John Fenna said:
Generally the size of the implement or the length of the pendulum line determins what you find, each item having a different"signiture".
NO IT DOESN'T!
That can be a good way of focusing your mind on what your looking for, but you can Dowz for anything with virtually anything. Sorry but that can really put people off if there just getting started.
Essentially dowzing of any kind is just a way of amplifying small unconscious movements whether it is the tiny movements of your hand as you hold a pendulum which makes it swing side to side or in a circle, or the way you hold the dowzing rods which make them cross or not. Which suggests that a part of you knows the answer all along and dowzing is just a way of tapping into that knowledge.
A good way if you haven't got any dowzing rods, the "L" shaped wires, or a pendulum or whatever is just to rub your index finger and thumb together in a circler motion. you'll fined if you ask a question to witch the answer is no, like "is there a spring where im standing", you just won't be able to do it but if the answer is yes you will, its weird I know but it works.
Back in my Granddads family home in mid wales when he was young they used to have to walk across a field to a stream in order to get water, they had dun a bit of dowzing and finely got round to dowzing for a spring. They came up with a spot about 6" away from the house. When they had enough money they got someone in to test it and found that there was a totally pure spring rite next to the house just where the forked hazel stick said it would be. After all those years of tramping across a field in all weathers they had all the water they could use rite next to the house all along.
My Nan learnt dowzing with a hazel stick from them and still does it a bit today. I could never get the hang of the hazel myself, it seams to have a knack to it. Also according to my Nan if you get a strong reaction it can take all the skin off your knuckles. I mainly use a pendulum, although im not very good with it.
P.S. One thing not many people know is that a lot of mineral prospecting companies and surveying firms employ dowzers as well as more conventional methods, my Dad used to be a surveyor and said that they don't like to publicize it but it is quite common.