#Portland Maine Metal Detector Rental and Service Tag | Page 7 of 7 | The Ring Finders

Gold Masonic Ring Lost Doing Yard Work, In Scarborough Maine, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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I received the following message, from Sam, on Monday night.

“Hey there, my grandfather lost his Masonic Ring that was bought for him by my grandmother. He is extremely stubborn and insists if he can’t find it he’s going to buy a new one.. He lost it in his backyard somewhere, I haven’t had the chance to look yet, but I hear you guys are the best! Let me know if this is something you could help with!”

It’s always nice when someone tells you that they hear “you guys are the best!” It will also be my first search, for a Masonic Ring. I then replied

“Hi Sam, I am so sorry to hear this. We can certainly find rings, in backyards. So a few questions first, if you don’t mind. 1) How long ago did he lose it? 2) What makes him think it was lost in the backyard? Did he see or feel it come off? 3) What city or town would the search take place? Thank you, Dennis”

Sam replied

“He lost it while working in the yard, he thinks back, but could be the front. It was lost about a week ago. He says he didn’t feel it come off. He’s in Scarborough, Maine.”

I replied

“OK, So fairly recently then. I would recommend that the lawns SHOULD NOT BE MOWED, until the area is searched. We have found damaged and thrown rings, that a lawnmower has hit.
So I do not charge for my Emergency Metal Detecting Services or my time. I do however, require a Transportation Fee, to cover my Gas, Tolls, Wear and Tear etc.. The transportation fee to Scarborough is $25.00 and that’s it.”

Sam agreed to go ahead and search for his Grandfather’s Masonic Ring. I told him I would be at his grandparents home at 8:00am the next morning. Sam told me his grandparents were good, for that time and his grandfather would show me the exact areas, he had been working.
I arrived at 8:00am, as promised and Sam’s grandfather came right out to meet me. He introduced himself, as Lee. Lee then explains that approximately 10 days earlier, he had been doing some yard work. He had planted two new flowers, by digging the holes and bringing the dug up soil, out back and dumped in a pile. He then put new potting soil in the holes and planted the flowers. He had walked back and forth across the front lawn a few times, between the flag pole and the house. That was the extent of his movement that day, up until he realized he no longer had his Masonic Ring on. Lee told me he was extremely sure I wouldn’t find the ring, under the new flowers. He had already removed the flowers and the new potting soil, down to the hard pan dirt. Lee then visually and physically searched the two holes and the potting soil. No ring was found. If the ring was on the property, it would be on the grassy lawn. I asked Lee if the lawn had been mowed, since losing his ring. He confirmed it had been mowed and I just kind of lost a little bounce, out of my step, so to speak. Once a ring has a lawnmower go over it, all bets are off. The lawnmower could have hit the ring, sending it flying in all kind of different areas. The lawnmower can also damage rings, beyond repair. I then confirmed with Lee that the ring is a Gold Ring. I took out a sample gold ring, which happens to be my actual 1974 Thornton Academy High School Class Ring, which most resembled the Masonic Ring, according to Lee. Ithrew it up into the air a few times and each time the ring was still visible, to our eyes, on the well manicured lawn. I then set the detector up, to the best settings, to find the Masonic Ring. I then ran the coil over my class ring and it went off nice and loud, so Lee could see how the detector works. Now to get to work.

