thinking of buying a Sand Shark but...

[GeorgiaSwinger]

how is the Sand Shark with the very very small targets like backs of earrings and small gold and sliver chains on salt water beaches

 

[Smudge]

A good PI detector like the Sand Shark will pick up small gold, but there is a size limit.

I doubt any PI detector, or beach vlf detector for that matter, would find very very small targets like the backs of earrings.

Those size targets lost in wet salt sand are likely to stay lost. If you're talking about dry sand hunting, then yes, there are vlf detectors that will find those very very small targets at shallow depth. The best one I know of is the Fisher Gold Bug 2 (not to be confused with the Pro). It will find tiny gold targets (and tiny bits of foil and other garbage) at shallow depths (up to maybe 3") and that is the best you can likely expect.

As to chains, those are the least found targets for any metal detector. The only reason most of those get found is because the clasp on the chain or a pendant on the chain is large enough for the detector to lock on to and give you a signal. But chains by themselves are very difficult to pick up, whether PI or vlf.

 

[tvr]

The Sand Shark may find an earring back if you are sweeping slow, listening closely and it is on the surface or not far from it. Like Smudge indicates, thin chains by themselves are very tough to find. The thin ones may not even register if rubbed against the coil. And it is not just the Sand Shark that is like that. Thin chains without a pendant are a difficult target. Chains with large links are detected much better.

The Sand Shark can essentially be turned on and go hunting. Very easy to use and it finds metal. If there is a lot of iron on the beach you hunt, it will find that too. Typical Tesoro; very good performance for a good price.
tvr

 

[Crumble]

I think earring backs and thin chains are just too close to the conductivity of wet salty sand.

I bought a Tejon recently for dry sand, it picks up 14k earring back and pencil lead thick 14k chain at about 3-4 inches in air test, they disc out about halfway between iron and foil.

While that may sound good, you dont realize how many tiny pieces of foil are in the dry sand til you have a super sensitive machine...

 

[GeorgiaSwinger]

Thanks guys !!

I went ahead and pulled the trigger on the SS last night, should be here Weds. or Thurs.!!
I have in my weapons room 2 minelabs ~ Soverein GT and Excal II along with a Whites 6T and a Garretts Ace 250.
The two salt water (wet sand) beaches I hunt doesn't have a lot of iron judging fron the nulls I get with the minelabs.
I just want something to find what all the others are missing !!

Thanks again !! great group of guys/gals on here !!!

 

[Bill in Oregon]

Georgia: Please report when you get your Sand Shark wet, so to speak! Thinking of one too.

 

[donlor4u]

first off - why would anybody want to find backs of an earing? as for finding small gold - i have 4 pieces under 1 gram.
as to my thoughts - trying to scoop backs of an earing is a ridiculous task. what size are the holes in your scoop?
i do have a fisher gold bug se that i bought specifically for trying to find small gold chains in dry sand. i do not use the shark in dry sand - i go with the gold bug or my cibola.
you will be very happy with your choice.

 

[Maui Mike]

SS with the smaller 8 inch coil is for you then. Tell you what... A diamond on a stud ear ring has a small amount of gold or plat on it... And yup... My sand shark has done the trick.. Bingo... And I have the 10.5 coil . Enjoy ... And HH.