Metal Detector Expert Buyer's

A metal detector makes a fun hobby or a lucrative business tool, depending on the quality of your detector and your metal detecting skill. And with an accurate and easy-to-use metal detector, you don’t have to be a professional treasure hunter to make your own adventure. You can have fun searching for buried treasure at the beach, in a public park, at an abandoned house site, at a sporting field, at a campsite, or in your own backyard. You’ll eventually come across something more valuable than bottle caps and loose change. Many hobbyists search for a particular treasure category, often finding lost jewelry that may be gold, platinum, or another precious metal. If you look deeper, you can even find antique jewelry, pendants, medallions, and artifacts from past civilizations.

Metal detectors come in a range of prices, and many are affordable for beginning hobbyists. They can quickly pay for themselves in the treasure that you find. Multi-purpose metal detectors effectively discover jewelry and other treasures on various terrains. If you want to explore archaeology and artifacts, make some extra cash selling found jewelry for scrap value, make a job site safer by picking up leftover nails and scrap metal, or just have fun on the beach finding lost change, a metal detector can meet your needs.

Whether you’re an amateur or a seasoned treasure hunter, the type of metal detector you choose depends on several factors. Consider how much time and patience you’ll put into metal detecting, how sophisticated a device you desire (the more sophisticated models are usually more expensive), and what terrain you’ll be searching on. In this article, we’ll discuss the different features of a metal detector, including depth detection, discrimination, search coils, and sensing technology. We’ll also address what makes a metal detector comfortable to operate, specifically stem length and weight.

Depth Detection

Depth detection is one of the first features you should look at when purchasing a new metal detector. Consider how deep you’re willing to dig and how much time you dedicate to unearthing potential treasure. While not precise, the metal detector should be able to give you a general idea of how deep the target object lies. Entry-level detectors generally have a shallower depth range, while the higher-dollar professional models can search deeper. Most basic, budget metal detectors can detect metal 4”-8”. Mid-range models can detect up to 18” deep; the most sophisticated detectors can find metal up to 65’ deep. Most metal detectors feature visual depth detection on the control box, letting you know how deep the target is.

Other factors that can affect depth detection are:

Coil Size: In general, larger coils will have deeper depth detection. For example, a small 4”-7” coil can reach down about 9” deep, while a 10”-15” coil can pick out metal a foot deep or more. Ground Balance: This is a software feature available on many metal detectors. It helps by minimizing interference from minerals like iron and salt in the soil. It mutes the signal received from these minerals so that you only get signals from actual targets. Discrimination: Setting your metal detector’s discrimination to filter out certain unwanted targets will allow it to detect deeper targets that may be hidden below the “trash.” Other Factors: Aside from the detector itself, other factors that affect depth detection are situational. These include the metal's type, size, and shape, the ground conditions, how long the metal has been underground, and how it is oriented.

Search Coil

The search coil is part of a metal detector at the stem's end, closest to the ground. Functioning as both a transmitter and a receiver, it’s the part that does the detecting. It emits a magnetic field toward the ground, and when it passes over a metal object, a return signal reflects back and is translated to your control box. The coil’s size and shape determine the properties of detection. Generally, a larger coil will penetrate deeper into the ground, while smaller coils (around 4” in diameter) produce a more concentrated magnetic field to give you pinpointed readings. These are great for detecting gold close to the surface. Large coils are best for low-trash areas because you don’t want to waste time detecting every piece of trash metal. However, they’re excellent for coving more ground quickly.

Coils are most commonly round with two concentric circles, the transmitter on the outside and the receiver on the inside. These types offer a uniform cone-shaped field in any direction and stable performance in many environments. These all-purpose coils are usually 8” or 9” in diameter. Coils with an elliptical shape are convenient for searching in and around tight spaces. Double D and butterfly coils share the wide design of circular coils but are lighter in weight, have excellent stability, and have accurate pinpoint identification. Coils with open spaces are especially beneficial for searching in water because they reduce drag.

