What do I need to look for when I buy a metal detector?

[SAWYER]

I do not want the cheapest thing I can get but I do not want too spend a crazy about either. I was told I should be able to get a decent one for 2-300 bucks.

 

[SAWYER]

come on at

 

[arcenite]

You generally look for metal with a metal detector.

 

[LookBehindYou]

You generally look for metal with a metal detector.

This. If you look for anything besides metal, you won't be very succesful.

 

[adairusmc]

Look for a used fisher gold bug, or a gold bug 2. ebay has some. A whites would be decent as well. I currently use a minelab, but those are way outside of your budget.

 

[alien42]

i used to have a Tesoro Cutlass 2, which was cheap and is still considered a great detector.

it appears they no longer make it however...

http://www.tesoro.com/info/manuals/older/cutlassiiumax/

 

[UDT89]

there is a huge metal detector forum somewhere on the web. i went there when reading about them and there's tons of info and reviews.

but i just couldnt bring myself to go walking around the beach with a metal detector. maybe in another 30 years when im retired.

 

[HN]

I was told I should be able to get a decent one for 2-300 bucks.

That's a fairly large price range.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

In the 200-300 range your looking at bottom of the line basic models with little to no differentiation capabilities between different metals.
These have a shallower range and can't really distinquish well between say a bottle cap, a coin or a chunk of iron. And they won't usually pick up the faint signals like a gold chain.

If you want to do coin shooting or look for jewelry or gold, you need at least a Fisher Gold bug II or Teknetics G2 or equivalent but they are in the 700-800 range
I have the Teknetics G2 that I bought new for $700, and it works really well

 

[KeithTalent]

Heh, I had a thread on this a couple of years ago: http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=190622&highlight=detector

Ended up finding one locally for about $200 and she seemed happy with it.

KT

 

[HAL9000]

nm

 

[SAWYER]

If I need to spend more I will, I dont want to waste my money on junk

 

[arrfep]

Are you going to look for the hatch?

 

[Apple Of Sodom]

What retirement community do you live in?

 

[Texashiker]

This is the one I am looking at buying. A guy I work with has this same exact model, and he says he likes it.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002JZMXY

 

[SAWYER]

I just read up on the garrett ace 250, it seems to be pretty good

 

[Texashiker]

I just read up on the garrett ace 250, it seems to be pretty good

About 4.5 stars on amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Garrett-Ace-25.../dp/B00095ODBI

Starting price around $212.45

 

[rh71]

when I had my sod put in, the guys covered the water meter with soil accidentally and now I have no idea where it is. Metal detector is all I can think of.