Basic Metal Detecting Guide

Metal detectors started to be popular in the mid-80s both as a hobby tool and aid to technical household troubles. Inexpensive, portable and fun, metal detectors play an exciting role in treasure hunting and finding lost items used for practical purposes.

The price of metal detectors ranges from $300-$1000, which encourages enthusiasts to carry on with their treasure hunting expeditions. Aside from this, the excitement that is brought about by discovering valuables from among the trash and unusable items is beyond imagination and satisfaction.

Serious enthusiasts and hobbyists check the major features of a metal detector so that it can help them hunt for items effectively and lessen wrong signals and false alarms. Some of these features are:

• Depth - to increase your valuable finds, have a metal detector wherein the depth can be adjusted or maximized; not all metal detectors can search deeper grounds so be sure that the detector you have suits the depth you want to dig in.
• Alerts - these are valuable additions to metal detectors wherein the beeps and sounds can alert you to a valuable item and what kind it is;
• Sensitivity - metal detectors can be very sensitive or vice versa; be sure to get a metal detector that is just right to avoid false alarms;
• Detection modes - settings and set-ups in your metal detector can be easily changed depending on your requirement; there are metal detectors that allow you to modify settings depending on what items you are looking for like coins, jewelry, relics and gold;
• Battery life - metal detectors using power supply can support you with 20-30 operation hours and if there is no power supply, you can also use a AA battery;
• Size and weight - this matters if it’s portable enough to travel; and,
• Display - this just pertains to the information that can be displayed while in use.

As a form of hobby, some of the most common but exciting uses of metal detectors are:

• Treasure hunting - discovering hidden treasures among trash; it can be caches of silver, gold or something else and it can be jewelry as long as it is of value that benefits the finder;
• Relic hunting - same as hunting for treasure, this use also looks for something of value, although it’s more of the historic and period value;
• Coin shooting - for coin collectors and enthusiasts, one hobby you should cultivate is metal detecting to support and beef up your collection;
• Prospecting - this is to search for minerals and metals with value such as gold.

Knowing all these basic tips is enough to guide you on your treasure hunting journey. Good luck!

Metal Detector Parts

If you are one of those people who wonder about those weird people with sticks that make noises, think no more. What they are holding are called metal detectors and they are not only used by treasure hunters but also for security purposes like bomb or firearm detection. These contraptions are very useful. They can give signals even from the smallest coin deep sited.

How can it detect those metals? Here is a 101 on the parts of a detector and how it works. You need to know the parts of it and its operation to understand what this contraption is telling you when you hear those weird beeps.

Metal detectors for hobbyists or those who just try metal detecting for fun; has equipment that is simple and lightweight, unlike those for security purposes. This simple contraption is composed of uncomplicated parts.

1. Control panel or box - literally the area of the detector where you control almost everything. Inside are the circuits, batteries, the processor and the speakers.

2. Tube - more commonly known as the shaft. It attaches the control panel and the search head.

3. Search head - most important part of the detector. It is the part that spots possible treasures around. (It has other names also: loop, antenna, or the search coil)

4. Stabilizer - it aids in your control when you hold the item. This is now common for most metal detectors but not all detectors have this feature.

5. Headphones - this part is also optional but advisable. It aids you in listening only to specific noises. You can hear even the slightest sound of beeping. You can also reduce the sound around you by adding this to your machine.

There are three types of metal detectors these are: VLF, PI and BFO.

VLF or Very low frequency is the most commonly bought detector on the market. This type of machine generates an electromagnetic field and can detect at what level or depth the metal may be.

PI or Pulse induction is not as common as the VLF. This contraption generates and uses the coil (just one) as the recipient and spreader of the impulses. The good thing about this item is that it can locate deep sited metals and in areas that other metal detector types have difficulty in.

BFO or beat frequency oscillator is the most common and down to earth contraption there is. This type needs 2 coils that are linked and generates radio-waves. These are the cheapest available that are being sold in stores.

Remember when you know how a detector works you will enjoy doing it effortlessly. Research more and get that detector. You never know what you just might get.

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