Will someone explain the types of pinpointers?

[Wooden Nickel]

Being new to this addiction, I have read tons of material and posts and anything else available. I am a bit confused by the kinds of pinpointers available.

I get the hand-held ones, propointer, vibraprobe, etc., no problem, but I don't understand the ones that are attached to the machine. How are they used? Apparent;y they Plug into the machine, so they have to have compatible fittings.. Are they used by hand after one gets a hit? Are mds really that inaccurate when pinpointing, making the pinpointer a necessity? I see an advantage using them in the hole or on the plug. My ignorance is showing so that's why I am asking. I'm really confused by them so can someone explain them please?

BTW - It would be nice if the forum had sections on educating us newcomers instead of having to wade through myriad posts to find info. Maybe there is, so guide me to the right place if I have missed it.

Thanks to all!

Mike.....:coastgaurd: the fifth branch of the military.

 

[BarberBill]

Okay, here goes. The pinpointers that are attached to the detector come with a switchable box that also goes on the detector. Both the detector coil and the pinpointer cords enter one side, only one cord comes out and goes to the detector's main box. There's a switch that is toggled so that when using the pinpointer, it is on the circuit to the box just like the coil normally is. Because the pointer is acting like a minature coil at that point, any discrimination, sensitivity setting, TID display etc. functions the same as when using the coil. This style of pinpointer therefore has variable depth and they're generally a bit deeper than the handheld pointers with the exception of the pistol probe. In use, after hitting a signal that one decides to retrieve, the switch is toggled to the pointer and the pointer is then used in the same way a handheld one would be. As mentioned, on TID machines one can look at the display to see if it displays a coin or whatever and dig in the area the pointer indicates. When finished, you put the pointer back in the clips that hold it, toggle the switch back to the coil setting and go on detecting.

Down sides - adds a bit of weight to the detector - only works on the detector(s) it;s designed for - very easy to forget to toggle back and detect for a while with a non-conected coil - not available for all models of detectors.

Pluses - you don't start to detect and find you've forgotten the pinpointer - generally has a fair increase in depth compared to many hand held pointers - can't leave the pinpointer at the last retrieval when you move on - won't fall out of your pouch or belt and get lost - shows the same information on the TID screen as the coil does.

I use both types as I have several different detectors that aren't compatible with machine mounted pointers. You ask about the need for pinpointers. Many detectors and operators do pinpoint quite well, however there are many situations where the pinpointer will definitely speed up your recovery. Once you have some detecting time under your belt you'll have found that often the target will have taken on the color of the soil to the point that it blends in so well that it's very difficult to see. Especially small coins etc. Or, you'll be very close to the target when you dig, but can't find it even though the detector keeps sounding off. The use of the pointer will help pin down the location when it's just still a bit inside the side wall of the hole or just a little deeper than the bottom. Or, when it's out of the hole, but under a little of the soil that's been removed. Also, from time to time the pinpointer will signal several more coins in any of the above examples after you'd thought the one you retrtieved was the only one there. Speaking of that, be sure to always check your hole and the surrounding area before covering it or moving on as over time you'll be surprised at how often you'll find a coin spill of several or more coins, rather than one. If using a TID machine, this is often the case when the display jumps back and forth between different coin indications with a trash indication or two, but still mostly coin(s).

Hope this is useful,
BB

 

[baldy804]

very well said bill whew need a glass of water ? hope you get it figured out this is a good forum with a wealth of knowledge in its memebers just ask and someone will anwser your ?s ok welcome to the bobby and good luck wooden nickle

 

[Elton]

BarberBill posted a great response. May I suggest if you need further assistance look at the top of each forum. Click on the header and read about the different pinpointers available from each company.

Bart, Big Boys Hobbies, or Backwoods( Richard)............or any of the other sponsor dealers will help you make an informed decision too....

You will find a pinpointer will enhance your detecting experience ten fold... I didn't use a pointer for years, Once I did.Wow............can't believe I didn't have one the minute they were available...

 

[WV62]

Mike,

When I started detecting in the 70's I am not sure but I don't think there was any pin pointers or at least I never heard of one. So to find those targets that were playing hide and seek in the hole the only thing you could do was take your detector and swing it back over the hole, the divot and the loose dirt. Once you figured out which of the 3 you could start looking again, lots of times the item would be in the loose dirt then what I would do is grab a hand full of dirt and wave it in front of the coil until I had the metal item in my hand. You can kind of get the idea of how that worked and worked and worked. So with no pin pointer that is kind of where you will be.

If you really can't make up your mind to go with the sunray type or the hand held I would suggest you go to Harbor Freight and buy a Cen-Tech hand held for under $20. They are not the best but they do work pretty good and it will give you an idea of the help a pin pointer can be and you won't be out a bunch of money. Once you get the feel for it then you will need to figure out which way you want to go. I use my Garrett Propointer on just about every target unless it just jumps right out of the hole and looking at me.

Ron in WV

 

[Wooden Nickel]

WOW !!!

To paraphrase a famous Russian comedian, "What a forum!"

Bill - I understand now, and I don't think you could have explained it any better. I knew about the "hand held" pointers, and have a ProPointer on my list. I just could not figure out, in all my reading, how the "attached" pinpointers worked. Great description!

Baldy and Elton and Ron - Thanks for the good advice. I'm hesitant to ask such basic questions, and always look around for the answer before I ask. I just couldn't find it this time. I appreciate the encouragement.