I told Lee that I would grid search, from where we stood, in the driveway, to the plants on the other side of the lawn. I would search just inside the flagpole, back ann forth, up to the house. The lawn to be grid searched wasn’t a large area at all and I figured I could cover the entire front lawn in 25-30 minutes. I searched the newly planted flowers at the end of the first line. Nothing under the plants, other than a small nail. I then turned around and took a 1/2 step over and continued the search, now heading back towards the driveway. I repeated this 3 more times and other than coins, buried in the soil, absolutely nothing was found. I started talking to Lee again, about that day. He was certain the ring should have been in the area but it could also be in the discarded soil. So we went out back and I searched the soil there. Nothing again. I then told Lee that the ring may have come off while he was taking the wheel barrel out back, to dump the soil. I explained that I would start grid searching, that area. Wasn’t a large area at all and wouldn’t take long. While standing there I reached down and gave Lee the nail, I had found under one of the plants. He told me that wasn’t one of the plants he had been working on. He then told me it was the two flower plants. One that we were next to and the other plant was two plants over, going towards the street. I had totally misunderstood which plants had been worked on. I told Lee I would check the other flower plant, right now. We both walked over and my first swing, under the flowers, produced a nice low tone. I swung a few more times and saw my VDI Screen was reading between three numbers,, 27, 28, 29. Those are definitely numbers I am interested in, while searching for gold rings. I took my pinpointer and stuck it into the fresh potting soil. Nothing found. I tried again and again. On the third attempt, I located the target and removed some potting soil. Didn’t see or feel anything. I then removed another handful of the soil and I caught a glimpse of something gold. I reached into the hole, grabbed it, stood up and flashed the Masonic Ring to Lee, “I found your ring”. Lee was absolutely stunned. He said “I was absolutely sure you wouldn’t find it under the plants. I had taken them out and searched the soil myself”. Lee kept saying how he just couldn’t believe I had found his ring and he was absolutely certain, I wouldn’t find it. Thankfully for Lee I let my Metal Detector do my looking. I know my eyesight isn’t isn’t what it once was. I also know Lee is one happy man, to have his ring back on his finger, where it belongs. I love helping others out, when they need my Emergency Metal Detecting Services. It’s truly a great feeling to return such a sentimental item back to the owner. Congratulations Lee❤️🙏

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Limited Edition Watch Lost In The Wells Beach, Maine Sand,Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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I received the following message, from Mike at 11:00pm, last night. I didn’t see the message, until this morning, when I promptly replied, at 5:43am.

“I recently lost a watch on Wells Beach is this something you guys might be able to find?

Somewhere in the red circle the blue is the beach entrance.”

Mike also sent me  a photo, of the area, he thinks he lost the watch in.

My reply to Mike.

“Good Morning Mike, I am so sorry to hear this. I can certainly attempt to find the watch and have found watches, in the past. A few questions first, if you wouldn’t mind.            

1)   How long ago was the watch lost?

2)  This area that the watch was lost in, did you see or feel the watch come off in this area? Just trying to figure out why you think this is the area, the watch was lost in.                                                       

3)   Does the watch have a metal band or other material? What king of watch, Apple, etc.?                                                                                                                                                     

       “Thank you, Dennis”

Mike immediately replied along with a photo of the watch!

“Hey! Thanks for responding Sunday afternoon i lost it, and no I didn’t feel it come off I was with my 2 kids messing around in the sand wrestling around and we took a photo after we started walking off the beach and it wasn’t in the photo. I have a wrist band on the same wrist and had a long sleeve on so must not have felt it. And yes it’s all metal heavy watch Oceaneva is the brand it’s all black. I’ve searched everywhere but the beach dude, to me not living near by there”

My reply to Mike

“Ok, A few concerns. 1) My 25 years experience is that unlike a ring, watches do not immediately disappear under the sand. They usually fall on top of the sand and are visible, until someone steps on it, the wind blows sand over the top, etc.. 2) I am not familiar with the cleaning schedule, of the beach, in Wells. I have been told that Wells Beach has a dedicated beach cleaning machine. Not positive but  it’s likely that tractor-towed sand cleaning machines or smaller, self-propelled machines are used, along with manual cleanups by volunteers. With Memorial Day weekend this weekend, I would assume the beaches are being cleaned, before the rain starts tomorrow. Do you know if the beach cleaning machines have been out yet?

If you are interested, I can certainly search for it this afternoon or very early in the morning, around 7:00am. I am already booked this morning and not sure how long it will take me.. I may even be able to get another detectorist to go with me, to cover a larger area, quicker. I do not charge for my time or service but do require a $25.00 Transportation Fee to Wells Beach and that includes my buddy, at no extra charge, as he will ride with me. The Transportation Fee is to cover my Gas, Tolls, Wear and Tear, etc.. Let me know if this is acceptable and I will get on it today or tomorrow morning.”

