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Metal detector what do I need to know #6560952
06/23/19 01:09 PM
06/23/19 01:09 PM
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,308
MT
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snowy Offline OP
trapper
snowy  Offline OP
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,308
MT
I know this subject has been brought up before but what do I need to look for in buying a detector? How deep in the soil will one detect metal and can they be used in water etc.?


Give me a fish, I will eat for a day. Teach me to fish, I will eat for a lifetime
Re: Metal detector what do I need to know [Re: snowy] #6560966
06/23/19 01:50 PM
06/23/19 01:50 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,472
Philippines, s.e. asia,ohio
west river rogue Offline
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west river rogue  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,472
Philippines, s.e. asia,ohio
check u tube some real pro"s on there

Re: Metal detector what do I need to know [Re: snowy] #6560971
06/23/19 01:57 PM
06/23/19 01:57 PM
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,308
MT
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snowy Offline OP
trapper
snowy  Offline OP
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,308
MT
K


Give me a fish, I will eat for a day. Teach me to fish, I will eat for a lifetime
Re: Metal detector what do I need to know [Re: snowy] #6560972
06/23/19 01:57 PM
06/23/19 01:57 PM
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,414
Idaho Falls, Idaho
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Furvor Offline
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Furvor  Offline
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,414
Idaho Falls, Idaho
I read that if you hunt for gold with a general purpose detector you will be disappointed. There are some detectors that can be used in water, read the specs. Probably don't start with a high-end detector such as Minelab, and don't expect too much from a Bounty Hunter. A larger coil and better electronics can help with deep detecting.

Last edited by Furvor; 06/23/19 01:58 PM.
Re: Metal detector what do I need to know [Re: snowy] #6560983
06/23/19 02:23 PM
06/23/19 02:23 PM
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 51
Virginia
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PDH Offline
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PDH  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 51
Virginia
It all depends on what type of detecting that you plan on doing. Detectors are like vehicles, some are better at certain things than others. Let us know what type of detecting you want to do and we can narrow down your search.

Re: Metal detector what do I need to know [Re: snowy] #6561055
06/23/19 05:01 PM
06/23/19 05:01 PM
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,308
MT
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snowy Offline OP
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snowy  Offline OP
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Joined: Dec 2011
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Metal is what I would be searching for. I have an old cabin, line shack on my place and would like to do some looking there first.


Give me a fish, I will eat for a day. Teach me to fish, I will eat for a lifetime
Re: Metal detector what do I need to know [Re: snowy] #6561093
06/23/19 05:59 PM
06/23/19 05:59 PM
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 51
Virginia
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PDH Offline
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PDH  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 51
Virginia
Since your just starting out I recommend buying a used detector. A great place to find one is Finds Forum Classified. I have bought several detectors from that site over the years and I've never had a problem with any of them. See if you can find a used Garrett AT Pro or maybe a Whites MXT. American made, high quality all purpose detectors that can be bought for around $350.

Re: Metal detector what do I need to know [Re: snowy] #6561094
06/23/19 06:00 PM
06/23/19 06:00 PM
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,308
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snowy Offline OP
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snowy  Offline OP
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Joined: Dec 2011
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MT
I would imagine there should be item like that so yes, coin, wedding rings things like that.


Give me a fish, I will eat for a day. Teach me to fish, I will eat for a lifetime
Re: Metal detector what do I need to know [Re: snowy] #6561172
06/23/19 07:29 PM
06/23/19 07:29 PM
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 63
Montana
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Useless Eater Offline
trapper
Useless Eater  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 63
Montana
I think the Garrett ace 400 would be worth looking at. Fairly simple to use and can mop up coins in junky areas. Here is some Montana maps to give you some more hunting areas to look at. https://mtmemory.org/digital/collection/p15018coll5/search/page/1

Re: Metal detector what do I need to know [Re: snowy] #6561174
06/23/19 07:38 PM
06/23/19 07:38 PM
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,308
MT
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snowy Offline OP
trapper
snowy  Offline OP
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,308
MT
Useless Eater >>> outstanding thanks!


Give me a fish, I will eat for a day. Teach me to fish, I will eat for a lifetime
Re: Metal detector what do I need to know [Re: snowy] #6561238
06/23/19 09:29 PM
06/23/19 09:29 PM
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 316
PA
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cablejohn Offline
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cablejohn  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 316
PA
Minelab equinox! I have owned multiple detectors and used them for coins and some relic hunting. I took a whites DFX to Puerto Rico and hunted the beaches with it. I cracked the housing on it and needed a replacement. I bought the equinox and cannot believe this machine! Fully water proof and I am digging coins twice as deep as before! I found six rings last week that I know I wouldn't have found with my other detectors! This machine is a gold magnet!

