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Brand new, could use advice
- Thread starter MI_newbie
- Start date
Hi Newb! First off, welcome to the forums! Know your budget, and then start looking at detectors in your price range, and don't forget to check out the used machines out there. There are plenty of guys that start out, get hooked, upgrade machines, and before they know it, they have this little F2 sitting in the corner with maybe 40 hours on it! LOL
Also, if you can figure out which machine you are leaning towards, then start hanging out in that forum, as there will several experts willing to share their knowledge with you. AND READ ALL YOU CAN ON THESE FORUMS!!! I can't stress that enough. YouTube is another fantastic way to learn about metal detecting. It'll teach you how to properly dig a hole, and more importantly, how to put it back the correct way! There are several techniques...learn them all. The biggest complaint that people have about us is the mess that gets left behind by those very few. One bad apple.... you know the rest. lol
Anyway, there's my two cents. I'm sure others will chime in. This is MY favorite site because of the helpful people in here.
WELCOME TO THE ADDICTION!
HH (forgot, yer a newbie...that stands for Happy Hunting) Or in Mudpuppy's case, Hap-hazard. lol
Jake
Also, if you can figure out which machine you are leaning towards, then start hanging out in that forum, as there will several experts willing to share their knowledge with you. AND READ ALL YOU CAN ON THESE FORUMS!!! I can't stress that enough. YouTube is another fantastic way to learn about metal detecting. It'll teach you how to properly dig a hole, and more importantly, how to put it back the correct way! There are several techniques...learn them all. The biggest complaint that people have about us is the mess that gets left behind by those very few. One bad apple.... you know the rest. lol
Anyway, there's my two cents. I'm sure others will chime in. This is MY favorite site because of the helpful people in here.
WELCOME TO THE ADDICTION!
HH (forgot, yer a newbie...that stands for Happy Hunting) Or in Mudpuppy's case, Hap-hazard. lol
Jake
JamesBondaka
Active member
stilpony said:Hi Newb! First off, welcome to the forums! Know your budget, and then start looking at detectors in your price range, and don't forget to check out the used machines out there. There are plenty of guys that start out, get hooked, upgrade machines, and before they know it, they have this little F2 sitting in the corner with maybe 40 hours on it! LOL
Also, if you can figure out which machine you are leaning towards, then start hanging out in that forum, as there will several experts willing to share their knowledge with you. AND READ ALL YOU CAN ON THESE FORUMS!!! I can't stress that enough. YouTube is another fantastic way to learn about metal detecting. It'll teach you how to properly dig a hole, and more importantly, how to put it back the correct way! There are several techniques...learn them all. The biggest complaint that people have about us is the mess that gets left behind by those very few. One bad apple.... you know the rest. lol
Anyway, there's my two cents. I'm sure others will chime in. This is MY favorite site because of the helpful people in here.
WELCOME TO THE ADDICTION!
HH (forgot, yer a newbie...that stands for Happy Hunting) Or in Mudpuppy's case, Hap-hazard. lol
Jake
Good advise! If your looking for a new detector for say around 150-250 bucks.....I would buy garrett 150-250-350.....if you can but a nice used....I would do Whites Mxt ....probably around 350-400 bucks.....you cant go wrong.
Good luck to you!
Larry--IndianaHVAC
New member
First off, welcome to the hobby and to Find's Forums! As mentioned in the other posts you need to figure your budget and go from there. If in the $200 range look at the Garrett Ace 250 and the Fisher F2 line. If you purchase a low end detector and decide to move up, I think looking at resale is important too unless you plan on keeping your first purchase. The Ace 250 is certainly an easy detector to move on the classified forum. Give me a call or an email and will be happy to assist you in your first purchase.
