Possbile Bottle Probe ?

[GStiles]

I'm new around here and new to bottle digging.

I have found a bunch of bottles (circa 1915) on the ground at my father's WV hunting cabin. They tie back to railroard work done there at that time. I know that there must be a bottle dump somewhere in addition to the ones I've found on the surface.

I have a spot that appears as a round depression at the base of a hill where the railroad workers camped. I believe this might be their trash pit. I was going to dig down a bit and explore what might be in there.

I've heard folks about bottle probes and seen a few for sale on the web. Yesterday while in the office I noticed that the office cubicles are joined by long steel rods. The rods are about 5ft long, maybe 3/8" in diameter and are threaded at one end. My thought was....."borrow" one, add a point to the threaded end, and I've got a probe. Does this sound like it will work? The references I've seen talk about "spring steel" and this rod seems springy enough.....

Thanks

George

[homefire]

Welcome to the TQ!

Sounds like it would work to me. I've used the S.S. Old CB whip antennas before!

[Ric-san]

welcome to TQ...not too sure of how to probe for bottles...good luck and Im sure someone here will chime in w/more info...!

[anne]

Welcome to TQ,
Good Luck in your Quest,it sounds as though it should work

[bdahunter]

3/8" rod seems pretty thick to be pushing a few feet into the ground. Spring steel references hardness and tensile strength, I think a regular 3/8" steel bar would bend as you try to push it into the ground beyond 6". We use 1/2" rebar as stakes to support formwork and they have to be driven into the ground with a sledge hammer.

JMHO,

BDA

[creekrat]

ive used them before do ok,but if you know the pit or mound is at start on the out side digging with shovel easy then when you hit some glass i use a wooden broom stick sharpened to a point ,the wood wont break your bottles as fast a metal probe will,good luck hh creek

[Buster]

Welcome to TQ...I have never hunted bottles before..I have seen them on TV dig down to where they just start hitting them and then stop digging and bring in the water hose..That seemed to work out good...I will be interested in hearing about any other ways to get them ...Good post....Buster...

[PAPPY]

I have always used an old CB antenna ( The type with the ball on the end) and have been very sucessful in it's use ( As far as locating and not breaking any bottles).

[leelo]

WELCOME TO TREASU*RE QUEST,AND GOOD LUCK.