Are probes a good idea?

[Dalton]

I was looking at some probes on line and considering getting one .
I'm looking at some cheepies ($5.00 to $25.00) and need to know if thats a good idea

If you have any recommendations please add them.

thank,

 

[NM5K]

By probe, I assume you mean like this?

For me, a 100% must have.. It's my usual plucker of coins.
I rarely use a digger as for me, they tear up the grass worse
than a probe. I can pluck a coin with a probe, and two days
later you can hardly tell it. Most of the sod stays in place,
and I just cause a mini earthquake, and pull it up with a tear
in the sod. Once done, I can pack it back down, and you
can hardly see it. Every time I use a digger, I end up with
more damage that lasts longer.
Myself, I wouldn't pay too much for one. I make my own
from long screwdrivers. The blue handle version is from a
home depot 8 inch screwdriver that I blunted down with a
grinder and then polished. Works great, and is my usual
tool. The other is a pushrod from a ford engine, and was
my first probe. I used it because it had the pre made blunt
end. It worked fine, but I wanted a handle..
You want it pretty blunt and smooth to avoid scratching up
coins. Mine rarely damages one unless I really jam into it.
Anyway, I probably wouldn't pay more than $10 for a probe,
being I can make one so cheap...

 

[Neil in West Jersey]

A probe can be usefull if you are detecting in landscaped areas such as private property or parks. Personally, most of my detecting is done in open fields or wooded areas. I lost my probe back in July, and I have not really missed it at all.

I find that I can dig a nice clean plug in almost any terrain with my trowel. There are even specialty digging tools available for this purpose. After about 30 minutes when the soil dries, you cannot even tell that a hole was dug if it is done correctly.

For me, the probe was just less intimidating looking. I thought it made a better presentation when showing up with a probe instead of a menacing looking digging tool with teeth!

Just my opinion!

 

[NM5K]

Yep, some can do it.. Every time I use my digger it ends up
pretty whacked looking...
I do keep a couple though for deep or large stuff.
One is a regular garden type digger, and the other a long handled digger.
But.. They collect dust in my trunk most of the time.
MK

 

[Uncle Willy]

Skip the cheapies.

Bill

 

[awhitster]

I use a flathead screw driver. I take a file and smooth out the sharp edges and round the corners. Works great on lawns.

 

[khouse]

I built me a probe. It works great. But in about the same time I can probe a target - I can have it dug. So for the most part I just slip my Lesche under the area and pop the target out. Now on the hard to find targets and electronic pinpointer is priceless!

 

[scsomike]

can someone explain to me how the probe works? i hope that doesn't sound like a stupid question.

 

[Neil in West Jersey]

 

[khouse]

You forgot the flux capacitor!

 

[scsomike]

here it is...

 

[treasurefiend]

1.21 gigawatts, you tell'um marty!!!!

 

[devildog3rd]

The Marine Corps taught us to use a Kabar knife or bayonet to probe for mines. If you could find a older longer bayonet and round the sharp point and blade would work.

scsomike,

Could I retrofit that for a LCD back light?

 

[khouse]

n/t

 

[devildog3rd]

If you want to keep muggers at bay point a bayonet at one with a 12 inch blade!

 

[tab-nabit]

Note sure if your talking about the brass probes
[attachment 82820 BrassProbes.JPG]

Or the electronics pinpointer which some folks call probes
[attachment 82821 Pinpointers.JPG]

 

[Dalton]

I'm talking about the electronic ones

 

[thecrawford2008]

I have an old screwdriver that has been ground smooth. It about all I use, I am good for max 3 inches for reteival so far.

 

[NM5K]

Yep, they are a good idea too, but in general most refer to those as pinpointers..
I use an automax V2 I got with the 250. If it broke, I would get another
pronto. Too spoiled..
MK

 

[treasurefiend]

This is going to sound stupid, but why do you use a probe??? Wont you scratch what ever your looking for??? In the marines we used nylon probes to probe for landmines (non metallic) but why not just dig and see what it is???