As I started to think of the situation, I just knew I had to get to Wells Beach, right now, this morning. So I contacted my client, in Cape Elizabeth and explained the Emergency situation, concerning a missing watch, in a public place, where a beach cleaning machine, could sweep it up and be gone forever. My client was in complete agreement and we rescheduled the search for her property marker, until tomorrow morning, early, before 2-3 days of rain arrive.

I then contacted Gary Hill, to see if he was available to help me search, the fairly large area. Gary was available and on board with helping me. My estimate was a 3-4 hour search, by myself and Gary would help me cut that time in half, by helping me.

So Gary and I set out to Weels Beach, to search for the watch, which had been lost, three days earlier. Once we arrived, the parking situation was very dire. Atlantic Ave is a “No Parking, Either Side of the Street” area. Understandable as the area is extremely busy in the summer and the Avenue is not very wide. The beach entrance, we needed to use, to access the beach, is almost directly across from Seaside Cottages, a summertime favorite of vacationers, visiting the area. I went to the office and met Pauls, the owner and explained the situation and Paula recognized me and enthusiastically, without hesitation, agreed to  let me park, on her property. A BIG SHOUTOUT TO PAULA. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

Gary and I then got our gear and headed the the beach. We decided to grid search the area, horizontally to the water. Gary would start up near the beach entrance and I would start down at the high tide mark, in the wet sand. We also decided to expand the search, to the north and the south, by approximately 25-30 feet, just in case the watch was lost, outside of where Mike thought it would be. Back and forth we went, finishing a grid line and then taking a 1/2 step over, turning around and heading back to the area, we had started. The 1/2 step over would also let us overlap our swings, making sure we don’t miss any areas. Neither one of use were finding much of anything at all, a penny, a few pull tabs and some small pieces of foil. After 40 minutes,  I sent a message to Mike , telling him we weren’t having any luck, locating the keys The beach seemed to be too clean and I started to worry the beach cleaning machine may have already gone through. Truthfully, I am not even sure Wells Beach has a beach cleaning machine but assumed so, because other major beaches, in the area, do have them. As time passed Gary and I were getting closer and closer to echoer and the real estate between us was shrinking. Time was running out when I finally heard a strong signal, to my right. I swung my coil back to the area, looked down and could see something black, partially covered in sand. The Watch? Keys? As I took a couple steps over and looked down, I could tell it was a Black Watch. I had found Mike’s watch. I took a few photos of the watch, as I found it and the picked the watch up and yelled over to Gary, “ARE YOU READY TO GO HOME”.? Gary smiled and laughed and came right over.

As we are standing there, I get a message from Mike,

“Ok, maybe someone picked it up already.”

Mike’s message was perfect timing and I replied to Mike

“NOPE! I just found it”

Mike replied

“Nooooo Wayyy. Oh my God. You guys are the best. That’s so crazy

I’ll leave work right now and meet you guys somewhere.

I honestly can’t thank you guys enough.”

We then made plans to stay put and Mike would meet us at the location, we had found the watch. Because he works at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, in Kittery, he told us he would be there at 12:25pm, approximately 30 minutes later. Gary and I then went and thanked Paula again, for letting us park, on her property, while we searched. Paula was also amazed we ad found the watch and extremely happy, for Mike.

Mike arrived as planned and was extremely happy and in disbelief, the watch had been found. Mike explains to Gary and I the significance of the watch. The watch was a numbered watch. Only 1,000 were made and he had #58/1000. The watch is also a diving watch, filled with helium and able to withstand the pressure, up  to 9,900 feet down, not that he would.The watch was also presented to him, by a family friend, a former Navy Seal. WOW!!! This watch has so much sentimental value to Mike. So much, that he immediately left work, to come and get the wash, right then and there.

It looks like the pin, holding the watchband together, had broken and that is probably why it fell off. This most likely happened as he and his two boys, as they were wrestling and running around the beach. Mike said he has spare parts, for the watch at home and would try to fix it himself, after a thorough cleaning.

It was a pleasure and honor to find and return Mike’s very precious and sentimental watch. To see his beaming smile, when he received the watch back, is so rewarding for Gary and I. Now, Mike can sleep easier tonight, knowing his watch is home, where it belongs.

