Low powered and high priced detectors

[MassSaltH2O]

Greetings friends. It all started when I thought that instead of searching all day for the occasional coin or ring, I could go for big game. We're talking treasure chests and caches here, probably a meter or more down. Sounds like a good idea on the surface of it, huh?
So I determined what I would need in a metal detector to do the job.

Obviously, the first requirement would be that the machine be able to reach 3 or 4 feet down, at least. Most treasure chests, lost treasure, and caches from ship wrecks are quite deep.

Next, I figured that the machine would have to be able to discriminate ferrous from non-ferrous metal. Few people want to dig down three or four feet for rusty old anchors 'n junk.

Lastly, I needed a machine that could handle the mineralized coast here in New England.

So, there you have it: Basically just a machine that could get down 3 or 4 feet, and identify gold and silver. Simple as that. I'm not talking about a single coin or ring here, I'm talking about bars and stacks of gold and silver, big bags of doubloons from the four seas, and other valuable finds.

I didn't think this was too much to ask (at first). Not until I started looking into the market, and what machine might be best for this.

Honestly, I felt that it was just a matter of doing my homework, and finding out which detector would be right for me.

After some investigation, I found that I am asking for the moon here.
They don't make metal detectors like this (yet). This has led me to the conclusion that metal detector engineers and outlets use more hype than substance. The market is rife with outlandish claims of these "hobby" marketeers. One retailer, (whose product I will not mention) claims on thier website that thier detector

"is one of the few detectors with an absolute history of locating very valuable treasures from around the world. %$#*& Detectors have probably been responsible fore the recovery for more treasure caches, buried treasures and hidden hoards than any other single detector used for treasure searching."

Oh, By the way, this particular machine accomplishes all that using only ONE 9 volt transister radio battery! Imagine that!

I feel that the vast majority of metal detectors are engineered very underpowered. Most of them use pen light batteries. Pen light batteries? Yes, a handful of AA's. That's all you really need, right?. I'm sure the engineers are concerned that if they required a real battery, detectorists would be put off by the weight of the battery.
I think that a heavier battery pack could be worn at the waist, or even better yet, as a small back pack.

I think the metal detecting industry admits to the fact that these (pricey) machines are really just toys by referring to them as hobby.

True, some machines can get down three feet or more. But you can forget any kind of rejection or discrimination at those depths. Basically, it's "dig it all" at this depth. (Which is interesting in itself. It's really at the deeper depths that masking, metal identification and discrimination is needed!)

So far, the only machine I have found that even comes close to maybe doing the job I had envisioned is the PI Minelab GP 3500 with the DD coil. I think it might be able to get down a couple of feet. I'm not sure if the iron mask will still work at these depths with the DD coil. I'll have to get up with the folks at the Minelab forum to find out.

I have heard that the Minelab GP3500 with the 11" DD coil could cost as much as $4000 here in the states!!

So, I guess I am going to have to wait until the engineers get real about making powerful, discriminating machines that can identify the presence of big gold and silver (Not all metal) at a meter in depth. (I would also like a viewmeter, if it's not too much to ask.)

That's not wishing for too much, is it? I'll let you know if I find a machine for detecting deep gold and silver (only) caches. Happy hunting....
Kevin in Ipswich, Mass.

 

[Dan-Pa.]

First and foremost caches are far and few between and most detectors can reach perhaps 8 inches while some perhaps a foot...It is obvious you never dug a foot with a standard digger or realize the scarcity of caches you refer to...Of course like everything else Hype is a part of advertising and is used by many...bring a standard shovel to most detecting areas and you will be escorted out so methinks not the hobby for you....

 

[jeff@middlesex]

http://www.accuratelocators.com/

 

[MassSaltH2O]

Thank you Jeff! Is there a particular model you recommend for my applications? I haven't had a chance to study the various models of this manufacturer yet, but they do look pricey. As I wrote, "Low powered and high priced detectors". Anyways, thank you very much. I look forward to checking them out. Happy hunting, Kevin in Ipswich, Mass.

 

[MassSaltH2O]

Hi Dan: In a way, you are right! Other than "doing research", I'm not involved in the hobby. The part that you wrote about "...bring a standard shovel to most detecting areas and you will be escorted out..." makes me wonder: Do you have to check in first at the detecting area booth if you want to use a standard shovel? I know how rare those caches you mentioned are. Wonder that as you wrote, most detectors work at eight inches or so has anything to do with the current rarity of these kinds of caches? I'll keep monitoring the various offerings. If I do find something like what I was hoping for, I bet it WILL be expensive. (comparibly speaking). Happy hunting...
Kevin in Ipswich, Mass.

 

[Sven]

http://www.kellycodetectors.com/Finds/okm/grailfinderrooms.htm
or
http://www.kellycodetectors.com/scanmaster/scanmast.htm

some old timers used to find stuff using a Y stick broken off a tree.

 

[jeff@middlesex]

A soon as you get into target ID and discrimination at over 2' then the price is high. I get calls for this stuff all the time. Being able to do it affordably is impossible. If there was a cheaper way we would have it as would most dealers. Shop around for a used unit even contact Accurate Locators and others and see if they know of some used equipment around.
Good Luck
Jeff

 

[clondike clad]

My XL PRO with the 25 inch coil will go to china and back.
But what you are looking for is (to hunt in tha all metal mode for anything that deeeeep).
Many deep detectors that will go that deep.

 

[UK Brian]

I've been lucky enough to find a couple of caches and one thing they had in common was that one was in a metal box and the other a metal can. All detectors read the surface of the item detected so if you discriminate the gold/silver would be ignored.

