ring off of your hands and save the time for a search later…
Paul contacted me back in November 2012 about his wedding ring he lost. He thought that he lost it in his backyard while raking leaves.
Our schedules didn’t line up for many reasons. We both forgot about it.
I was checking/deleting my old emails when I came across the ones from Paul. I saw that I didn’t have an outcome listed for this missing ring. So I emailed Paul to see if it had been found. He said it is funny that you are asking about my ring. My wife & I were just discussing it the other night at dinner. It is still lost.
A few back & forth emails and we set a date & time the I would go over and search, Saturday August 15th.
I arrived and Paul & his son David were in the driveway replacing breaks on a car. Paul showed me the backyard and the area he thought it was lost. He then stated, if it is not here then its in the neighbors yard, because I was throwing items into their yard. I can get you permission to search there too.
I asked Paul about the ring. He said it was a plain wedding band. OK I thought I know what range on my detector that should register.
I started searching & noticed a lot of iron in the ground, not good. I searched the area Paul suggested and found pieces of metal garden dividers, pull tabs and other assorted junk. Not one good item. I decided to continue to search the rest of the yard.
About an hour into the search I finally got a good signal. It was above the range That it should be in. I dug about 2 inches down and found a very large gold ring with 2 turquoise stones in it. Well this isn’t the ring, because this isn’t a plain wedding band.
I searched the rest of the yard and found nothing else. I went to talk to Paul. I asked him, “you said a plain wedding band, correct?”
He said “oh it has 2 turquoise stones in it.”
“Like this one?” I said as I pulled the ring out of my pouch. He stood there with his mouth wide open. He couldn’t believe that I had found it. It was very large, I don’t know how he could have lost it without realizing it.
I went to the hose and cleaned it up a bit. We took some pictures and shared some stories. He said that he designed this ring and his wife’s matching ring. They have been married for 29 years. I apologized for dropping the ball and not finding this ring back in 2012.
I am just amazed by the different expressions on peoples faces when I am able to return things!!
I’m home from vacation unpacking & cleaning my metal detectors, and I get a phone call from Kate. She says that her husband was in the backyard watering the flowers when he lost his wedding ring.
I ask the usual questions when was it lost? Today Is there any metal fencing around? No Has anyone else looked? No. She said it was lost a few hours ago, they believe that it is in the neighbors yard, but its un-kept. They live in Philly. The thought about renting a detector and while searching for detectors my site came up. I looked up the address and said that I could be there in 45 minutes. She said make sure you come prepared, there are a lot of mosquitoes.
After searching for a parking spot for about 20 minutes I found one about a block away. I took 1 detector with me and walked to their house. I met Brett at the door. He showed me out back and where he was. He said he was watering the plants when a mosquito buzzed by his ear. He swatted at the bug an his ring flew off. He didn’t hear it land so it had to be in the neighbors yard. His yard is covered by a wooded deck.
The neighbors yard was a mess. It hasn’t been taken care of in years. The only way in was to climb over a 5 foot cement wall. Brett said that the neighbor game him permission to search, but he had to figure out how to get in & out.
The bugs were worse than I imagined. I had to go back to my truck and get a send detector with a smaller coil because of all of the trash. I also put on a long sleeve shirt and a hat that not only covers my head but mu neck too.
With the assistance of a step stool I was able to get into the yard, not sure how I was going to get out because it was much higher on this side. There were so many metal items in this yard my hopes were very low.
I decided to look around 1st. There was no grass, but plenty of weeds and 3-4 foot saplings. Weeds with sticker balls and the like. I searched for about 15 minutes just by looking. Moving the plants & saplings. I was just about to gram a detector when I saw the ring.
It was a beautiful tri-colored gold ring. White gold, yellow gold & rose gold. Brett said when he was looking for rings for the wedding he just couldn’t find one he liked. He told his dad the the only ring here really likes is the one his father wore. His dad without hesitation gave him his ring. So there was a huge sentimental attachment.
I found a milk crate to give me a little height to try to climb out of the yard. It was just enough for me to pull myself up and get over the wall.
We went into the house & took some pictures. I’m not sure if I would have found it with a detector, even with a 3 inch coil to get through the trash. I guess I am getting pretty good at this treasure hunting thing!!
Last night (August 5th) while taking a long walk on the beach with my wife, I got a call from fellow jewelry recovery expert Edward Cropski. He received a call about a lost ring. He was unable to come down to the beach to search. He knew I was in Ocean City, so he called me to see if I was available. He gave me the number for Chris.
I called Chris. He said while on the beach today he took his ring off before he went into the water with his kids. He put it in the cup holder of his chair. After swimming they went home for the evening. He remembers flipping his chair over to shake the sand off.
When he got back to where he was staying, he remembered about his ring. He immediately went to the internet to search for help.
He was glad that I called. I told him it would take me about 30 minutes to meet him where he thought he lost it. We only hoped that another person detecting the beach didn’t already find it. The beach he was on is heavily detected.
As I approached Chris & his wife and son, there was another guy in the area with a detector searching the sand.
Chris showed me the area he was in and where he thought that his chair was. I started to search. I thought to my self this should be easy because it was a small area.
I searched the area and came up with 6 bottle caps and 5 pull tabs along with some other junk. Only 1 penny was in the area. Chris’ wife thought that the ring was gone forever.
I expanded the area the Chris thought that he was in. About 2 minutes later I got a good tone & ID number on my machine. It was his ring. When I showed it to them the looks on their faces was priceless. Chris’ wife just stood there with her mouth open in shock.
Chris told me that this was his dad’s ring. His dad died of cancer in 1989. He also said that this was the 4th time he lost the ring.
The 1st time was went he was fishing in a stream. He went to wash his hands in the water, the ring fell off. He grabbed as much of the bottom that he could and found the ring in the muck. The 2nd time was was spreading mulch in his yard. He once again was able to find it. The 3rd time was in Puerto Rico swimming in a pool. He had management clear the pool and searched and found it.
He swears and so does his wife that he will never wear it near water again. He hugged me and shook my hand several times.
Another missing ring returned thanks to teamwork!