What is the best tool to find property pins?

When it comes to locating property boundary markers, having the right tools can make a huge difference in efficiently and accurately finding those important pins. With a variety of options available, from basic tools to more high-tech solutions, choosing the best approach depends on your specific needs and situation.

Why Do You Need to Find Property Pins?

Property pins, also known as survey markers or iron pins, indicate the boundaries of a parcel of land. They are inserted by surveyors to delineate property lines based on official property surveys and plats. Being able to locate these pins is crucial for a number of reasons:

• Identifying property boundaries – Pins precisely mark the borders of a property as defined legally in property records and surveys. Finding them helps confirm the exact extents of a property.
• Settling boundary disputes – When neighboring property owners have conflicting ideas about where their shared boundary lies, finding the actual survey pins provides objective evidence to resolve disputes.
• Planning construction projects – Any additions, new structures, fences, etc. need to be located accurately within property lines. Identifying pin locations ensures proper setbacks and compliance with zoning rules.
• Completing title surveys – Surveys done when selling or buying a property require finding pins to confirm boundaries and identify any encroachments.
• Subdividing properties – Placing new pins to divide larger parcels requires first identifying existing pin locations.

Without the property pins, determining exact property extents and borders can be very difficult and contentious. Locating the corner pins conclusively establishes boundary lines.

Challenges of Finding Survey Pins

While property pins provide definitive boundary markers, they can be tricky to track down for several reasons:

• Pins move over time – If flush with the ground, normal soil expansion and contraction or disturbance from lawn maintenance, animals, etc. can shift pin locations.
• No physical signs – Unlike fence posts or other markers, pins usually sit right at ground level with no visible evidence above ground.
• Obstructions – Overgrown vegetation, leaves, dirt, or other cover can conceal pins at ground level.
• No maintenance – Pins are set precisely but receive no ongoing location maintenance, unlike stakes, monuments, etc.
• No metal detector – Common metal detectors cannot locate survey pins due to their composition, shape, and depth underground.

These factors mean pins can’t simply be eyeballed and often require dedicated tools or equipment to find. The right solutions make pin hunting faster, more precise, and less labor-intensive.

Basic Tools

A number of basic manual tools can assist with locating buried pins. While requiring more physical effort than high-tech options, they are inexpensive and easy to use.

Probe Rod

A probe rod allows feeling below ground by hand for hidden pins. It consists of a long, slender metal rod with a pointed tip to penetrate soil and a handle on top. To use it:

1. Refer to plat maps to identify approximate pin locations.
2. Clear any debris covering the ground surface.
3. Insert the rod vertically into the soil, feeling for contact with a solid pin.
4. Once a pin is hit, clear soil around it to expose the pin.

A probe rod can efficiently search areas, but accuracy depends on the user’s skill. Pins are easy to miss in overgrown areas or hard, compacted soil. Probe rods range from 3 to 6 feet long.

Shovel

A simple shovel allows manually digging to look for covered pins. Use it to:

• Clear away vegetation or debris from expected pin locations.
• Dig holes vertically at intervals across an area to expose any buried pins.
• Excavate soil around pins once discovered to fully uncover them.

While thorough, digging with a shovel is labor-intensive and requires patience to avoid damaging pins. Using a shovel works best in soft, loose soil conditions.

Pin Finder

A pin finder or magnetic locator detects underground metal to help find buried pins. It consists of a handheld unit with a base that scans just above ground level. When it passes over a pin, an indicator light or audio tone activates. Pin finders utilize magnetic fields or electromagnetic induction.

Steps to use a magnetic pin finder:

1. Scan systematically above ground in a grid pattern throughout the expected pin area.
2. Mark locations when the detector indicates metal underground.
3. Use a probe rod or shovel to carefully uncover pins at marked spots.

Pin finders reduce digging time but can also mark buried debris not related to pins. Units designed specifically for pin finding provide more accurate results.

String Line

Running an anchored string line based on plat maps can assist in finding pins. To utilize a string line:

1. Study plat maps to plot straight boundary lines between pins.
2. Anchor endpoints of a mason’s string at known or likely pin positions.
3. Sight across the taut string, marking its alignment.
4. Probe or dig along the string alignment to locate pins.

A string line provides a visual guide to exactly where pins should theoretically be located. Combining it with probing or digging can save time in pin hunting.

Advanced Technology

For those needing to find property pins frequently or cover large areas efficiently, a variety of advanced tech options are available. These tools utilize GPS, laser scanning, and other technologies to more precisely locate pins with less manual effort.

GPS Equipment

GPS-enabled devices can mark and log exact pin locations for precise property mapping. Survey-grade GPS units tuned for pinpoint accuracy provide the greatest capability. Steps include:

• Configuring GPS device with plat map data and property boundaries.
• Navigating to expected pin areas for on-site scanning.
• Recording GPS coordinates when pins are physically located.
• Downloading data to verify pin positions vs. property lines.

GPS locating eliminates guesswork pin hunting through technology-assisted surveying. It provides the most accurate plotting of any method.

