Metal detector on the playa? Would it work?

HughMungus · Post by **HughMungus** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 1:41 pm

If I took a metal detector out on the playa, would I be able to find things? I ask because of the variables of alkili dust and depth of metal items after the rains/sinking. Just curious. Thanks.

b00m3rang · Post by **b00m3rang** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 1:55 pm

Good question, I have been thinking about the possibility of building a go-kart with an array of detectors to scan for sunken rebar and such. It'd be interesting to hear from anyone with experience on this.

spectabillis · Post by **spectabillis** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 3:19 pm

I will second the sunken rebar thing, sometimes people just hammer them in rather than pull them out.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 3:25 pm

Ha, that's been in the back of my head for a year and a half since sniveltheplanet shared his oh my god there was a piece of rebar and bm still passed the inspection trauma.

Post by **AntiM** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 5:19 pm

You know, I was out on the playa in december one year (2002?) and found small and large propane canisters which had been shot up. Right on the entrance! OMG! Those bad burners must have done it! "Cause they use propane you know. And only those bad, bad burners would use rebar, the stuff is just so, you know, exotic.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 7:02 am

Metal detectors can be rented. Sounds like fun.

HughMungus · Post by **HughMungus** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 10:41 am

unjonharley wrote:Metal detectors can be rented. Sounds like fun.

Yeah, I figured I'd call around in Reno to get one. Thanks. Wondering if this would be a good way to find meteorites, too (lots of iron)...

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 12:34 pm

DPW had a giant magnet hanging on one of there truccks. I saw it a few times, It had lots of scrape on it. I brought a 6in. magnet this year. I couldn't go against there four footer.

HughMungus · Post by **HughMungus** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 5:25 pm

unjonharley wrote:DPW had a giant magnet hanging on one of there truccks. I saw it a few times, It had lots of scrape on it. I brought a 6in. magnet this year. I couldn't go against there four footer.

Yeah, they have a picture of it somewhere on here: http://traces.burningman.com/bbrc/bbrc05/

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 5:41 am

I collected the parts for a Magnetic Mooprake, complete with Fischer-Price popping balls toy for on top....It's in the Wanted-To-Finish-But-The-Four-Hundred-Previous-Projects-Came-First pile, slated for next year.