Probe (not Pinpointer) Poll

[IndianaSmith]

Just curious how many use a probe? Yes, no, considering it? Why?

1-If you use one, do you feel brass is better than steel? Meaning do you feel there's less chance of damaging (scratching) a find?

2-Is the additional cost of brass worth it over steel?

3-Anyone ever use a fiberglass probe?

4-If you use a probe, do you use it for coins (and smaller items) or for larger items (or both), including to rule-out junk (cans) or to locate something that could contain a possible cache?

5- What's the shortest and what's the longest probe you (do or would) use?

Thanks
Smitty

 

[tabdog]

n/t

 

[IndianaSmith]

lol.....tabdog, I think we must be related looks like you have an "assortment" as well.

Smitty

 

[tabdog]

n/t

 

[IndianaSmith]

I've got piles of stuff I've come-up with, some works, some don't, but I enjoy trying either way. I was trying to think of that saying Red Green has (from the Red Green TV Show), "if the women don't find you handsome, they should atleast find you handy"......lol, I'll have to hold-out for handy.

Well, since you're evidently the only one with an opinion on probes, what do you think about a fiberglass one? Do you think there's less chances of causing damage to say an old silver coin over a brass probe?

Smitty

 

[rwsnc]

I was wondering about probes, myself. One of the guys that I hunt with uses a probe, but I was always reluctant to try one for fear of damaging a good coin, even though many folks use them successfully.

 

[IndianaSmith]

Personally, I don't use one. I have an 8" flatblade screwdriver with an 1.25" washer notched-out & welded to the end of the blade of the screwdriver. "Most" of the time I'm near dead-on with pinpointing, and can stick the screwdriver in the ground, pull the handle down, and pop the coin to the surface. On the times I can't do this, I can insert my pinpointer into the the opening left by my screwdriver & locate the coin. Atleast 50% of the time I don't even have to remove a "plug" of sod. When needed, I can pop-out a sod-plug with this tool as well, without "cutting" the sod.

I'd probably use one if I were ever hunting in a yard where the owner was extremely particular.

Smitty

 

[Rick(ND)]

I have tried many different things in my 34 years of detecting starting out with a ice pick and a bigger screwdriver, then went to a thin long handled screwdriver. I broke many of them trying to pry out a coin after a while, plus after a while my hand would get sore from pushing on the screwdriver handle. I tried to make a probe with a bigger handle and use a brass rod, but it bent real easy for me. I now use a Lesche digging knife if the coin is deeper and probably older, but for my clad hunting and sometime to find a deeper target I feel is trash I use a screwdriver I get from Ace hardware that is thin and long with a very nice handle on it and the strongest one I have ever used,plus I can feel the target verses rocks in with the gravel. By far the best probe for finding coins I have ever used. I use a Sun Ray probe or the Uniprobe to find the actual target if not over 4 inches deep and then I use the screwdriver to retrieve the target. If I am on a well manicured lawn and don't want to dig plug this screwdriver will get them deep too and leave a very small spot.