Metal detector

**2door** · #11 (**permalink**) 05-10-2009, 07:19 PM

Deac,
Maybe you could rewire the metal detector and hook it up to your welder. That way you could 'hear' how bad your welds are before you go riding...

...just kiddin'
Tom

deacon · #12 (**permalink**) 05-10-2009, 07:20 PM

yeah thats plenty deep for me. I don't really plan to look for gold or even coins to be honest. Just old stuff with some interesting design elements. I really think I will try the iron sculpture stuff.,

hiker472 · #13 (**permalink**) 05-10-2009, 09:25 PM

Metal detectors have a good resale value if you stick with the right ones.

I had a Tesoro Deleon once which was a really great machine, but sold it recently. Tesoro detectors are one of the very few that come with a Lifetime Warranty.

Depending on the ground you'll be working in, you may need something with adjustable Ground Balance. A lot of them have this fixed, but if your on soil with high acidity rates, that thing will be going crazy most of the time.

I'd recommend either the Tesoro Cibola, or one of the White Prizm models if you dont need adjustable ground balance. The Garrett 250, has gotten some bad reviews, but I'd buy one if I could get one for just a few dollars.

What I like to do, is once I have the model of the one I'm looking at, run it on google for the reviews. Don't buy just any one, a lot of them are junk, but your Fisher, Garrett, Tesoro, White, and Minelab's are the ones you'll want to stick with-especially when it comes to resale. The market has always been good with these.

If you don't care about resale value and want a good cheap one, get a Bounty Hunter.

Hope this helps.

deacon · #14 (**permalink**) 05-11-2009, 06:11 AM

Thanks Hiker that gives me a place to start.

deacon · #15 (**permalink**) 05-11-2009, 07:32 AM

Okay just thought I'd let you know... I bought a bounty hunter jr. Just as cheap a new unit as I could find. $36 from amazon.com. Yes it is a toy, but it probably will do what I want. If I like it I will buy a better one and give this one to my new best friend. My five year old grandson has decided that I really am a cool old dude. He has discovered that my shop has the coolest toys. He will for sure love it. Of course since I have very low expectations it might just fill them.

I bought it because I want to carry the thing on my Ebike. I six foot long one just won't work. Also I want thing close to the surface and I don't care what they are since i have decided to make recycle art objects from them. I know it's something I can give away as presents, nobody in their right mind would want one.

So next week or so I will be out looking for junk, as well as my morning walk.

hiker472 · #16 (**permalink**) 05-11-2009, 05:12 PM

Bounty Hunters have fair reviews. And if I remember right, they're made in the U.S. out of Texas. The meter counter, this has, will help you beat the "learning curve" metal detectors have. The learning curve comes into play when deciphering the tone of the beep in relation to what kind of metal it has found.

You just may become addicted to this, ya know, especially when you start finding coins. Bounty Hunter also makes detectors with a Target ID, which allows you to see what it has found as well as the depth of the find.

Also, "they" say that rechargeable batteries aren't recommended for use in these things, but you can use them just the same. The difference is, rechargeable batteries aren't the same voltage (lower) and only affect the speaker that emits the tone of the beep. So, it won't be as loud.

Welcome to the wonderful world of treasure hunting!

deacon · #17 (**permalink**) 05-11-2009, 08:19 PM

I hear the speaker is too loud anyway. And yes I had that 1.2 volt thing compared to 1.5 volt thing going on with recharges in photo equip.

I really am looking forward to exploring around old junk houses and things like that. With a little luck I can find bits of old metal that I can make into JUNKYARD sculpture. You know a hank of hair and piece of bone kind of things.

I might be back asking how one ages metal after it has been cleaned for welding.

grouchyolfart · #18 (**permalink**) 05-11-2009, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spad4me

My son and I tried , and will continue to try.metal detecting with a nice vlf setup that we found at a yard sale $5.00 . Read CHEAP not $500.00 to $12,000

We found
By the Colorado river bolts beer cans junk.
.In the park more junk.
The Casinos will chase you off right away.
In houses some old coins in the walls LOL Dont ask how we got them.
Meteorites are your best bet they are very easy to find and we sold a bunch for a couple of hundred dollars.

Gold is a pipe dream. But we are still looking.

Bullhead? No wonder y'all didn't find anything. Been down thataway several times for a kite festival over at the Avi Hotel and Casino. Both sides of the river doesn't have much for exploring with a metal detector.

Hey, there is that old mining town up that road. Sorry, can't remember it. I do remember having to wait till the darned mules got off the road. Lots of tourists up there and, I supposed, you could get permission from the shop owners to go "digging" around the area.

We have a friend who lives in Golden Valley who used to go "prospecting" with a metal detector. He says he'll take us, but won't say where it is. He showed us some pretty good size nuggets. All he'd say was he found them "up there".

We got beaches to explore, here. We did manage to find a lot of coins with a really cheap and old Bounty Hunter. So far, no jewelry, but lots of nails, bottle caps, pull tabs and caches of beer cans.

We just picked up a better Bounty Hunter for $40 of Craigslist and plan on doing more this summer when our daughter is out of school. Probably hit places like Waimea Bay and Sunset Beach in the early evenings. Looking forward to spending that time with the wife and daughter.

spad4me · #19 (**permalink**) 05-12-2009, 05:41 AM

Hello Grouchfolfart the town is Oatman.
It is open for business.
They have sidewalk fried egg contests.
How fast can you fry an egg on the summer sidewalk.
And Burro Bar B Que.

I know of the location that the guy from Golden Valley is talking about.
And Yes, I have seen the nuggets from that area. DROOL! I just haven't found any myself.

The Avi kite festival is nice.
I hope you find lots of interesting stuff.

spad4me · #20 (**permalink**) 05-12-2009, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deacon

Okay just thought I'd let you know... I bought a bounty hunter jr. Just as cheap a new unit as I could find. $36 from amazon.com. Yes it is a toy, but it probably will do what I want. If I like it I will buy a better one and give this one to my new best friend. My five year old grandson has decided that I really am a cool old dude. He has discovered that my shop has the coolest toys. He will for sure love it. Of course since I have very low expectations it might just fill them.

I bought it because I want to carry the thing on my Ebike. I six foot long one just won't work. Also I want thing close to the surface and I don't care what they are since i have decided to make recycle art objects from them. I know it's something I can give away as presents, nobody in their right mind would want one.

So next week or so I will be out looking for junk, as well as my morning walk.

All entry level metal detectors are pretty much the same.
Learn the tones . and develop a steady, level, even pace to move the detector sensor.
Iron is very easy to detect.

I have detected in strangers property.. LOL.
With their permission.
a PLASTIC garden trowel or a three prong fork is nice. For zeroing in on your find.