Now a follow-up question - I've read that different pinpointers have different "ranges," maybe two inches, maybe four, even six. I've tossed around about which is better. The shorter range ones will get you really close. At the same time, your level of accuracy decrease if one detects six inches away. Do some scream louder as they get closer to the target?

Forgive me if I ask too many questions. I can be really anal about things. My research training I guess.

Thanks a lot!

Mike.....

 

[woodwizard]

alot has to do with how much ya want to spend on one.after useing the cen-tech,and another one I for get the name of I broke down and got a pistol probe .its kinda bulky but does a great job locating items and goes fairly deep.plus ya can adjust it so its not on the same freq. as detector.-no question ya ask hasn't been asked by us all at one time or another.keep digging and good luck.

 

[WV62]

Now a follow-up question - I've read that different pinpointers have different "ranges," maybe two inches, maybe four, even six. I've tossed around about which is better. The shorter range ones will get you really close. At the same time, your level of accuracy decrease if one detects six inches away. Do some scream louder as they get closer to the target?

Forgive me if I ask too many questions. I can be really anal about things. My research training I guess.

Thanks a lot!

Mike.....

Your follow up question is a hard one because it is kind of like different strokes for different folks. I have never tried a real deep pin pointer and maybe you can't get one to deep. But you can get on that is not deep enough and there are a lot of them out there that you just about have to touch the metal before it goes off. I have one that came with my new detector and it wasn't worth the extra postage to put it in the box, nothing is better than that. For me a couple of inches is good enough. As for sound, if it vibrates you don't need sound. The Garrett pro does both and it vibrates faster the closer you get to the target that's all I need.

Ron in WV

 

[jst2kool]

I think you made a good point there Woodennickel, There should be a forum dedicated to new comers to get replies from experienced hunters to our questions so we don't feel stupid for asking.

 

[BarberBill]

I promise to be shorter on this one. Most handhelds will pickup a quarter to at least an inch and many to around two inches, give or take. Larger targets will be detected farther. As the poinpointer is generally used after the target has responded to the detector, if it isn't very deep the pinpointer will pick it up right away. If not, after probing or cutting a plug one should be close enough for the pinpointer to work and most of the time you really don't need or want too much depth. One factor that matters to me is whether the pointer has a vibration mode or not. When wearing headphones that seal outside noise well, vibration is more helpful than the sound. On my propointer, I taped over the speaker so that it doesn't attract attention in parks etc. Many also use an LED which is good, but in bright sunlight I still prefer the vibration. Others may not agree, but the vibration works best for me. The pistol probe is very deep for a hand held, but it does NOT have vibration unless they've changed it recently. I really like the pro pointer - deep enough and easy to use. I taped a coiled key chain lanyard on mine so that I can keep it connected to the belt my pouch is on in order to keep from losing it.
BB

 

[Thound]

FYI. Almost every MDer I run into has a propointer. Might be good info.Might just be my location.

 

[david bull]

I've used three or four other pinpointers over the years and have to say the propointer is definitely the best that I have ever owned.I considered the sunray,but I just feel like the time switching from coil to pointer would be"wasted time".I carry my propointer and trowel in my left hand all of the time that I'm detecting and have never left either behind.I always check the surface first before digging to eliminate surface targets (ever dug a hole and then found a newer target under the pile of removed dirt?) Another often overlooked feature of the propointer is that it can be de-tuned by simply holding it close to the target area and switching it off and then on again which comes in real handy when you get a signal allthe way around the hole.DBULL

 

[BarberBill]

I attend several planted coin, club hunts each summer. The majortiy of participants that use a pinpointer are using the ProPointer as Thound mentioned.
BB

 

[Critterhunter]

Just pick up a Garrett ProPointer and be done with it. Best thing since sliced bread. I owned one of those Centech or whatever cheap ones from Harbor Tool and it doesn't hold a candle to the ProPointer. I also have owned the Sunray inline probes on my Explorers and they were way more hassle to use than the ProPointer, requiring two hands to use, extra weight on the shaft, the mess of extra cables, can't use them with other machines, etc.

 

[Wooden Nickel]

Thanks to all, especially to BarberBill - you educated me on pinpointers and I appreciate it much. So much that a Propointer it is!

And thanks to all of you who responded so I could learn, learn, learn.

Mike.....:coastgaurd:

 

[michaelosully]

Hey woodennickle...Now that you have the real info from the real pros just thought I would add a comment:

Pinpointers are just like people, there are only two types: them that work and them that don't! Get out there and

 

[usafaviator]

10 good reasons why a Propointer is top notch:

1) Awesome depth
2) Well made and washable...waterproof to a point
3) It's unique shape allows you to check a deeper hole without having to widen it to fit the pinpointer in (like some of the other wider models)
4)Has a light to help you see whats in the hole
5) Has a long blade on one side to help you sift through a pile of dirt
6) has sound that increases as you get closer to the target, culminating in a solid long continuous tone when you are on the target/close to it
7) has vibration feature as well as sound
can be modified to get even better depth (directions are on this forum and Youtube).
9) If it breaks or fails to perform, send it back to Garrett and they will send you a new one
10) Batteries last quite a while considering the strength of the device

I find that the tone from the Propointer is so good, that I put tape over the "speaker" to quiet it down and keep attention off of myself when detecting around people. I am considering adding a Sunray to my collection, but the Propointer will always be my go to pointer.