Stem Length

Like in golfing, a metal detector's shaft or stem length should coordinate with your height for the most comfort while operating. A too-long or short shaft will be uncomfortable, causing you to bend or swing your arm in a way that causes premature fatigue while treasure hunting. Most metal detectors come as a complete device. These have adjustable shafts that can accommodate people of different heights, including children. Most shafts can adjust from around 39” - 51”. However, you can also purchase shafts separately to build you’re perfect metal detector. For example, you can buy a counterweight-ready shaft that allows you to add a counterweight to balance out your metal detector for a more comfortable swing.

Some metal detectors have telescoping or S-shaped telescopic stems, which are ideal for travel and portability. The advantages of telescoping stems are ease of transport, ease of storage, and fast and simple deployment. Fubenefitsntages of S-shaped stems are that their design keeps the coil away from the user’s feet, resulting in less effort and arm fatigue. They also shorten the length of your pass, which can make a big difference in fatigue over a long period.

Weight

All metal detectors are designed to be reasonably light, but you’ll quickly notice the difference between a 2-pound and a 4-pound model when you’ve been out treasure hunting all day. Your wrist, arm, and shoulder can easily tire from swinging the detector back and forth for hours, so the lighter weight and more ergonomic the design, the better. Most metal detectors weigh between 2-5 pounds, and most users prefer to use 2-3 pound models.

While early models of metal detectors didn’t offer much arm support, many metal detectors today have padded handles and built-in forearm/elbow supports to enhance your comfort during detection. These help spread the balance of the detector’s weight and momentum so you don’t tire. When choosing your metal detector, consider the carrying and operating weight or how it will feel when transporting and using the metal detector. Also, consider what other accessories you will be bringing along.

Balance is also a factor when it comes to arm fatigue while metal detecting. A well-balanced device will be more comfortable in the long run. This factor mainly comes into play if you are swapping out the standard search coil with a more advanced or specialized one. Larger search coils are heavier than small ones.

Ideal For

A metal detector coil should be waterproof, although the entire detector may not be (especially the control box). Many coils are IP-rated for waterproofness, although some manufacturers do not go through this testing process, so a coil may still be waterproof even if it does not have an IP rating. If the coil is waterproof, this means it can be used in shallow water, like along the edges of streams and rivers or in marshy areas. However, most metal detectors are not fully submersible. They are weather-resistant, meaning they can withstand light rain but should not be fully submerged or in heavy inclement conditions. Often, the control box is not water-resistant and can get damaged if used or left out in the rain, so you should protect it in wet conditions with a low-cost control box cover. If you intend to use your metal detector at the beach, look for a waterproof model that can stand up to salt water. These types are usually submersible up to 10 feet. For underwater hunting while diving, you should use an underwater model. These can often be used up to 200 feet deep and are PI-style detectors that can handle the heavily mineralized salt water.

FAQS

Do you need a license to use a metal detector?

You do not need a license to own and operate a metal detector. However, you may need a permit to detect metal on certain public properties. A permit is usually required to hunt on state property like national parks and designated sites of national importance. You should have the landowner’s permission before hunting on private property, such as a private home, farm, or abandoned building site. Some states do not allow metal detecting at all. You are legally obligated to report any found “treasure,” such as gold coins or prehistoric artifacts.

What cannot be detected by a metal detector?

Metal detectors emit electromagnetic fields and listen for the waves returning from the electrically conductive elements. A metal detector can detect various metals, including ferrous (magnetic) and non-ferrous (not magnetic) metals. However, it has difficulty detecting stainless steel because it often does not produce a strong enough magnetic field to be identified. But not all materials are electrically conductive, so a metal detector will not find non-metal treasures. These include gemstones, pearls, stone, paper, and bone.

How do I increase the depth of my metal detector?

How deep a metal detector detects often depends on the model and the size of the search coil. It also depends on the type of material, its size, orientation, and the terrain conditions. However, there are some things you can modify to get the maximum depth out of your detector. The simplest is to swing your search coil closer to the ground. Another simple option is to put fresh batteries in your detector since low battery life can lose inches of detection. You can also increase the sensitivity setting and reduce the discrimination setting on your control box. Finally, you can swap out your existing coil for a bigger one if this is possible with your detector.