Are you thinking about buying a Metal Detector for Hobby detecting.???

[Elton]

Many people including some dealers will say.."You have to buy the most expensive detector on the market"
Many, Many Good dealers who are in the Hobby, and started detecting first will guide you to a good starter detector.

I also suggest you buy a decent name brand starter detector when you reach the purchase stage.

There are several reasons for this....... The most important being You may not like the Hobby. If you do like the hobby then it's a plus factor. You can always upgrade after you know a little more
about what your doing.You will then be better educated as to what you want in a detector.

Do more expensive detectors work better..... Well in some ways. Maybe a little more depth. Mostly their just loaded with more "Bells & Whistles " and more options for deciding dig or not dig.

You can always decide what you think you will like at your Local Dealers. Hands on so to say !! ID meter....... Tones on the sounds, depth meter, on and on.. The simple fact is many starter detectors work just fine. You can and will find coins and other objects in the ground. NOT ALL WILL BE GOOD. Know that going into the hobby.. Foil, Pull Tabs, pieces of cans, pieces of iron, tin, lots of things that make the detector beep .. It's all there waiting for you to swing the coil over it.. Including coins, jewelry and artifacts.

It will not take you long to decide if you like detecting or do not like detecting. It isn't for everyone. If your thinking you will get rich. Maybe you better not buy that first detector. If you think it possible to find that one good item/items that make you rich.. SURE some have. And many more will. It isn't the norm.. It's a nice dream, and it motivates many of us to keep detecting. However the majority of us are detecting for fun........... we dream..but that is as far as it goes for most of us..

Can you start out with the most expensive..Sure you can... and you may do very well... But in general you may be better off with less spent in the beginning... Another important factor is know the rules..respect private and public properties. Be a responsible detectorist.. ALWAYS FILL YOUR HOLES !!!!

 

[mudpuppy]

Real good advice!

Luckily we have some great detector distributors who sponsor this site that try to steer a person into the right machine for their area, budget, style of hunting, heck even character traits, hobbies past, and personality!

Problem is a noob who wants to buy has the info on cost ahead of time, sees all sorts of pictures of gold and silver stacked up to be danged in the ads, and pulls the trigger without getting some counseling on these matters. They just call up and order! Run on over to the nearest park with a pick axe and a coal shovel, find nothing but junk, leave one hell of a mess, dig up the sprinkler system, get discouraged, arrested, and quit!

A very good distributor would take the time to ask lots of questions to "fit" a noob with some gear that will make them satisfied with their purchase and want them to advance in the sport. Even height, age and health matter...theres so many things a distributor needs to know about the technology of the gear, so a GOOD distributor is also a user, the soil conditions and likely finds in a certain area to determine what would THEY use in this situation? ...
OK, some some personality traits only buy top shelf, no matter what the purchase, and some always want the cheapest deal, and some are in the middle when it comes to gear, guns, cars, or tools..most of the time, none of them can be talked out of what they THINK they need, or have any appreciation for the amazing adventure that they are about to embark upon, the dedication, effort, physical exertion, time spent, required in learning the secrets of metal, soil, weather, and the humans long past that they are hunting...one would hope that a noob would have some kind of realistic guidance from somebody regarding what you stated in your post...that said, a person has to have a real FIRE for finding treasure, unrealistic as that might be, a hopeless and unextinguishable optimism to even have a chance at a modicum of success in this wonderful endeavor, to get out early, stay out late, learn, learn, learn what the machine is saying right down to the very core of their being...
Mud

 

[Elton]

n/t

 

[Billium]

I found a local dealer through a friend, can't mention the dealers name here he is not a sponsor, and he took the time to visit with me, find out my interests, skill set, budget and a few other things. Then recommended a detector and stated that the detector I was looking at, in his humble opinion, I would out grow in a short amount of time. I went home saved the money to cover the difference and purchased his recommendation. He was right and I do not regret my purchase. Along with the initial advice I now have great support and training through him and since have met some great people locally that I consider my metal detecting friends.
With out this I feel I would have purchased a machine and ended up guessing my way through the learning process and likely gotten frustrated and discouraged.
I completely agree with influencing someone to get their information and purchase through a known local group/dealer.

 

[bootyhoundpa]

detectors only work as good as the idiot swinging it.... doing time on an entry level - quality - machine is time well spent... I found starting out with a metered machine with pinpoint and depth indicator and a simple 3 pre programmed options and 1 program your own option was great for learning the basics.... after some years I purchased a non metered higher end unit after reading many great reviews and posts... I knew my new non metered unit was a great machine but man it sure had me scratching my head a long time till I prove it..... like a teen driver taking his drivers test in a lambourgini... or taking fiddle lessons on a strataverious ... just isn't practical until the person has acquired the experience and skill needed to use the machine to its fullest potential...... but also theres no need to stay anchored to an entry level unit either...when its time to upgrade the experienced user will know it.....

 

[hershey1]

Good post Elton. A local club can be a big help to a new person. Many clubs don't advertise much and are pretty much unknown to a new person but if they take the time and are lucky enough to find one it may be the best find ever. A good dealer is great along with old papaw. I usually carry an extra machine and have helped a few that stop and ask questions. But then again some punk could take off with a nice chunk of change. HH and S&W

 

[team sidewinder]

Here is my thinking and what I did. I did buy more than a entry level detector but maybe not the most expensive detector.
1. If you invest in a more expensive mid/top level detector you are less likely to just try it a couple of times and give up or stick it in the garage.
2. A higher end level detector will leave you something to grow into after you get more experience detecting rather than need to buy another better detector after you move up in your experience level.
Of course this all IMHO.