NEED METAL DETECTOR FOR AUTISTIC BOY

[OnEbayIm"chileheadplumber"]

OK, Heres my situation. My son has Asperger's Syndrome and Autism. He has low muscletone and gets bored easily. He thinks hes a Mortal Kombat warrior, and I feel for any detector I get him. REALLY! I'm being serious.
Im hoping someone can help me find him the perfect detector. Heres what I'm after:
1) It needs to be VERY lightweight. (low muscletone... cant stand weight on his arms for long periods.) He does OK with his Mom's 2.3 pound detector, but she wont give it up, and its too complicated for him anyways.
2) It needs to be TOUGH!!! He swings it at imaginary people sometimes... I know,ANY detector will break if you use it like a baseball bat, but I just want strong as in... not fragile. I was thinking of maybe a Tesoro on that point, or something with a lifetime warranty for when it DOES break... (hopefully that wont happen...)
3) It needs to hunt like a Garrett Groundhog with a sniper coil. In other words, always on pinpoint, all metal... (he'd be just as happy finding hot wheels cars as jewelry) and NO adjustments. He just wants to know theres something metal under there, and that its only a couple inches down. No real digging. 5" should be plenty deep enough for mulch parks and grassy areas. Id rather the head be bigger than a sniper coil, but Id like the constant pinpoint mode for him, rather than the regular search modes.
4) STRESSING #3... pinpoint mode ALWAYS on.
5) a needle (analogue?) display would be fine. A computer display like on the Ace 250 would be too much. I want to get him interested in it first, then work him up to a better machine in a few years. Remember HES AUTISTIC, so the norm dont apply to him.
6) CHEAP! He's nine. I dont want to spend much on it in case he hates it. I have sparked his interest, but havent got him snagged yet.

Any recommendations?

 

[DavHut]

Get a Tesoro Compadre or Silver and have an all metal switch mounted.

No detector will last long as a light sabre or bat, so there is little help there.

Any detector with a meter will fail in the other areas.

I suggest you contact Tesoro and let them know what you are needing. I'm betting that with their buy in, they would even extend you a "special warranty..." at least you can ask.

 

[khouse]

Tesoro Compadre is my choice also.

 

[Neil in West Jersey]

You may be able to get an old Whites Classic, or a PRL1 cheap on ebay. Sturdy & light, it only has a discriminate control & all metal/pinpoint switch.

 

[John-Edmonton]

Because of all the scams, spams etc. we deal with on a daily basis, you probably will not get a machine donated, as you are an unknown person. However, if you got one of the many associations that are out there, and I am assuming you are aware of them, to post the same same request, using their association, you probably would get a response, and I would not be at all surprised if one of the many manufacturers donate a brand new one, as it is a win-win situation for both. I am very familiar with Asperger's Syndrome, and agree a metal detector may be an excellent tool for your son's enjoyment and also give you some satisfaction in the process.

Here are some associations:

http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer

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[John 'n' W.Va]

That is a tall order to fill. I think if you find a Metal Detector like that I would like to own one. I am very familiar with autism and Asperger's. My wife started the autism society here. She and I have both worked with children with multiple disabilities, autism and Asperger's. Our daughter is autistic but not asperger's. You know your son's abilities better then any one else. Each child is unique. Asperger's is not classified as a chronic illness. So it is difficult to get out side help. It never hurts to try.
Maybe a dealer has some older machines or trade ins. Explain your situation. He may be able to keep you supplied if your son would break it. I know Kellyco has the Alert detector for $69.95. You could talk to them about it. It is a free call. Ask for JW. JW prides himself on being able to put the right detector with the right person. Give him a challenge. jw@kellycodetectors.com Ph.1-800-327-9697
Heartland has one for $49.99 but am not sure how they will hold up.

 

[Uncle Willy]

Jack might even donate one.

Bill

 

[Uncle Willy]

If you could find a used Compass TR coin hustler it would probably do the trick. Tough, small and light, very simple two-knob detector and uncomplicated, no display, no pinpioint button, external speaker. Good coin getter. May be hard to find one. Check all the forum classifieds.

Bill

 

[OnEbayIm"chileheadplumber"]

THANKS! I really appreciate all the responces! I'm saving all the responces to a notepad.I will look into every one of them!

Believe it or not, I actually scored my first 2 metal detectors FREE because I told a guy about my son. I wasnt expecting them to be free, and I wasnt looking for a handout. (Honestly) I tried over and over to pay him, but he wouldnt take the money. I had actually bid them up there pretty high on Ebay. He gave me a Garrett TR Discriminator Groundhog with a sniper coil and a GTA 1000!!! They are both too heavy for him, and The GTA 1000 is too nice for him. Hed have it trashed in no time. It would be like giving a Rolls Royce to a 16 year old!!! haha The groundhog has the old style handle and it makes MY wrists hurt, and I'm a big strong man. My son lays it down in less than 3 minutes.
My wife used the groundhog for a while, but it hurt her wrists too, and I got her an upper model BH, which she does pretty darn good with I may add. I offered to buy her an Ace 250, and she said she only wanted her BH. We use the Groundhog for between playground equipment; as its PERFECT for that.
We know the Autism Society well. Were members of a local support group too. Never considered that approach.

 

[Skillet]

My slightly-built sons have no problem swinging a Sidewinder.

It's hard to find a lighter, easier to swing machine than a uMax.

Skillet

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