New to metal detecting

[Kenc46]

Thanks for allowing me to join your group. At 70 yrs young, I guess you would call me an old rookie. Just picked up a Prism 5G at a Whites dealer here in Oklahoma. An older gentleman had purchased it new and never used it. The condition of it is pristine. I paid $250 for it and have been told by a friend that it was a very good price. What is the overall feelings about this particular unit? I have a couple neighbors that do a lot of metal detecting, so I'm hoping to pick up some good tips. I live out on one of the many lakes in NE Oklahome and have been told that there is lots of old Indian relics in the area, which is in the Cherokee nation. I hope I don't ask too many dumb questions.

Ken
NE Oklahoma
Whites Prism 5G

 

[Architex]

No such thing as a dumb question. Ask away all you want.

 

[Des D]

Hi Ken,

The Prism's are good units but not so good over wet beach salt water sand!

However, that shouldn't bother you in OK.

Two Tips

1. Try to not use Full Sensitivity as it can be like driving in fog with brites on
2. Discriminate out only Iron and investigate low to medium Tones for jewellery, high Tones for coins.

Des
(former White's re-seller)

 

[Kenc46]

Des, you say the Prism is not "so good" over wet beach salt water sand. Does that mean it shouldn't be used in that type of area? We go to Florida & South Padre in Texas. Should I not use it there?

 

[silverseeker 2]

Welcome to the hobby. If you will be hunting wet salt sand areas you'd be
better off with a multi frequency machine or pulse induction. Your Whites
5G is better suited for easy park hunting,schools, residential,etc., etc.
Probably fine for fresh water hunting but machine is not waterproof.
Good luck in this great hobby and have plenty of PATIENCE at first
as it is a huge learning process to use a metal detector as most that enter
spend good money and just get frustrated and their machine sits in the
closet forever and down the road they want darn near what they Paid new.
Detectors are kinda like new cars. Once they leave the lot the price
just drops on it and some think what they have is Gold.With all the detectors
out there you can find great deals if you search and Wait!!! Wish you the Best. ..
silverseeker2

 

[Des D]

Ken,
The majority of rings and jewellery are found in the surf. Multi frequency is King here.

The Prism is a single frequency detector and is good on the dry sands only.

That said however, I did fairly well using a White's Classic detector on the beaches of Florida but sensitivity had to remain low.
They were the best sellers Whites did before the Prisms were introduced.

Look into the Whites Surf machines for beach work.

Des D

 

[Kenc46]

I appreciate the feedback. Any beach hunting I will do would be in dry sand, Does that make any difference wirh my Prism 5G?

 

[Mega]

I appreciate the feedback. Any beach hunting I will do would be in dry sand, Does that make any difference wirh my Prism 5G?

All single freq machines will work on dry sand so you will be fine,the wet sand is a different ball game though,so you dont have any worries.