3030 and security application- looking for needles

[pistolpete]

If you were asked to check a property for drug paraphernalia- syringes- etc, what settings would you use for your 3030? This is a property that has had squaters, drug use, etc and is about to be occupied by a family with children and pets

 

[Overvoltage]

I would open the screen all the way and dig everything 4-5 inches deep or less to be sure you get all the surface junk. I detect a lot of horse paddocks for nails and wire that can penetrate into a horse's hoof and that is how I do it. I ignore all deep targets unless it just screams "Dig Me" as that is not the objective of the search. I also usually turn the sensitivity down because I am usually looking for surface nails, but I wouldn't do that in your case in fear that I would miss small needles.

 

[Johnnyanglo]

Dig everything at first ... when you get your first needle use that TID as a guide to ID others. You'll have to build your TID database one find at a time.

 

[sprchng]

I wouldn't hesitate to drag a strong magnet around first since even small nails and iron could mask a needle easily.....might save a lot of digging.
The needles with a metal connector will read different than the ones with plastic even though they're both made of stainless steel.

 

[mrwilburino]

Out of curiosity I tried detecting a syringe that I had at home - and NO I don't use drugs. 6" coil, no disc; couldn't get a peep out of it. The needle is way too thin. I even tried my Deus at 18kHz.... nothing. The magnet sounds like a good idea. Cut the lawn down as short as you can get it. Might give the yard a good raking too.

 

[pistolpete]

Might i be better using a pulse machine? i thought that a needle might be hard to pick up...

 

[JoeinMemphis]

Hello, I am not surprised you didn't have any luck, not only are needles tiny targets, but stainless is a very poor conductor (relatively). I don't envy him with his task.
HH
Joe

 

[Overvoltage]

Might i be better using a pulse machine? i thought that a needle might be hard to pick up...

Yes, a pulse induction machine like an Infinium LS will pick up the needles, mine has.The down side to a pulse machine is it will also detect items that are really deep so you would need to use a pinpointer to determine if the target is deeper than you would be worried about. I agree with the earlier post that draging a magnet broom over the area will pick up a lot of the iron surface trash

 

[glenn3-88]

Well I can guarantee Joe in Memphis is dead correct. I have found 1 Stainless item with my 3030.
It was a spoon made of stainless steel, laying on top of the ground where I accidentally saw it, scanned
it with the 3030 to see what it would read and the only thing after about 10 swings I got a light peep out
of the machine but I did get some readings as I have area 50 Co blocked out on my machine. Must have
hit at 49. The easiest way it would detect a SPOON was it would null. Don't accept money as it legally
binds you to compensation for doing a job that could come back and bite you if someone gets stuck after
you declare it clean. Do it only as a favor and use any and all of the above suggestions.
JUST MY OPINION. HOPE YOU CAN HELP THEM. GOOD LUCK

 

[pistolpete]

Thanx for all the responses guys. i know it will be a difficult task but would hate to see a child or pet pricked by a syringe, gives me the shivers...

 

[david.di]

Be interesting to know if you can find a detector that can do this. I've tried a dozen or so both P.I and VLF without too much success though I did find an electronic pin pointer that can do so in ALL metal, so it meant that all metals would be detected.
Don't see me clearing an area with such a small search coil though.

I went looking down this track many years ago when I was looking for the relevant composition of stainless steel for the coil bolt, washer and wing nut combo for my then , newly converted, chest mounted underwater Minelab Explorer.
Found a brand of non magnetic marine/surgical grade 316 stainless fixings that caused the least , if not any distortion to the Explorers detecting abilities. Worked as well with or without the metal fixing.
Being a greater quantity of stainless than a hypodermic needle, the 3/8 inch screw bolt wasn't that easy to detect as a stand alone object, unless the coil was basically touching this screw/bolt.
The wing nut and the washer would also have to be touching the coil for the detector to see it.

Most disposable hypodermic needles are made of surgical grade austenitic 316 stainless and martensitic 440 and 420 stainless steels and from this link

http://www.google.com/patents/USRE43453

it suggests that:

"For all practical purposes disposable hypodermic needles of austenitic 304 stainless steel and other non-magnetic metals and alloys are not detectable."




regards

david di

 

[tcornel]

I would think a landscaper would have a machine similar to what they use on the beaches to comb the ground. One that would till the soil and run it through a screen. When one buys pulverized top soil it is very clean, no rocks of any size to speak of. Perhaps someone in that industry could chime in.

I would probably cost less than a couple visits to the emergency room.

 

[Eyeage]

Rolling magnet is what I would try. Don't envy you or the family at this point.