 

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Gold Wedding Ring Lost For 25+ Years, in The Greene, Maine Woods, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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I will say,  if this wasn’t the most challenging search for me, it is in the top 2. It all started when I received a text message, from Randy. This is his original text, from March 12th, 2025.

“Hi my name is Randy
Saw your story on Facebook. I lost a ring in our back yard a number of years ago. I live in Greene and are planning to relocate in a year.
I’d like to be able to retrieve it before we leave the area.
Kindly let me know if you are interested in this challenging hunt. Thanks”

I replied

“Hi Randy, So sorry to hear this. Searching for this ring is certainly something we can do. A few questions 1st, if you wouldn’t mind

1) How long ago did you lose the ring and why do you think the ring was lost in the backyard? Did you see or feel the ring come off?

2) How large of an area is your backyard and is it grass, field, woods, etc.. If need be, I can bring someone with me to cover a larger area.

3) Were you looking to have the search, this spring, after the snow melt?”

Randy replied,
“The ring was lost 20+ years
I sadly threw it into a cleared wooded area on my property with about a few pine trees approx 6ft tall

It is overgrown now with 30-40 foot trees however storms have dropped many of trees

As far as timeline for searching, whatever is easier for you.
We still have a fair amount of snow here.
It’s my original wedding ring.”

WAIT, WHAT? 20 + YEARS AND IN THE WOODS?  Randy was certainly correct about this being challenging
I replied
“Ok, So the ring is in the wooded area and you remember the area? I will say that 20+ years is an extremely long time. Not impossible but it certainly would be a challenge. My concern would be a tree or roots are now over it. I can search as soon as the snow is gone and the ground is no longer frozen. I found a wedding ring, last August or September that was lost in 1982. It was only 5-6 inches deep, but on a manicured lawn.

Randy replied,
“Yes I know exactly the direction and approx 150 ft from edge of lawn
I searched by hand years ago but was not successful
I’m retired so just reach out whenever “

So today, just over 2 months after being contacted by Randy, I enlisted Gary Hill, to assist me on such a large and difficult search. We arrived at Randy’s home, in Greene, Maine at just after 8:00am. Randy showed us an orange traffic cone that he had placed on his lawn. Randy told us he was standing there when he threw his ring, “as far as I could”, after a disagreement, with his wife (Hey, it happens and who are we to judge). Randy immediately and seriously regretted his actions and went out in the woods, searching for his ring. Unfortunately he was not able to find it and he continued searching for days and would occasionally search, years later. Now Gary and I headed out into the woods with Randy and he showed us the area, he thought the ring would be in. We put up orange markers on the trees, to the north and south, that would serve as our boundary markers. The plan was to start there and grid search, as best we could, towards the house and orange cone, on the lawn. Unfortunately, the closer we got to the house the thicker the downed trees and branches became. So thick and deep, we couldn’t swing our detectors properly. It was that bad and I even got jabbed by some downed branches, on a tree. It caused a cut on my leg and drew blood, but not serious. We were very careful of the branches that were eye level. Gary and I did’t want to go home blind.

After searching for 2 1/2 hours, in the area that Randy thought the ring would be, Gary and I started to expand the search area, with a consultation, from Randy. He thought the ring may be further into the woods and possibly a little more to the north, of the original search area. I would search deeper into the woods and Gary would search just north, where the downed trees and branches were extremely troublesome. Gary and I told each other that it would be a 1 in a million chance of finding the ring, under all the downed trees and branches. My thinking was that the entire area, closer to the house was very likely the area the ring was in and Gary agreed. We just didn’t think the ring would be as far back in the woods, as Randy thought it would be. But how do you search an area, with dead trees, on the ground. Throughout the search, we would move branches, as best we could, but there were many, we were not able to move. Very frustrating to think the ring could be under one of the trees or branches, that we just couldn’t move. As I was finishing up the area, deeper in the woods, I started up towards the house, to see how Gary was doing. He was 50-60 feet north of the boundary, of where th ring should be and in a thicket of downed branches. I decided to search a little closer to the original area, but still just north of it. We have now been searching for 3 hours and 15 minutes when I hear Gary yell out, “I GOT IT. I FOUND THE RING.” I yelled back, “REALLY, THATS AWESOME.” I then made my way over to Gary and there in the hole was a Gold Wedding Ring, UNBELIEVABLE. GREAT JOB GARY!!!!! I then summoned Randy back into the woods and when he saw his Wedding Ring for the 1st time in almost 30 years, he said ”SHUT THE FRONT DOOR.” Randy then looked around to where the orange traffic cone was and just could’t believe how far north of the search are, the ring was found (Watch the full video of his reaction, posted earlier today.)

