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need advice on good detector

L

Lynne4t

New member
Hi,
I'm hoping someone here can help me. My husband is disabled and walks with a cane. (His foot was crushed in a construction accident) His doctors tell him that although it's painful for him to walk it's important to keep active and to use the foot. He's always wanted a metal detector and I thought it was a good way for him to get walking. I am totally clueless about this but really want to get him a decent one for his upcoming birthday. Most important is that he be able to use it with one arm, as he needs his cane. Also, he can't carry too much weight without causing his foot pain, so it must be lightweight. I don't mind spending the money for features that will render the detector useful for years to come without him feeling the need to upgrade. Am I asking too much or is there something that fits his needs? Any advice would be very much appreciated.
Lynne
 
Lynn that is a very thoughtful way to get your husband active and to get excersise that is needed, but I have a question for you. As you stated your husband needs a cane to walk, that is fine and dandy...but my question to you is, how well does your husband respond to getting up from off the floor or in our case the ground, with way of his cane? The metal detector what ever one you decide to get could easily be fitted with a harness, to take more weight off his arm, but there is alot of getting up and down in this hobby, from digging the dirt to showing the prize. Don't get me wrong I'm not discouraging anything here, I just wondering thats all
 
Good Question! I hadn't thought about that, all I know is that he's been interested in metal detecting, so he thinks he can do it. His legs are good, mostly his foot causes pain, but you know, if it would get him out, even if for short spans at a time, I, or one of the kids would definitely go along with him to do the dirty work :) I'm glad to hear they have harnesses, that would be a huge help. I guess now I need to know what brands are good and what features are really nice to have and which are overkill.
Thanks!
 
Weight, price and features you can't beat the Garrett Ace 250. To make it even lighter you can buy a sniper coil for it. The Whites Prizm II is a light detector but lacks many of the features of the Ace 250. The Ace 250 holds it's price well if you need to sell it down the road.
 
Pay 200.00 for Ace 250. Pay 65.00 for a sniper coil. Pay 125.00 for a pinpointer. Pay 85.00 for a 9x12 coil. Pay 40.00 for a good digger. Pay 25.00 for a detector bag. Pay 60.00 for headphones. That gets you to 600.00 That's in your range.

If you buy a 500.00 detector you will need most of the accessories I have mentioned anyway. Also the Ace coils are about half the price of other detectors and brands.
 
It is light weight and easy to use and does a good job plus if detecting don't work for him you can sell it and not lose very much. Now if he like it and does well then you can look at a higher end detector and sell the 250, but just because it is more expensive and has more controls don't mean you will find more as it will have a learning curve longer then a 250.
If you buy a $500-$600 detector and he don't like it you will possibly lose $150-$200 or more, but with the 250 you will lose $50-$75 if that.
 
Lynne, I don't want to sound negative but him having to use a cane and only one hand due to the cane I am not sure. Detecting takes a certain amount of strength and stamina. He would have to constantly be able to go down to at least one knee. Seeing he needs cane that would have to be set down. The detector for him would have to be set down to dig. Digging is not fun, a lot of people who spent$$$ give up because of the digging and not realizing the effort it takes. But if you do decide to get him a detector, I heard the Garrett ace 250 is extremely light and is a decent unit. But again remember with a detector especially lower end ones he can expect to be digging a lot of trash! Well good luck on your decision. One idea would be for you to walk with him and dig for him, good luck Gregg.
 
Lynne also the Garrett is only around $200, so if it does not work out it would be easier with 200, than 1000! Also if you have kids they may become hooked on it, Gregg.
 
I guess I thought a more expensive detector would mean a little less digging for nothing. Is this an incorrect assumption? I'm guessing that it's impossible for it to be even 75% accurate, and I realize that digging is a huge part of the "fun" :), but given his circumstances, I think the less futile digging the better. He does have a 16-yr-old son who would really enjoy helping him though. What's a sniper cord?
 
If I buy the Ace 250, which seems to be the general consensus, are the parts interchangeable with better Garrett detectors in case he wants to upgrade down the road?

I don't know if it matters, but we're in Massachusetts, so we can go to beaches easily. Here I go assuming again, but that will make digging easier, right?

Also, is there a good online merchant you all can recommend?
 
It doesn't matter how much you spend on a detector -you will dig up trash. That would be my guaranty. Most all detectors have some kind of discrimination setting and you can set it to pick up just high coins if you want. The 250 can also. But you won't find nickels or rings. I know people that have purchased detectors for 1000.00 thinking they will get rich and never dig a pull tab. Not true! How would you feel when that happens to your husband? The Ace 250 in my opionion should cost 4 to 5 hundred dollars. It's a steal at 200.00
I have not used the 250 on a beach. I have read that it does well all the way to the water. You may have to reduce your sensitivity if you start getting falsings. Someone will chime in that has used it on the beach.
 
I have to agree with the concerns listed too - MD'ing takes alot of hiking around, kneeling down, digging with a tool, and getting back up again - repeat until tired.

But, Whites MXT is an outstanding machine. The Ace 250 - I have never used one but it gets alot of good press - practically everyone recommends it for a first machine, and it's no toy. Minelab Xterra 70 or the Minelab Quattro is good too.
 
I am not an expert on any of this but am old and rickety and good for a couple of hours of detecting at a time - at most, and claim "exercise" for an excuse. So if decrepitation is qualification, I can comment. I bought three Ace 250s for grandkids (and another for myself!) and am much impressed with the little rig. I'm outfitting them all with the sniper coil too - its much easier to isolate targets and I think a little easier to learn with. The 250 has good visual target ID, tone ID, a depth estimator, an excellent "dashboard" with info right up front, superior control buttons, and it's just as easy to learn as other "beginner" units that provide a lot less information up front. Performance-wise, it runs right in there with rigs costing two or three times as much. Personally, I prefer to use one of my more expensive detectors (CZ 3D, small coil) most of the time, but I have been messing around with detectors for a long time. The Ace is in the car for backup or loaning, and it will do a whole lot of things nearly as well. I seldom see anyone discuss the nuances of target signals with the Ace, but there is much to be learned from paying close attention to the variations of sound and meter signals of different targets and between the search mode and pinpoint modes. May I suggest that your husband might like to get in on the fun and ultimately pick out his own dang detector? Why not show him this thread, then visit the Garrett Forum here (to read the raves and brag pictures of Ace 250 owners), visit the Garrett web site, etc. He might enjoy visiting some of the other forums too by way of comparison. :smoke:
 
You can lead a horse to water,but you can't make it drink.Lynne is better off to let her husband choose the equipment.There are a lot of good metals detectors being produced the new user should go to a dealer and have a hands on.Lynne could take a trip to a neighborhood dealer with her husband and see if he is able or interested in the hobby or equipment.
 
Hmmmm...I'm going back and forth here. He did hint at wanting one for his birthday. He's talked about getting one often. It is nice to have the element of surprise in a gift. Now if he asked ME what I wanted for my birthday I would give him specifics :). I'm thinking I'll make sure if I buy (at a local dealer) that he can exchange it for another one if he doesn't like it. There are quite a few web deals with low prices and free extras but I guess it's better to go local in my case! Thanks for the advice!
Lynne
 
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