I'm fairly new to the hobby myself. I did the research to determine which detector would give me the most bang for my buck and would be simple to operate. I settled on the Garrett Ace 250 and I am still working on distinguishing the different tones and when to dig and not to dig. Until I get really familiar with the machine, I am using "all metal" setting and mid-way discrimination. I've dug a lot of junk, but I've also recovered lots of clad coins, some toy cars, weird iron pieces, lots of aluminum cans (and pull tabs), but I also scored three old silver coins. I recommend you start with a machine that's simple (like the Ace 250 or Fisher F2) and dig in your own yard and those of your family and friends. As you get addicted, and believe me you will, do some research on your local area to see where crowds have gathered in the long ago and recent past. You can also dig schools (with permission), tot lots, playgrounds, and parks - depending on local and state regulations. I also recommend you dig everything to start -- I have read these forums and it appears gold and other valuables can sometimes be found even though your meter reads lead or tin. Good luck!
Get a Tesoro compadre, and get a garrett pinpointer. for shure the compadre is a good all around detector and very good price and pinpoints really well and the pinpointer will further help so you do not distry the grass. and go give it a try if you like the hobby upgrade the compadre has a high resale value find some old house lots to search and you will do well
You will get a lot of advice on buy this machine or buy that machine. Decide from your own research what you want in your first machine and what is your budget. Do you want tone ID ? how about VDI? If you want all of that for about 200 bucks, the the ACE 250 might be your machine. If you want a beep and dig machine then a Tesoro Compadre might be your machine. Read everything you can and learn all you can about the machines you are interested in before you commit to buying that one. Learn what all of the things mean, like VDI, tone ID, pin pointing, double D coils vs concentric, discrimination, etc.
Let's face it, all of the major manufactures produce good machines. Minelab, Garrett, Whites, Fisher, Tesoro, they all make several really good machines. You need to do decide by researching each one. In my mind the easiest machines to learn, with the most bang for your buck are Garrett Ace 250, Whites MXT, and the Fisher Gold Bug Pro. If you can find a Garrett AT Pro used with in your budget, buy it. My personal opinion is that the AT Pro is the best detector on the market. It's easy to learn, tons of instructional videos available for and they have the most features for the money. Remember, that is my opinion, you do your research. I own and use a Whites MXT, Ace 250, AT Pro, Minelab CTX 3030, Minelab Excalibur 1000, Whites DFX, Fisher gold bug II. Each one has a particular job to do for me. My go to machine for coins a relic hunting is the AT Pro, then the CTX, then the MXT.
Learn and enjoy the hobby. It is the only hobby that will pay for itself. Beside that you will meet a lot of very nice people.
Let's face it, all of the major manufactures produce good machines. Minelab, Garrett, Whites, Fisher, Tesoro, they all make several really good machines. You need to do decide by researching each one. In my mind the easiest machines to learn, with the most bang for your buck are Garrett Ace 250, Whites MXT, and the Fisher Gold Bug Pro. If you can find a Garrett AT Pro used with in your budget, buy it. My personal opinion is that the AT Pro is the best detector on the market. It's easy to learn, tons of instructional videos available for and they have the most features for the money. Remember, that is my opinion, you do your research. I own and use a Whites MXT, Ace 250, AT Pro, Minelab CTX 3030, Minelab Excalibur 1000, Whites DFX, Fisher gold bug II. Each one has a particular job to do for me. My go to machine for coins a relic hunting is the AT Pro, then the CTX, then the MXT.
Learn and enjoy the hobby. It is the only hobby that will pay for itself. Beside that you will meet a lot of very nice people.
GeorgeinSC
Well-known member
I highly recommend that along with what ever machine you choose that you get a Garrett Pro Pointer Or the Minelab pointer. You will also need a digging tool. Please DO NOT take a shovel to a park, playground. Any Public Area. The Public Frowns on people digging up parks etc. I personally use a Lesche Digging Tool. Try to learn to leave no trace of your having been there. As a lot of the folks have said. Do your Research. Pick the Detector YOU Want. Read extensively and watch some videos. Just remember one thing. This Hobby is Addictive. HH