As all 3 of us were standing around talking about just how lucky Randy was that the ring was found. After all it was a good 60-70 feet from where Randy thought it was. Gary was expanding the search area and BAM, there it was. Randy the told us he didn’t remember the exact year the ring was lost, other than it was between the years 1997 and 2000. So 25 to 28 years lost in the woods and Randy has his original Wedding Ring back, just in time for his 35th Anniversary. Randy mentioned that he and his wife will most likely renew their vows, on their upcoming Anniversary. Now Randy will have his original Wedding Ring and another Wedding Ring he purchased, just after losing his first one.
Gary and I were just beaming, all the way home, knowing that we have put another smile on someone’s face, once again. Randy was just so happy and in disbelief of the ring being found. No better feeling in the world than to help others find their lost items and return them, to the rightful owner.

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Diamond Stud Earring With White Gold Post And Setting, Lost In Wells, Maine Grass,Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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I received the following message, from Jennifer, on Friday night, May 9th.

“Hi! I lost a diamond earring in my backyard. Do you think you can help me locate it? We live in the Moodysection of Wells, Maine”.

I replied

“Hi Jennifer, I am so sorry to hear this. Are you sure it was lost in the yard? Did you see or feel it coming off?
Also, do you still have the matching earring, so I may set my detector up with it? Gold stud earrings are the most difficult to locate because there is so little metal on them. With that said, I do have a program that does a great job, on stud earrings. I would just like to use the matching earring, for setup and testing. We can keep it in a zipped sandwich bag, so that doesn’t get lost”.

Jennifer’s reply

“Hi! Thank you for getting back to me so quickly!
Yes, I felt my fingers go to my ear and pull. Was being pulled by my dogs. I saw the earring “go flying.” I have a general idea where it could be. Just can’t see it.
I do have the matching earring”.

I then asked her a bunch more questions and she told me that the earring was just lost a hour earlier, at 7:00pm. She also told me that the lawn had been mowed, earlier in the day and the law had no stand water or muddy areas. This was all good to know and would help in the search. I then told Jennifer that I would come down tomorrow afternoon Wells, once the rain stopped, the next day. I would access the situation and see just what the lawn area looked like and just how wet and muddy it was or wasn’t. If I could search after the rain stopped, I would. If the area was bigger than I thought, I could come back in the next few days, with someone to help me. If the area was as small as I thought, I couldn’t have two of us in the same area, because our metal detectors would interfere with each other’s machine. Stud earrings are extremely difficult to find, due to the lack of metal on the post. Any interference would result in false signals and we may not find the earring.
After the heavy rain stopped, I drove down to the Moody section of Wells, Maine, and met Jennifer. She gave me the other earring and I made some adjustments to my Minelab Manticore and the earring was picked up with no problems. My pinpointer also was picking the earring up with no issues.

