Advise needed for picking a metal detector for research!!!

[Tessa Irvine]

Hello!!!

I am trying to decide on a metal detector to use for my graduate research. I have had issues with pin pointers because they only detect metal 2-4inches deep, so I need something with more depth detection. I am doing some research on hardware detection ingested or found exteriorly on turtles. This will include detecting fishing hooks or bullets that are embedded on the turtles or swallowed by them. I need a metal detector that will detect those items at at least 10" deep, due to how large Alligator Snapping Turtles can get, and through their shells. I will be working on a river and in a boat, so it would be nice if the metal detector was manageable to handle/ store and water resistant. It would be great if there was one $500 or less, but will take suggestions on ones that are pricier.

Criteria:

1. detects metal 10inches down or more
2. preferably less than $500
3. water resistance
4. easily stored

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Be aware that an item like a fish hook is essentially iron (non-conductive). So : while standard discriminating machines will also find iron (when you turn off the disc), yet : they won't be as pronounced on a small fish hook "at 10 inches deep"

If your stated objectives are religiously followed (and you're not planning on running around for hobbyist purposes ), then it sounds like you need a beach pulse machine (or a nugget prospecting machine). Of which there are many on the market.

But just beware : When you go to scan those turtles , that the turtle needs to be on a table or surface WAY AWAY from any metal. (hence a wooden table with no nails that keep it together, and many many feet away from the floor, the walls, etc....) And the person waving the machine (or waving the turtle) can't have any metal on them . Ie.: No rings, no metal buttons or zippers, etc.....

A beach pulse or nugget pulse machine are fabled for getting a bobby pin to 10" deep. Which is a pain-in-the-#ss for md'rs trying to work junky beaches . But for the purpose you describe, then .... you WANT such an item to "ring the bells of Notre Dame", right ?

 

[jimther]

Be aware that an item like a fish hook is essentially iron (non-conductive). So : while standard discriminating machines will also find iron (when you turn off the disc), yet : they won't be as pronounced on a small fish hook "at 10 inches deep"

If your stated objectives are religiously followed (and you're not planning on running around for hobbyist purposes ), then it sounds like you need a beach pulse machine (or a nugget prospecting machine). Of which there are many on the market.

But just beware : When you go to scan those turtles , that the turtle needs to be on a table or surface WAY AWAY from any metal. (hence a wooden table with no nails that keep it together, and many many feet away from the floor, the walls, etc....) And the person waving the machine (or waving the turtle) can't have any metal on them . Ie.: No rings, no metal buttons or zippers, etc.....

A beach pulse or nugget pulse machine are fabled for getting a bobby pin to 10" deep. Which is a pain-in-the-#ss for md'rs trying to work junky beaches . But for the purpose you describe, then .... you WANT such an item to "ring the bells of Notre Dame", right ?

Iron, non-conductive Tom? I wouldn’t push an iron fish hook or a nail into an AC outlet to test that assertion. Perhaps you meant “less” conductive than some other metals?

Even under a detector coil or pinpointer, iron will “conduct”.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Iron, non-conductive Tom? I wouldn’t push an iron fish hook or a nail into an AC outlet to test that assertion. Perhaps you meant “less” conductive than some other metals?

Even under a detector coil or pinpointer, iron will “conduct”.

You are correct : Iron still conducts electricity.... Albeit poorly. Poorly when compared to, for example, copper, silver, 24k (non-alloyed) gold, etc.... Yet , you're right that it's not correct to say it doesn't conduct at all. Good point.

 

[Tessa Irvine]

Be aware that an item like a fish hook is essentially iron (non-conductive). So : while standard discriminating machines will also find iron (when you turn off the disc), yet : they won't be as pronounced on a small fish hook "at 10 inches deep"

If your stated objectives are religiously followed (and you're not planning on running around for hobbyist purposes ), then it sounds like you need a beach pulse machine (or a nugget prospecting machine). Of which there are many on the market.

