Non-marring coin probe

[Billinoregon]

I see the ones with brass probe shafts, but the manual that came with my Tesoro mentioned probes made from sections of fiberglass fishing rods. These sound mighty breakable to me, but was wondering if there are probe materials out there that are durable and yet truly non-marring that I haven't encountered. Anyone?
I use a screwdriver with the tip rounded, but this still causes damage.

 

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[Loco-Digger]

You need a metal softer than the metal of the coins you are digging. Most that I see are made of brass

 

[Billinoregon]

Loco, I could make one out of lead wire but it would only be useful in a dry sandbox.

 

[Slingshot]

I have one of the brass ones with a plastic handle like a screwdriver, the brass probe rod extends about 6-7" from the handle. I have discovered that with use over time that tiny bits of rock like material have become embedded in the soft brass and that it will certainly scratch a silver or copper coin. Now I only use mine for shallow signals that are most probably clad coins, and a scratch will only add to their character.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

No such thing. Wiping with tissue paper can lower the grade of a coin.

But, I'd go with aluminum or brass rod.

 

[Mudflap]

I have a brass one. You can find brass rod at the local hardware store like Home Depot. Drill a hole in a chunk of wood for the handle and file the end round. The fishing rod might not be stiff enough.

 

[Obsessive]

What about something like an aluminum tent stake? They are readily available, cheap, and come in a variety of diameters and lengths.

 

[boogeyman]

Get yourself some brass welding rod and a golf ball. drill a hole in the ball that is really tight for the rod. file the tip bullet shape. Been using them for years with good result. If you lose it cheap to replace. I get my golf balls from the perimeter of the local driving range.

Scratches can be avoided by remembering, you're probing not trying to stab it.

 

[Jason in Enid]

Get yourself some brass welding rod and a golf ball. drill a hole in the ball that is really tight for the rod. file the tip bullet shape. Been using them for years with good result. If you lose it cheap to replace. I get my golf balls from the perimeter of the local driving range.

Scratches can be avoided by remembering, you're probing not trying to stab it.

Whether you build or buy one, do what boogeyman said and round off the tip. I don't think I ever put a single mark on a coin all the years I used old-school probes, and I started out with an old steel ice-pick for a probe! Keep in mind the purpose of it, you shouldnt be stabbing or scraping or anything like that with it. Pinpoint the target, put the probe in at the location under the center of you coil and GENTLY probe in an outward spiral until you find it. After gaining experience you can feel the difference between metal, rocks, glass, etc.

 

[faribo]

Not to mention that glass is much harder than a silver coin

 

[cutty]

I had one that was steel with a knurled aluminum handle but it had a small ball bearing brazed on the end of the shaft. Worked great but eventually the brazing failed and suddenly no more ball bearing. No idea what brand it was, probably bought it 25 years ago

 

[Down_n_Dirty65]

Do you think one of those rods you can get at Home Depot to line your driveway in winter would work? Pretty stiff fiberglass I think and about 3 or 4 feet long? ...

 

[Jason in Enid]

Do you think one of those rods you can get at Home Depot to line your driveway in winter would work? Pretty stiff fiberglass I think and about 3 or 4 feet long? ...

dont use fiberglass. It will eventually break (shatter) and you could wind up driving you hand onto the broken shaft you were trying to push into the soil. fiberglass embedded in your hand is very nasty.

 

[Down_n_Dirty65]

LOL, I used to build fiberglass boats, no fun at all...