Cen-Tech hand held junk ?

[Schlepprock]

Okay I called Harbor Freight today and they had several of the hand held detectors and I went over and picked one up. That was the first mistake perhaps. The second was not checking it out until I got home. The power button is broke and it don't work. Even if it did work, isn't the power button supposed to stay locked on, because this one don't.

Because of the price I'm considering buying the other one in stock, if it works. I need to know if the power button is supposed to stay on because I'm checking this one out inside the store.

Thanks in advance for any knowledge about this detector.

Schlepp.

 

[amcjavelin]

Hey there schlepp they are a push button deal only when you stop pressing the button it stops as well and i did'nt know was that there are 2 versions of these also one is colored yellow and the other one is black with a red push button the black one is the one you want people say it resembles the old whites bullseye

 

[Schlepprock]

Thanks, amcjavelin

Beings it don't work at all I'll have to exchange it, but at least I have the head's up on the power button. I would of thought that the button would have been designed to stay on, but maybe this way it will be easier on the battery.

The one I bought looks like it's already been returned, maybe. The boxes for both are somewhat beat up as well. But for this price if the other one works I might as well give it a try. That way it won't have been a trip for nothing.

Thanks, Schlepp.

 

[amcjavelin]

Well shlepp i will tell you thats the trouble starts on these anyways and i've only resoldered mine once and has held up well the factory solder joints are just a contact and thats it but i mean for the price it's better than nothing and i bring with me everytime i hunt, picks up pennys about 1 1/2" away does the job for me anyways

 

[marcomo]

Schlepp - The Cen-Tech is better than nothing, for the price you can't argue.

One guy over on the Bounty Hunter forum was raving about it, saying he got about 6 inches on a coin.

Now I'm not saying that guy had a really long wooden nose, maybe he got a special supercharged unit. Or maybe he's not real good with numbers.

I've had a couple, I'd say an inch at best.

If you can afford the Garrett Pinpointer it's well worth it. The difference between it and the Cen-Tech is night and day. And it's rugged enough to probably outlast quite a few Cen Techs.

 

[amcjavelin]

As I always say to each there own my friend.

 

[sqwaby]

I've owned and used one now since August. Its on the 3rd battery, still working great. Had to reglue the tip, but now its waterproof also. Recently bought a couple more for a spare and one to give to a hunting bud, Had 4 of them on the bench at one time so I decide to compare. Found 3 that maxed out at between 1 1/4-1 1/2 inches, the 4th one maxed at 3/4", so if you can take a 9v battery with you and check them out before purchasing. returned to the store for an exchange. It does what I need it to do at a good price, hard to ask for more.

 

[Bill_S]

I have had three of them and every one of them broke in one form or another. I had to resolder the push button on 2 of them and the the other one just stopped working. Gave up on them and broke down and got a pistol probe. Glad I did.

 

[buoysniper]

I just bought one of these Cen-Tech metal detectors this last weekend. I took it out for a test drive and within an hour I uncovered a pure silver ring and two nickels. I know that that is just luck but I am sure after that find I will be trusting this detector until it gives out.

Buoysniper

 

[sandtrout]

had a couple...all broke or refused to work. got a garrett propointer....POETRY!

 

[pascalburns]

i have one.so far so good.

 

[Jerry-Wi]

The biggest flaw with this pinpointer is the wiring to the switch. I bought two of them in 2008 and the wires to the push button switch broke off right at the switch terminal. They put shrink tubing over the terminal so the wire stays in place but make intermittent contact or no contact.

Very simple fix to re-solder the wires.

Just fixed one for a friend yesterday that had the switch wiring problem. As long as I had it apart, I tweaked the internal pot a bit and was getting a little over an inch on a quarter coin. Also added a small knob to the sensitivity control which makes it easier to tune.

For $15 it is a very good pinpointer. Not a Propointer, but a very good starting pinpointer as long as you understand what you are getting.

Jerry

 

[Mike Hillis]

I would take a Little Wizard II over a Centech any day of the week.

HH
Mike

 

[pinecreekkid]

In the modifications forum there is a post on how to make a pretty good pinpointer out of a Cen-Tec. I performed the mods on mine and it works quite well. It only cost about $6 for the upgrade and you do get a fairly good pinpointer. One tip though, glue the motor onto the back cover, it seems to work better.

 

[mo.digger]

I used one for about 4 years.
I was very pleased i wore it out.
So i got another.

 

[Dang]

I use one also.....do check it out before you buy. Should include a battery so you can test it right there in the aisle. Expect the button not to work sooner or later. Radio Shack sells a good replacement. I read somewhere here on the forum you can increase the range by adjusting something on the back inside the box....I believe it was just a simple screw adjustment.
I have owned two in the past few years. I lost the first one and didn't feel nowhere as bad as I did when I lost my Whites Bulls eye...
I was out today and noticed that the button on mine was at that point where I'll need to replace it soon.

 

[Nirros]

I just got one and it works fine except I wish the range was better. I also read somewhere that you can modify it to vibrate and if your want to waterproof the end to use Dip-it. Its a plastic coating for tools and I think auto parts stores sell it....I will let you know in a week or so.