But just beware : When you go to scan those turtles , that the turtle needs to be on a table or surface WAY AWAY from any metal. (hence a wooden table with no nails that keep it together, and many many feet away from the floor, the walls, etc....) And the person waving the machine (or waving the turtle) can't have any metal on them . Ie.: No rings, no metal buttons or zippers, etc.....

A beach pulse or nugget pulse machine are fabled for getting a bobby pin to 10" deep. Which is a pain-in-the-#ss for md'rs trying to work junky beaches . But for the purpose you describe, then .... you WANT such an item to "ring the bells of Notre Dame", right ?

Thank you for your response! Would you be able to attach a link to a product you would recommend or maybe a company you trust? That would be extremely helpful!

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Thank you for your response! Would you be able to attach a link to a product you would recommend or maybe a company you trust? That would be extremely helpful!

Tessa, I'm not a pulse user guy. No one on our local beaches is using pulse type machines (for the most part). Because we're all too lazy to be bothered with bobby pins and bent nails and dainty fish hooks. There's southern CA and Hawaii and Florida guys who are fans of beach pulse, that might chime in about that. Nor am I near the gold-nugget producing regions of CA, so I'm not adept at the various nugget machines.

But the hands-down favorite here in CA (from what I hear from the Sierra foothills guys) is the Minelab pulse GPX and GPZ offerings. But I haven't kept up on the differences and pros/cons, since that's a different type detecting. If you just google for Minelab's current offerings, and whatever is their most expensive most current offering for nuggets, then presto, that's the most wickedly sensitive.

You could also simply get one of their cross-over machines (doubles for coins, relic, beach, nuggets, etc...), like the Equinox 800. But that's not going to be the deepest on a fish-hook, for example. But for your purposes, maybe that's sufficient ? There's plenty of Nox 800s on the used market right now (because new mousetrap toys have entered the market lately), so : If you get one of those on the used market (Ebay), you can simply fiddle with their nugget, and beach default settings (then toy with target volume and sens. settings). Be sure to hit the horseshoe button, so that you have the iron zone turned ON. So that a dainty small fishook is not 'nulled' out in the iron TID range.

You have not said your budget is. Because a brand new Minelab nugget machine is quite expensive. And you haven't said how critical it is that you get insane depth on fish hooks. So perhaps a ML nugget machine is "over-kill". Not to mention *very fishy/warbly* to operate and get used to.


Whatever you end up getting, you can easily do experiments , to familiarize yourself with what-you-are-wanting to hear, by simply waving fish hook, sinker, etc... in front of the coil in a table top experiment, at various "depths" (distances from the coil). Opt for either waiving the hook (which is "waving the turtle"), or waving the coil over the hook that is stationary on the table top. That will tell you if you're doing it right, and what settings are best for your purpose.

 

[tvtony]

I hope it’s not too late but this is the detector that will work for you. Completely waterproof up to 10ft. and should do a 10 inch depth.

 

[jmaclen]

Nokta Legend best choice or Nokta Simplex or Minelab X-Terra Pro are waterproof and can be fully submerged. They are sensitive enough for your targets and are less than $500

 

[60streeter]

Yup Xterra pro or simplex would be prefect

 

[jmaclen]

I would pick the Legend first over the Xterra Pro or Simplex because of the Legend being a simultaneous multi frequency detector that will handle saltwater conditions better than the selectable single frequency Xterra Pro and the single frequency Simplex.

 

[60streeter]

I would pick the Legend first over the Xterra Pro or Simplex because of the Legend being a simultaneous multi frequency detector that will handle saltwater conditions better than the selectable single frequency Xterra Pro and the single frequency Simplex.

REALLY? i DIDNT THINK THEY WERE IN THAT PRICE RANGE? VERY COOL!

 

[jmaclen]

REALLY? i DIDNT THINK THEY WERE IN THAT PRICE RANGE? VERY COOL!

The original Legend without Bluetooth headphones and one coil is still for sale from some dealers for $399.