Jennifer then took me to the backyard and showed me the area she was in, when the dog pulled her forward, resulting in the earring flying off, into the grassy abyss. Jennifer and her family showed me where they visually searched the area, immediately after losing it. They even used flashlights, after dark. Unfortunately the grass was wet from all the rain we have been having and the water on the grass was glistening to much, to be useful. I looked at the area and decided I would grid search, from just behind a pit on the lawn, to the neighbors driveway. I would then take a half step over and head back towards the pit. I needed to make sure I was overlapping my previous grid line, so as to not miss anything. I also was swinging my metal detector extremely slowly, so the processor could pick up all the non ferrous low conductor targets. My first grid line was approximately 30 – 40’ and took me 15 minutes to grid search it. I was going very slowly and being deliberate, checking every target two and three times. I then started back towards the pit and I had a non ferrous low conductor target, ringing up on my VDI screen between 01 and 03. This was the same reading I was receiving , with Jennifer’s matching earring. Unfortunately I couldn’t see anything, in the grass. To be through, I removed my pinpointer and moved some grass, still couldn’t see anything. I then started moving the pinpointer through the grass and the pinpointer found the target. I pushed the grass aside and staring right back at me was a Diamond Stud Earring. I Stood up and saw Jennifer visually searching, while running her fingers through the grass and I said “Jennifer, I found your earring”. Jennifer was very surprised and came right over. I showed her exactly how I found the earring and then stood the grass back up, so the earring was no longer visible. She then told me “You’re my hero” and we then hugged. She was so happy to have her Diamond Earring back, especially since tomorrow is Mother’s Day. I just absolutely love being able to recover and return lost items It’s the best feeling in the world.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY to all the mothers out there. I hope you have a FANTASTIC day🌹❤️🙏

 

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Dangerous Sharp Shafts, Lost In Gorham, Maine Deep Grass, Found With Metal Detectors

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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Yesterday was a first for me, searching for a Well Cap. Today was another first and really different, from my usual searches. I would be searching for, as many as I could find, sharp metal shafts with plastic insulators, on the top.

I was contacted by Jim, owner of Vienna Farm, in Gorham (Maine). Vienna Farm is a Horse Farm, providing Lessons, Training and Boarding, of horses, of course. Jim had a peculiar request of me. He wanted me to find sharp metal shafts with a plastic insulator, on the top. The sharp metal shaft would be anchored to the top of a fence post and the plastic insulator held a low voltage wire and these would run the length of the fences. Horses would sometimes hit the low voltage wires, knocking the sharp shafts and insulators, onto the grass below. Weather and age of the shafts/insulator/wood, also caused some to fall off. The low voltage wire helped keep horses, in adjacent fields, from trying to get to each other and keep them in their own grazing field. The fences are approximately 600’ long and Jim had three of these fences, that need to be searched, on both sides, of the fences. Jim told me that he and his employees do walk the fence lines, looking for the sharp shafts but knows there are some of these sharp shafts, still hiding in the tall grass. Jim’s concern is that one of the shafts could potentially impale a horses foot, causing an injury to the horse and a very expensive veterinarian bill. Although this has never, ever happened, Jim wanted to be pro active and find as many as possible.
Since this was an extremely large area to searched, I asked Gary Hill to assist me and he gladly agreed to help. Gary and I arrived at Vienna Farm and was promptly met by Jim. Jim proceeded to show us the three fences to be searched and also provided a sharp shaft with plastic insulator, for testing purposes and to set up our Minelab Manticores Metal Detectors. Doing this will help us achieve the best results. Jim had to leave so Gary and I got right to work. I would walk one side of the fence and Gary the other. The search was slow, as the grass was tall. We would receive a signal and we would then use our pinpointers, to determine if the target would need to be dug. If our pinpointers could detect the target, it meant the target was approximately 3 or 4 inches from the surface and a potential danger, to the horses. We needed to dig all targets within the 3-4 inches, to prevent any injuries, to the horses. Any target that was not picked up by the pinpointer, was deep enough to not be a danger and we did not dig those targets.

As we started searching Gary found one of the sharp shaft and insulator, we were looking for. I then found a horse shoe, imagine that. As we proceeded along the fence line. we started finding more of our desired targets and some undesired targets, mostly old nails, probably from fence repairs. As we finished the first fence line, we had 12 shafts and plastic insulators, along with three horse shoes. Gary and I then searched the next two fence lines and we were able to recover 5 more shafts/insulators and 4 more horse shoes, along with more nails. An extreme unusual item to be searching for, but it is made of metal and why not help out a local horse farm. Gary and I loved being out in the fields, looking around the beautiful property and seeing the horses. A great day for us and grateful to know people think of us enough to place their trust in our ability, to help protect their horses. Thank you Jim and Vienna Farm, for having us today.

