The Best Metal Detector To Buy

Buying a metal detector can be a very demanding task and not just for the new recruit.  If you step back from the table and take a fresh look, a different perspective, it will become quite clear which one is for you.  Finding the correct metal detector can be a treasure hunt in itself.

The alphabet of metal detectors is long and so are their track records.  The starting point of your journey is to look at the companies.  I will not mention any company names for I do not want to get into a shouting match.  So make your own list and let's get going.

America is all about business, at least it was, and business is business.  Most of the successful metal detector companies were born here in the USA.  That is not to say other countries have crap, but the US military had required them for mine detection during World War II.  Filling this need was the beginning.

When these magical inventions found a new market, treasure hunting, capitalism took over.  There was a market that needed to be fed and there were many in line to cash in.  Some made it and others failed.  Most all had good products, just not good marketing.

Most all companies have a working product and if there was any bad ones they were quickly weeded out.  Not out just because of bad products, just bad marketing.  It is the track record, or the length of time in business that lends an assurance to their products.  If the company has been around for a while they have got something to offer.  Only marketing makes one look better than the other.

Today, from one company to the next it is an almost equal playing field.  Each company has reversed engineered each others products and have copied each others patents from the patent office to get a heads up on their competitions new features.  It's just like the car manufacturers, no difference.

All cars have an engine, transmission, 4 wheels, battery, radiator, on and on.  Out side of exterior style, seat covers and color, they are pretty much the same.  It's the marketing that makes one look different than the other.  There might be some special features that attract some buyers to choose one over the other, but the cars are basically the same.

Metal detectors are no exception to the morass of marketing.  Some metal detectors will last longer between battery charges/replacements, while others will go deeper or have a better discriminator.  A tracking ground balance, light weight, ergonomically designed handles, on and on.  Sounds somewhat like looking at cars doesn't it?

What you have to do is look beyond marketing.  Examine what you need your machine to do.  Then go and look at the machines that can perform the task at hand.  Generics are nice machines, that's generics in functions, but when a machine promises to do any type of hunting there is a trade off in performance in each category.

If you are looking for gold get a machine dedicated to gold.  Relic hunting and cache hunting deserves another type of detector.  Combing beaches, another type.  And on and on...

Generics are good for hobbyist, an all around detector that will give average results.  Those higher end generics do very well in finding coins, go figure.  The uncomplicated coin machines are great for kids due to the simplicity only.  Kids hate learning curves, they want to go out and treasure hunt, not use this dial to adjust the...

As you have noted the machine you choose must do what you need it to do.  Now you have to make sure it will fit you.  You must be comfortable while using the machine for you will be spending countless hours together.  Sort of like your wife/husband but more relaxing.  Hey, if you don't like the color fine, find one that make you comfortable, you do not need any distractions, none.

Never over buy accessories.  Get the ones that will make life better, but only by experience.  Learn what you have before you get 6 different loops, 4 sets of head phones, or a battery charger that can plug into a tree.  Besides, third party accessory stuff can be of better quality and price.

My two cents is simple to add up.  All major companies offer the same type of detectors. Choose the correct models that will do the task at hand.  Put them in your hand and pick the one that fits right.  Never buy accessories at first.  Let experience be your guide and never overlook the third party stuff.

A dinner and cheap wine, my son came along 9 months later.  If he wanted some accessories, bike, glove, etc. he had to earn them.  And so should your detector.  Those fancy add-ons will have to be earned by the detector.  For if the detector cannot perform without them, it most likely will be working the same way with them.

Ordering over the internet or mail order is fine.  But make sure you put one in your hands before you do.  I am sure you can find one somewhere that you can see in person.  There is no better group of people than modern day treasure hunters, so don't be afraid to ask.

Treasure hunters are like other hunters, they must learn to track.
-Roy-

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http://www.thunting.com/smf/index.php/topic,20980.msg139669.html#msg139669

LOL!

I found my first silver quarter and gold ring with a 1972 $50.00 No Name BFO.  The way it was built, I should have only paid $20.00 for it.

You Know what?

I wish I still had the thing.   





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http://www.thunting.com/smf/index.php/topic,20980.msg139904.html#msg139904

Aloha Gang,

The best metal detector is the one that you will take out each weekend and learn to use proficiently. too many people spend the bucks only to get frustrated after a couple of weeks of hunting and it becomes a closet hugger. I have a Whites GMT and a Minelab sd2200d that I use all the time to hunt for gold and meteorites. Learning the machine and training "your ears to that specific tune" that says "Hey here I am dig me up!" is essential to this hobby. Practice,practice,practice is the name of the game I feel no matter how much you spend. BUT buy something that will match what you are hunting for wether it be gold, coins, meteorites etc.
And always remember to be safe out there.
Aloha and enjoy,
Stan aka Ka'imi

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http://www.thunting.com/smf/index.php/topic,20980.msg139920.html#msg139920

rcf-jr, I'm looking at the Fisher -F75. It has a feature others havn't advertised. It is suposed to "look around iron" I wonder how it does that and just what you give up to do it. I think I will start a new thread and ask if this is for real. gambol

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http://www.thunting.com/smf/index.php/topic,20980.msg140820.html#msg140820

		Quote:			Posted by kaimi50
	The best metal detector is the one that you will take out each weekend and learn to use proficiently. too many people spend the bucks only to get frustrated after a couple of weeks of hunting and it becomes a closet hugger. I have a Whites GMT and a Minelab sd2200d that I use all the time to hunt for gold and meteorites. Learning the machine and training "your ears to that specific tune" that says "Hey here I am dig me up!" is essential to this hobby. Practice,practice,practice is the name of the game I feel no matter how much you spend. BUT buy something that will match what you are hunting for wether it be gold, coins, meteorites etc. And always remember to be safe out there.

i liked this so much i copied it to a word doc and will use it next time someone ask's me.
Hope thats ok with you.


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http://www.thunting.com/smf/index.php/topic,20980.msg140824.html#msg140824

"Keep Digging Its Down There Somewhere" Treasure Hunting, Gold and Coins.