How to Buy the Best Metal Detector
We love metal detectors, not just the metal detector itself but the whole idea of trying to find buried treasure. In our article, Top Rated Metal Detectors, we identified the top rated metal
detectors that we were able to find.
We wrote about some high quality metal detectors as well as a couple of best starter metal detectors. But, all of that was done because of what we think is a natural human affinity for discovering the undiscovered. The desire to find our own buried or hidden treasure out there somewhere.
No one can deny the trill of finding something new. Hopefully it will be of value but even if it is not it does not damper the trill of anticipation when it comes to finding something not previously found. It does not matter whether you are on flat ground, the mountains or the beach you can always find somewhere to use a top line metal detector.
CLICK HERE to see our Top Rated Metal Detectors.
You can even find treasures that are literally from out of this world. Meteorites fall from the sky all the time and can be found with a top rated metal detector. The most common meteorite is called a Chondrite. They make up 85% of the meteorites that fall to earth and are made up of carbon and water.
The next most common are the Achondrites. These make up 7% of the meteorites that fall to earth and are made from stone.
Next come the Irons. These make up 6% of the meteorites that fall to earth and are one of the ones we can find with our metal detectors. The Pallasites make up about 2% of the meteorites fall to eath and are made of stone and iron-nickel. These are also great targets for our metal detectors.
One of the first things you need to decide when thinking about purchasing is what environment you are going to be using it in. It is common for a good metal detector to have a certain degree of water resistance but if you are planning on using it in a very wet environment or even under water make sure that you get a metal detector made for that. Not all can be submersed in water and there is a big difference between water resistant and water proof.
The next thing you need think about is are you wanting a starter metal detector that you might upgrade later or are you wanting a top of the line metal detector with all the bells and whistles? The main difference here is price. The best rated metal detectors with the most features will usually cost more. You can get a good quality metal detector and a fair price with many top features.
When it comes to features one of the most common is coil technology. Most metal detectors use Very Low Frequency (VLF) technology that is very effective on land or in shallow water. Pulse Induction (PI) metal detectors are less common. These are better for deep fields or deep water. PI metal detectors are not as sensitive to small pieces of metal, but they work better if you are on ground with a high mineral content because they ignore ground interference.
Coil size is another important thing to consider. The depth of the metal detectors search is proportionate to the diameter of the search coil. It should be noted that a larger coil is more likely to miss a smaller piece of metal. You can search deeper with a larger coil but you can find smaller items with a smaller coil.
A top rated metal detector that has target discrimination is a huge plus. This helps the operator determine whether or not they should dig or pass up on the contact. If you are searching in areas with a lot of trash it can be very helpful if you can determine an idea of what your target contact might be.
A metal detector with an audio tone identifier can be helpful in determining what a target object is. Some metal detectors give a low pitched tone for iron or nickel and a medium pitched tone for objects likely to be tin. If a more valuable metal is detected then they may produce a higher pitched tone.
No one likes to have their treasure hunting trip cut short when their battery runs out. Having a low battery indicator is a great help.
Top rated metal detectors can usually operate in various modes. Some of the most common modes are all-metal detection, full discriminate mode, tone discriminate mode and pinpoint mode.
The operating frequency of a metal detector can determine the objects it can most easily pinpoint. Therefore being able to change the frequency is a huge bonus. Some common frequencies are 2.7kHz for a dime. 10kHz for gold coins. 16.5kHz for nickels and larger gold jewelry. 20kHz for gold nuggets. I bet you want to find those gold nuggets don’t you?
When thinking about which metal detectors are right for you, remember to think about what you are planning on using it for. Think about the environment you will be searching in and how much you want to spend.
CLICK HERE to see our Top Rated Metal Detectors.
Don’t skimp too much when it comes to price, the last thing you want is to not find anything. Get a high enough quality metal detector to make sure you can capitalize on your fun trip into the woods or beach. You will find it very frustrating if you go cheap and it does not work as expected. Find the right metal detector to ensure you have a great time.