So, there were 17 total sharp shafts/plastic shafts found and seven horseshoes. Jim told us he was extremely pleased with the results and our effort, to help protect the horses. You could tell by talking with Jim, just how much he cares for the horses and his beautiful farm. If you or someone you know, is interested in horses, please contact Vienna Farm. I promise, You won’t be disappointed.

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Lost Well Cap, Found In Freeport, Maine, With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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It isn’t always that I am called out to find someone’s lost ring. I have searched and found other items, such as keys, property markers, water shutoff valves, phones, etc.. Today was a first for me, a Well Cap needed to be located, in case the Well Pump failed.
I received a message from Karen. She and her husband had purchased their home 8 years earlier but had never been able to locate the Well, because the Well Cap was not visible, but buried somewhere, on the property. Now, I have never had a well so I knew absolutely nothing about them. I asked Karen some questions and she replied, with the following

“We are in Freeport, Maine. The well cap would be thick metal and approximately 5 inches diameter attached to metal piping. Most well caps stick out of the ground several inches so we think ours was buried possibly under our flower bed when the house was built. We know some parameters such as where the line comes out of the house and how far it has to be from the septic tank and leech field (which we know the exact locations of). Our yard isn’t terribly big”. Karen also sent a photo of a cast iron Well Cap.

I told Karen that I shouldn’t have any problems, finding the well cap, as long as it wasn’t too deep and out of the range of my detectors. We then agreed to meet at her home, today, at 10:30am. I arrived at 10:30am and was greeted by Karen. Her husband had run an errand and would be back shortly. Karen took me to her neighbors homes and I saw two Well Caps, above ground. I then tested the Well Caps, on my detector and they both rang up as ferrous metals, ringing up in the 90’s, on my Minelab Manticore. As I was finishing up my testing, Karen’s husband, Andrew arrived home.
Andrew explained that the Well Cap should be a minimum of 100’, from the leach field and Andrew knew where the leach field is. So we grabbed my 300’ tape measure and measured out 100’ from the leach field. This put the search area, near the flower garden, with bark mulch and a little of the lawn. Since it is supposed to be a minimum of 100’, Karen and Andrew also thought it could be on the other side of the driveway. We decided to start the search, at the 100’ mark and perform a grid search of the lawn, leading up to and including the flower garden. I was finding many ferrous targets, but in my mind, I didn’t think they would be the Well Cap. The targets didn’t seem big enough to be the Well Cap, but we need to check the targets out anyways. If it was a ferrous target, we dug it and on every occasion, the ferrous targets turned out to be many different sized nails. After I finished the flower garden area, I started grid searching the lawn, from the garden, to a tree, next to the road drainage gulch. After 15 – 20 minutes I received a strong signal, in the ferrous range, but reading much lower on my VDI screen, than the test Well Caps, at the neighbors homes. The target was very large, in area and Andrew started digging. At about 5” down, we still couldn’t see anything but my pinpointer was still picking up a large target, just another inch or so, in the hole. Andrew put the shovel, back in the hole and he hit something hard. As he scraped the soil away, the white cover of the Well Cap appeared. We had found it, and both Andrew and Karen were elated. After 8 years of living there, they finally knew where the Well Cap was. No more worrying about a Well Pump failure, they couldn’t fix, because they didn’t know where the Well Cap was. It turns out the Well Cap is just under 100’, from where we measured from, in the leach field and we started searching about 10’, from where we thought it would be. Andrew isn’t sure if we measured from the right location, in the leach field but we were put in the general location. That’s why when you don’t find your target, you just keep expanding the search, until you find it. If we hadn’t found the Well Cap, in this area, we were going to search the other side of the driveway. Thankfully that search was not needed.
Karen and Andrew measured out the Wells Cap location, from an area on their porch and now know the location, whenever they will need to access the Well Cap. Andrew is also going to check into seeing if the Well Cap could be modified, so that it is slightly above ground, rather than buried, 6 or 7 inches deep.
Karen and Andrew’s smiles were big and very satisfying to see. So, even though this wasn’t a wedding ring, engagement ring or another piece of sentimental jewelry, the satisfaction for my clients and myself, was just as great. It’s always a great feeling to be able to help and make people happy 😃

 

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