Re: Metal detector what do I need to know [Re: snowy] #6561331
06/23/19 11:49 PM
06/23/19 11:49 PM
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,414
Idaho Falls, Idaho
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Furvor Offline
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Furvor  Offline
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,414
Idaho Falls, Idaho
I have an Garrett Ace350 that I bought about 8 years ago. It works well for iron and steel, coins if they are up to 3" deep. There are places in sage brush areas where I found many bullets and a lot of brass casing that were 1-3" deep. I also found harness parts, old nails, and many scraps of wire. I have tested it on gold jewelry with disappointing results. One thing I can say, if you buy a detector also buy a pinpointer, and the best digging tool you can find. A trappers trowel may work for digging but a cheap tool will not. A friend of mine bought a "toothy gator" digging tool and promptly bent it. A Lesche digging tool is excellent and you will not bend it. The larger an item is the deeper it likely it will be detected.

Last edited by Furvor; 06/24/19 12:05 AM.
Re: Metal detector what do I need to know [Re: snowy] #6561334
06/23/19 11:57 PM
06/23/19 11:57 PM

B
bleeohio
Unregistered
bleeohio
Unregistered
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One thing I can tell you is that it is an addicting hobby. I've been detecting since the late 70s. Every four or five years I upgrade my machine and I've found that it's more important where you hunt. Meaning if it ain't there, you won't find it regardless of what you swing. Check out the teknetics line, t2classic is a nice setup. Made in the US with a five year warranty. Light, 4 aa batteries. Good luck.

Re: Metal detector what do I need to know [Re: snowy] #6562106
06/25/19 11:26 AM
06/25/19 11:26 AM
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3,009
ohio
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tomahawker Offline
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tomahawker  Offline
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Posts: 3,009
ohio
I always tell landowner they get all pop cans, horseshoes and spent 22’s. I’ll keep the change.

Re: Metal detector what do I need to know [Re: snowy] #6625921
09/26/19 05:22 PM
09/26/19 05:22 PM
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,492
Garden,Michigan
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Buck (Zandra) Offline
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Buck (Zandra)  Offline
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Garden,Michigan
I've got a Garret now,but when I first started I used a Bounty Hunter,I can't remember the model,I think it was the Tracker.It cost $150 at the time (late '90's).I dig old homesteads and logging camps up here.And I'll tell you what,I found enough to stock a museum with that "cheap"detector.Coins,double bitted axe heads,personal artifacts,you name it.I used that thing hard for about 7 or 8 years(next to trapping my only other hobby was metal detecting),it finally went down when I got caught in a rain storm far from the truck and it took a soaking.Old school set up,it was easy to use,unlike some of the newer detectors out there(not everyone is talented in todays electronics).I consider that model a good starter rig.


Buck(formely known as Zandra)
Re: Metal detector what do I need to know [Re: snowy] #6625926
09/26/19 05:32 PM
09/26/19 05:32 PM
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 28,978
potter co. p.a.
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pcr2 Offline
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potter co. p.a.
beep beep beep--dig









Re: Metal detector what do I need to know [Re: snowy] #6626225
09/26/19 10:53 PM
09/26/19 10:53 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,190
MN
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Mark K Offline
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Mark K  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,190
MN
I have an AT Pro and I found 2 silver rings from the 1733 fleet. I have found gold rings, silver rings, lots of clad, trash by the pound, and lots of in between.

Re: Metal detector what do I need to know [Re: snowy] #6626236
09/26/19 11:07 PM
09/26/19 11:07 PM
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 2,152
S. Illinois
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Chuckles84 Offline
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Chuckles84  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 2,152
S. Illinois
I have a Garrett AT Pro and my son(13) has an Garrett ACE 400. Any of the Garret AT or ACE line would make good machines for a beginner. Easy to navigate controls with most everything visible on one screen, so no sub menus to run through.

The Garrett AT line is waterproof to 10ft. The Garrett ACE line is only waterproof up to the control box. The box is not water proof. The AT line can be completely submerged.
Garrett machines are all I have ever used so cant give first hand experience on the other brands.

My dream machine is the Minelab E-trac, but at $1500 its gonna be a while before I get one.


Last edited by Chuckles84; 09/26/19 11:09 PM.

Your entitled to oxygen. Everything else is earned.
Re: Metal detector what do I need to know [Re: snowy] #6626238
09/26/19 11:12 PM
09/26/19 11:12 PM
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 2,152
S. Illinois
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Chuckles84 Offline
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Chuckles84  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 2,152
S. Illinois
Oh and no matter what machine you buy. When you first start using it dig every signal until you get a feel for the sounds the machine makes. It takes some time swinging the coil to get the hang of it. And YouTube has a lot of videos on almost all the machines


Your entitled to oxygen. Everything else is earned.
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