metal detecting northern virginia Tag | The Ring Finders

Ring lost for five years, Hamilton, Virginia…FOUND!

  • from Fairfax (Virginia, United States)

Rob Ellis: Metal Detecting Expert…Call or text 703-598-1435

September 22nd, 2020: Found a ring missing for 5 years, used a new detector to overcome interference, and teamed up with another Ring Finder!

Sandy called me in April after reading about some of my recoveries on the internet. Her husband Alan, lost his ring about 5 years ago somewhere between their garage and the end of the long driveway. My first search attempt was especially significant because it was very close to their 50th wedding anniversary. I searched for several hours with my reliable ATMax, and found many targets. One area I had trouble with was at the end of the driveway. There were underground cables producing a lot of interference with my detector. Despite adjusting my metal detector’s frequencies, sensitivity, and ground balance, I couldn’t reliably search the area. I tried another detector, but it lacked the discrimination necessary to ignore many old barbed wire pieces. I told Sandy I’d be back.

I considered buying an Equinox 800 after recommendations from others, including my friend and fellow Ringfinder, Brian Rudolph. I researched the detector’s capabilities and was impressed with the technology allowing it to function in areas with interference. So, I bought one specifically to look for this ring. I tried my new detector a few times around my neighborhood until I felt comfortable with the settings. Since the search area was so large, I called my friend Ray and asked him to join me. Ray is also an excellent Ringfinder (https://theringfinders.com/Raymond.Jones/), and I knew he would be a great help covering such a large area.

We met on a beautiful morning on the 22nd of September and planned to search for several hours. Ray started at the top of the hill by the garage, and I worked at the end of the driveway where I experienced the interference in April. I set my Equinox to Park 1, and the frequency to 20 kHz. This resulted in nice clean signals. In less than an hour I found the ring two inches under the soil.

 

Five Years Buried

Reunited

 

Sandy Smile!

All recoveries are special, and this one was no exception. When I handed the ring to Sandy, she dropped some laundry she was holding and with an expression of surprise and joy exclaimed “I don’t believe it!”

Sandy, Ray and I basked in that moment of happiness and the return of Alan’s ring, missing for 5 years!

If you lost something, call/text/email, (703)-598-1435, Rob.Ellis@TheRingFinders.com

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Today I received the following from Al & Sandy. Words can not express my feelings…

 

Lost wedding ring, Lake Montclair, Dumfries VA…FOUND!

  • from Fairfax (Virginia, United States)

Rob Ellis: Metal Detector Expert…Call or text 703-598-1435

August 13, 2020: A couple of days ago, Eddie was playing in the water with his children. When he realized his ring was missing, he searched as well as possible. He soon realized he needed a waterproof metal detector. Eddie called the Woodbridge SCUBA Dive Shop to see if someone could conduct a search. Since no one was available to immediately help, my friends at Woodbridge SCUBA referred me to Eddie.

 

West beach is private for the Montclair Property Owners Association members

We were supposed to meet at 0800, but we were both 15 minutes early. It was raining very hard the whole time and I was watching for approaching lightning. After Eddie showed me the potential areas the ring could have fallen off, I started the search. Something made me go just a little further out for my first leg of the pattern. Within a few minutes, I heard that lovely tone of gold and recovered Eddie’s wedding band. By this time Eddie’s wife had arrived and they were both there when I handed over the ring. It was then that they told me that tomorrow was their anniversary!! We were all soaking wet, but full of warm feelings.  I love this hobby!!!!

Smiles in the Rain 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lost Diamond Engagement Ring, Lake Pelham, Culpeper, Virginia…FOUND!

  • from Fairfax (Virginia, United States)

Rob Ellis: Ring Recovery Specialist…Call or text 703-598-1435

July 21, 2020: On Sunday, Maria was enjoying the Pelham Lake Park gazebo with her friends and family. She briefly removed her ring and it accidently dropped, bouncing off the table, falling in between the deck boards into the water. Maria attempted to find the ring but realized the depth and mud made it impossible to find without a detectorist’s help. She called me and we set up a time to search.

Lake Pelham

Every search is unique, and this one was no exception. The lake around and under the gazebo is about 4 feet deep. The mud was about 1 ½ feet deep. I worked my way from the shore and stooped under the gazebo. The first detector did not work well in the mud. I made the trip back to my car and got my Excalibur. After an hour of laboring through fishing lures, bits of trash, and construction materials, I finally heard that lovely tone.

It was such a pleasure to meet Maria and the other lovely ladies. Their unabashed delight at seeing the ring made me so happy!

Lost wedding ring recovered on the first swing, Vienna, Virginia.

  • from Fairfax (Virginia, United States)

March 24th, 2020. Matt called me about a lost wedding band. He had made healthy life style changes and lost over 50 pounds since last summer. Matt didn’t remember the ring falling off, but reasoned the most likely place in his backyard while he was mulching. The 30 minute drive was surreal with so few cars on the road. It would normally have taken me up to an hour on a normal day.
Matt showed me a 10 x 20 foot area of the yard wet with leaf mulch and mud.

I changed into my boots and geared up with my AT Max, ready to get dirty. In a well-defined search area, I like to start from one side and work my way across. I turned on and calibrated my AT Max and started to sweep the left edge. My first sweep resulted in a clear signal in the gold range! I dug into the muck about 5 inches, and there it was.

Although I did very little work, Matt insisted I accept his generous reward, a portion of which went to Fisher House. He was extremely happy, but preferred not to have his “smile” taken for the Book of Smiles.