 

[MassSaltH2O]

Hi Brian: Nice to hear from you. Well! Finally someone has found, not one, but two caches! Congratulations! That must of been really exciting. Regarding your thought that if you were not hunting in all metal, you would not of found your caches: Perhaps this is true for the machine you were using. But what if you had a detector that could mask out iron, and identify gold and silver, like the Minelab GP 3500?
Thank you, and happy hunting! Kevin from Ipswich, Mass.

 

[MassSaltH2O]

Hi Jeff: Thank you very much for explaining the metal detector market to us. You are a great help. I don't know why the deep seeking detectors should cost so much more, but if I remember my Economics 101, it has something to do with demand.
Do I sniff a niche here, the void between the hobby detectors and the high priced machines? I think a market savvy manufacturer with engineers who can think outside the AA battery box could create a completely new class of machines!
Thank you for your suggestion to look for used detectors. When I get the money, I'll check in with you. Happy hunting..Kevin in Ipswich, Mass.

 

[Sven]

n/t

 

[RON(PA)]

Kevin,

Although I do not know which detector manufacturer you are referring too, but I fell compelled to defend the models and manufacturer that I use.
I proudly use two Tesoro machines. I use a Tiger Shark and a Compadre. The Tiger Shark works on eight AA batteries ("penlight" batteries as you say) and the Compadre works on a 9 volt battery. By your standards, these may be small or weak powered machines. They have enough power to keep me busy and to fill my pouch with good finds. I am happy with what Tesoro is producing and will continue to use the brand and highly recommend it to others. I'm sure other detectorists would recommend the brand they use as well.
I do however strongly suggest that you get involved with the hobby and learn what is out there before you start slamming the current models. There are some machines that go pretty deep out there. You just need to look at the manufacturer's website and do your research.

Ron.

 

[MassSaltH2O]

Hi Ron: I apologize for rubbing you or your machines the wrong way.
As a matter of fact, during my research I found that the Tesoros are a heck of lot better machines than many people realize. But I'm not interested in starting a brand loyalty dissing thread. Each brand and model has its positive and negative aspects; as long as we find one that we enjoy, this is all that really counts. I bet you do find a lot of cool treasure with those Tesoro's, though. BTW, where are you? I heard that the sand shark doesn't work very well here in New England.
I don't know if this is just a misinformation campaign against Tesoro, or what. I was thinking of getting a Sand Shark, too. I hear those machines rock! Happy hunting...Kevin in Ipswich, Mass.

 

[Marc(NB)]

you can mask out iron,thats great if the treasure is next to it but if the loot is in a metal can no way will it detect the contents

 

[Jackpine Savage]

so I bet if you are serious you would not have to pay anywhere near the 4K you mentioned. Also many used ML SD's and GP's come up for sale on ebay and the propecting forums at very reasonable prices.

Go For It!!

Tom

 

[richetts]

After reading your post and the replies after, i must comment on this myself. I do believe there are a few detectors out there that will do the job quite nicely and at a reasonable price. I think you would be very happy with a Garrett Master Hunter CX Plus with the treasure hound package. You should be able to by this new at under $900us. Which is very reasonable considering that if you find one cache with it, you will probably more than pay for it. I'll explain my thoughts. If you are going for big fish, you use big bait! Same goes for metal detectors that if you are going for big targets, you use big coils. The "penlight" batteries have nothing to do with it. I have a handheld radio communications device that I can talk with my friends on that goes 5 miles and uses 2 AA "penlight" batteries. Metal detectors also use a "radio" type signal to detect metal. That blows the low power theory out of the water. Now for the depth you seek. You need a large coil, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Metal detecting depth can be refered to geometry. A concentric coil give a cone shaped signal. The larger the base, (the coil) the deeper the depth. The reason most folks who detect don't go 3 feet deep is because you lose sensitivity to small objects with a big coil. I know folks that use "dual coil" detectors and find beer cans at 3 feet. But you will be just plain lucky to see a coin at 3 feet with a coil that goes that deep. Small coils discriminate much better because there is less signal received back. Where they make up in descriminating, they lack in depth. If you are looking for mason jar size cahes or bigger at 2+ feet, you will not have to worry much about discrimination. A coil in the 18"-24" range is not going to go beeping on small iron nails as much as you think. IF you watch Ebay and the detecting forums classifieds, I bet you could get going looking for that first bar of gold for around $500 dollars. You only need a descriminate nob and a large coil. Happy Hunting to you. Welcome to the hobby!

 

[jeff@middlesex]

This guy wants depth 2-4' and discrimination not all metal. Thats the catch.

 

[Dan-Pa.]

First and foremost to my knowledge Garret and Whites do have a hook up device for their high end detectors and even large coils might go that deep on real large objects...Would hate to dig two feet for a paint can, horse shoe or even a 57 chevy and imagine we all have gone over caches as many will actually give an overload signal add the scarce amount of caches...and that where we stand..
Do remember if Grampa Jones reports his dad buried one in his back yard might be worth the effort, but to randomly look for one would have to be awful lucky....and even a jar of silver coins would not amount to that much monetarily....good luck in your quest....as they are out there but most are found in old houses with secret compartments and the like...no digging required...

 

[Mr.Bill]

He asked for a detector that would ID between Ferrous and non-Ferrous, and be High powered, Deep Seeker.

VLF detectors by there design would be ruled out on the high power. So now were into Pulse Induction. For high powered PI's there are only a few available in the whole world. Eric Foster's units, and the Minelab SD, and GP series units cover 95% of them.

The Eric Foster Goldscan5 is the only PI on the market at the present time, that can ID by tone the difference between ferrous & non-ferrous targets, and do it down to maximum depth.

The GP Minelabs do it to a small extent, but at shallow depth.

There you go. If you want a high powered, deep seeking, ID'ing detector, those are your choices.

Bill