Lost ring - metal detector?

November 15, 2010 7:18 AM

I am an idiot and lost my wedding ring yesterday. I think I lost it raking leaves in our tiny yard. I have done a hand search and turned up nothing. Should I buy a metal detector?

The ring is platinum - does that decrease the chance of finding it with the metal detector?

The yard is really tiny - like 10 feet by 10 feet or less. Small chance that I raked it into the gutter of the street, also, I suppose.

I am thinking of buying this one. It is relatively cheap. Bad? Good?

Of course, I could have lost it somewhere else, so this is pretty frustrating -- don't want to spend too much on a metal detector if went down the sink drain or something.

I see other AskMes about lost rings, but none about platinum. Thanks.

posted by Mid to Grab Bag (19 answers total)

Response by poster: I should add -- I raked most of the leaves into a 30-gal bag, which I still have. I have been through the bag twice and not found it. Seems like it is not in the bag, but perhaps a metal detector check would be good on the bag too. I raked some of the leaves into the gutter of the street, but I did not handle those leaves with my hands, so I don't think it could have fallen off there. I was not wearing gloves. I never take the ring off, so I did not misplace it.
posted by Mid at 7:27 AM on November 15, 2010

The main usefulness of metal detectors is that they can detect metal that is buried in the ground. For something that is still on the surface, I think there are better methods. I would suggest, first finish raking up all the leaves. Inspect the leaves before putting them out for disposal, since you may rake up the ring with the leaves. When the ground is as clear of debris as you can get it, perhaps you can get some friends to help you to make a close visual inspection of every part of it. Since you describe your yard as tiny, this does not sound like an impossible task. I know you have already done a hand search, but a more careful hand search is still the best bet in my opinion. You can also inspect the nearby gutter, although if the ring got into the gutter it could have been washed away by now. But maybe not.
posted by grizzled at 7:28 AM on November 15, 2010

This guy found his platinum band by renting a metal detector. Maybe you could do the same?
posted by Omnomnom at 7:29 AM on November 15, 2010

I think you can rent metal detectors. I don't know where you are, but I searched "rent metal detector Milwaukee" and saw one for $12 for 4 hours, which should be enough to rule out your yard. Good luck.
posted by desjardins at 7:29 AM on November 15, 2010

Is the ring shiny? After raking up and inspecting the leaves, it might be worth going out after dark, holding a torch by your temple so it's shining from roughly where you eyes are, and slowly scanning across the area you might have dropped the ring. Holding the torch by your eye-line increases the chance of you seeing a reflection off the ring.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 7:38 AM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

Re: Magnetic

It might be magnetic but not necessarily (platinum itself isn't, it depends on the alloy):

The Platinum Guild says:
Why does some platinum jewellery appear to be magnetic?
Jewellery made from platinum 950/cobalt alloy is slightly ferro-magnetic, but is acceptable to use for jewellery production. This alloy is commonly used when a fine, detailed casting is desired.
posted by Omnomnom at 7:55 AM on November 15, 2010

You can rent metal detectors from companies that cater to construction firms as well as places like Rent-All. Check the phonebook's equipment rental pages.
posted by carmicha at 8:07 AM on November 15, 2010

Oh and if you have an iPhone, there's a metal detector app but I don't know if it's sensitive enough for your needs.
posted by carmicha at 8:08 AM on November 15, 2010

The iPhone metal detector uses the compass in the phone.

Don't even bother. That app is more of a "hah! look what I can hack together" and is really only useful to show people that the app works when you put your phone directly over a few pounds of iron.
posted by Threeway Handshake at 8:22 AM on November 15, 2010

My dad also found his lost wedding ring in the garden via rented metal detector. Adding to the chorus that says look for somewhere you can rent them.
posted by brainmouse at 8:26 AM on November 15, 2010

If you do get some people together to help you search visually, take a page out of the forensics people's book and do a straight line search: line everyone up shoulder to shoulder and walk them in unison across the yard very slowly, each person only looking at the narrow strip he walks. This method can find similarly-sized objects in areas much larger than 10x10ft.

I'd consider the metal detector a last resort unless you know that the ring was made with a ferromagnetic alloy.
posted by d. z. wang at 8:43 AM on November 15, 2010

Since your yard is small, consider doing a proper grid search. If you're methodical you should be able to rule out a simple surface loss within an hour or two, and then move on to renting the metal detector. (PS: Be happy you didn't lose it underwater.)
posted by fairmettle at 8:44 AM on November 15, 2010

If there are kids in your neighborhood, you could always round them up as a search party (with their parents' permission). Offer a small reward ($10?) for whoever finds the ring (and maybe a snack and a drink as a thank-you for everybody).
posted by amyms at 8:50 AM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]

Seconding the idea of a grid search. That's what you would do if you were a cop looking for evidence, or an archaeologist looking for long-lost items.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 9:09 AM on November 15, 2010

I'm sure you could easily find one on Craigslist to rent if necessary. I'd come do it myself, but I'm in Milwaukee, and it appears that you're in Chicago.
posted by Slinga at 9:50 AM on November 15, 2010

Double-check your drawers. I once was sure I'd lost a ring outside, but then months later I found it in a drawer of towels- my best guess is that I'd dried my hands on a towel while standing over the open drawer, and the ring fell in, the sound cushioned by a folded towel. If you ever dry your hands on paper towels, sometimes one might pull the ring off, so check the trash, too. Hope you find it!
posted by pseudostrabismus at 12:31 PM on November 15, 2010

Response by poster: Thanks, everyone. I bought a metal detector on Amazon because I am not going to get any time away from my job over the next few days to be able to drive anywhere to do a rental and then return it. I'm worried that waiting a few days will only make the search harder. Grid search is a great idea, but time is again a big problem -- don't have 2 hours of daylight until next weekend. Fingers crossed . . .
posted by Mid at 2:09 PM on November 15, 2010

If you are short on daylight, definitely give the "flashlight in the dark" method a shot (as mentioned by EndsofInvention above)
posted by misterbrandt at 3:17 PM on November 15, 2010

Response by poster: Found it! Long story short: the people who said rake the yard again were right; it turned up as soon as I started cleaning up the yard again. The metal detector was unnecessary, but it was sort of fun. It did beep at the right spot in the yard, but it was night and I wasn't able to find the ring until I raked thoroughly in the daylight.

(Anyone want to buy a used-once metal detector in Chicago?)
posted by Mid at 3:40 PM on November 21, 2010