Ground Penetrating Radar

GPR equipment sends radar pulses underground to image buried objects. It can detect non-metallic pins as well as metal. Using GPR involves:

• Passing a GPR scanner slowly across the ground to collect subsurface data.
• Marking anomalies that indicate buried pins based on digital readings.
• Precisely digging up pins only at marked locations.

GPR provides efficient scanning of larger areas and detects pins under deeper ground cover. Equipment and operator training can be more complex than basic tools.

Metal Detectors

Advanced metal detectors designed specifically for pin-finding can locate underground pins. Steps when using a pin finder metal detector:

1. Set device sensitivity level based on soil conditions and pin depth.
2. Pass detector over ground systematically while listening/watching for pin signals.
3. Mark pin locations signaled by the detector.
4. Probe or dig only at positive readings to uncover pins.

These detectors filter out junk metal and provide clear pin responses. Their ability to scan quickly can speed up the process.

Magnetometers

Magnetometer instruments detect disturbances in the earth’s magnetic field caused by ferrous pins. To use this approach:

• Calibrate and tune the magnetometer unit as needed.
• Methodically scan an area holding the device close to the ground.
• Note magnetometer readings that indicate buried pin locations.
• Verify readings by carefully digging up pins.

If tuned properly, magnetometers can detect pins up to 5 feet underground without digging. Units designed for pin finding produce the most accurate readings.

Best Practices for Pin Finding

Certain best practices will improve results no matter what tool is used to locate pins. Recommended tips include:

• Research – Gather any existing property surveys, records, plats to target likely pin placements before starting.
• Clear area – Remove brush, leaves, topsoil to expose ground surface around expected pins.
• Mark grid – Divide search area into systematic grid pattern to thoroughly cover ground.
• Precise digging – Carefully hand dig when uncovering pins to avoid damage.
• Record data – Document exact pin locations with photos, coordinates, distances for later reference.
• Detectable pins – Consider installing detectable marker pins for easier future locating when pins are unavailable.

With accurate background data, a careful grid search, and precise uncovering, pins have the best chance of being found efficiently.

Choosing the Best Pin-Locating Tool

Selecting the right property pin finder involves weighing several factors:

• Search area size – Basic manual tools work for small, defined areas. Advanced tech handles large, open acreage better.
• Soil/ground cover – Thick vegetation or hard, compacted dirt increases need for precision of GPS or GPR devices.
• Operator skill – Technology provides greater accuracy than manual probes for less experienced users.
• Accuracy needed – Basic tools find general vicinity, while GPS pinpoints exact coordinates.
• Cost considerations – Advanced tech costs substantially more than simple probe rods or shovels.

The right choice balances tool capabilities, site conditions, and budget. For most residential settings, starting with an inexpensive probe rod or pin finder is recommended. Hiring a professional survey with GPS equipment provides maximum accuracy for the most important pin locations.

Conclusion

Property pins are the definitive reference points for confirming land boundaries. However, finding them can prove challenging without the right equipment. A range of basic to high-tech solutions exist to fit different needs and budgets.

Doing research beforehand, setting up a search grid, and carefully uncovering pins help ensure success. Recording pin coordinates accurately also provides documentation for future boundary questions. Investing in quality pin-locating tools makes the process significantly easier while reducing reliance on guesswork.

With property lines often creating legal disputes between neighbors, identifying those corner pin locations precisely can save significant time, money and frustration down the road. Knowing which solutions get the job done efficiently will lead to locating pins reliably.

Tool	Pros	Cons
Probe Rod	Inexpensive Simple to use Good for small areas	Less precise than technology Easy to miss pins More physical effort
Shovel	Versatile for many ground conditions Thoroughly expose pins	Labor-intensive digging Risk of damaging pins No pin detection capability
Pin Finder	Marks pin locations without digging Faster scanning of areas Provides signal directly over pin	Can detect unrelated buried items No depth perception Typically short scanning range
String Line	Visual guide to pin alignment Confirms plat line angles Simple setup	Requires clear ground for setup No subsurface detection User interpretation required
GPS Equipment	Highly precise coordinates Total property mapping Digitally logged data points	High equipment cost Trained operator needed Still requires physical pin access
Ground Penetrating Radar	Scans below ground without digging Detects non-metallic pins Covers large areas efficiently	Specialized training required Complex equipment to operate May require expert interpretation
Metal Detector	Pinpoints targets rapidly Audio and visual pin signals Sizes for scanning up to 1 acre	Can’t detect non-metallic pins Limited scanning depth May detect unwanted metal debris
Magnetometer	Detects pins up to 5 feet deep No digging needed to locate Covers areas efficiently	Must be tuned/calibrated precisely Specialized pin-finding design needed Higher equipment cost

Key Factors in Selecting Pin-Locating Tools

• Search area size
• Soil conditions
• User skill level
• Precision needed
• Equipment budget

Best Practices

• Research property data beforehand
• Clear ground cover and debris
• Set up a search grid
• Carefully hand dig near pins
• Precisely record pin coordinates
• Consider installing detectable pins