How do you know which detector to buy?

[FredMaxwell]

I thought whites was the best, but now garrett is looking pretty good to me..
I bought a cheap horrible old detector awhile back for $10 (It's called a Jetco) but the good news was I dug up a bottle cap and a penny. That was exciting.

When I'm wealthy again I want to use metal detecting as a hobby because it will keep me away from rum and strange women and that will help me stay wealthy instead of going broke again (whether I find anything valuable or not)

I'm assuming the 8 battery models send down a stronger RF signal but I don't know who to believe about single VS multiple frequencies,
What is the story on that?

Me I would like to find diamond rings. I love diamonds.


PS: If anyone has a good used detector and wants to do some horsetrading - let me know! I won't be able to afford a detector very soon but I have some things to trade,


Thanks,

Fred

 

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[Jeffro]

Yes you will get a lot differences of opinion on this one..... My two cents is stick with the name brands that have been around for years. Whites, Garrett, Fisher, and Tesoro all have excellent warranties as well, in case anything happens.

 

[FredMaxwell]

I'll look forward to some more responses - thanks folks

 

[JakePhelps]

Tesoro is a very good brand with a lifetime warranty. Iv also heard that they are the most deep-seeking machine. Mine works very well. They are harder to find used or to trade for but they are worth it

 

[The Beep Goes On]

Hey Fred, and welcome. I have found that it really depends on the user...don't buy a detector unless you try it first. Stay with the brands already mentioned, but take some samples with you and try them out. I learned not to buy anything without trying it...especially water machines.

I use a White's DFX because of the flexibility of the settings (user programmable). You can pretty much create settings for anything you're looking for in almost any environment. It is also "turn on and go" for folks who don't want to mess with the settings. Most top of the line detectors have good selectable discrimination, but can't customize individual accept/reject VDI numbers like the DFX (and XLT). The DFX also, because of the settings, keeps me interested in and working on the "science" of metal detectors.

I wish they would make a programmable water machine.

Anyway, read all the literature from the manufacturer's and users, try the models you're interested in and go for the one you like best.

http://www.whiteselectronics.com/
http://www.garrett.com/
http://www.fisherlab.com/
http://206.188.2.79/ (Minelab)
http://www.tesoro.com/

http://www.metal-detector-guide.info/
http://metaldetectorreviews.net/
http://www.tomstreasures.com/review.html

 

[slow sweeper]

Mr. Beep. So you're using a Whites DFX. I always new I used to hang around with people of above average intelligence.
Personally I went with the MXT for the prospecting advantage.
Now to Freds question. I won't rehash what others have said. It's all good info. But I will add that most diamond rings are made of gold. Gold is a low conductive metal. In the metal detecting world that means that most gold rings will fall into the foil/pulltab area of discrimination. To find gold rings you will have to dig a lot of pull tabs. Rings are made in many different sizes and shapes. This means that gold rings will be found in a rather large range along a metal detectors VDI scale. Add in the difference between 10k and 14k and you have more variences to deal with. But when you do find a gold ring it's quite a hoot!
One more thing. Rum, strange women and metal detecting go together just fine.

 

[The Beep Goes On]

? ? ? ? One more thing. Rum, strange women and metal detecting go together just fine.?

Well said slow ...unless the first two make you broke...

Yep, the DFX is new...just sold my XLT and CZ-7a Pro in the classifieds. Now I have the DFX and my trusty CZ-20. In a year or two, I'll probably look for a new water machine...hope they come out with something hot...Excal 1000 seems to be the unit of choice at the moment for H2O.

 

[FredMaxwell]

? ? ?Mr. Beep. So you're using a Whites DFX. I always new I used to hang around with people of above average intelligence.?
? ? ?Personally I went with the MXT for the prospecting advantage.
? ? ?Now to Freds question. I won't rehash what others have said. It's all good info. But I will add that most diamond rings are made of gold. Gold is a low conductive metal. In the metal detecting world that means that most gold rings will fall into the foil/pulltab area of discrimination. To find gold rings you will have to dig a lot of pull tabs. Rings are made in many different sizes and shapes. This means that gold rings will be found in a rather large range along a metal detectors VDI scale. Add in the difference between 10k and 14k and you have more variences to deal with. But when you do find a gold ring it's quite a hoot!
? ? One more thing. Rum, strange women and metal detecting go together just fine.?

I don't mind digging up pop tabs all day long! I'm funny like that!
Rum and strange women are bad news!
When I am wealthy again I want a couple housegirls probably but I have to be careful of that damned cap'n morgan!

 

[Sandman]

Captain Morgan is my choice for rum too, but am partial to Jack Daniel's #7. Lots of good advice here and not much I can add except to be careful where you purchase. Since dealers with store fronts are hard to find, mail order is the way to go and some offer used machines too.

All the major manufactures offer good mid price range detectors and higher priced ones with more features. Diamond rings will ring up mostly in the pull tab or lower range, like foil. Tune out these and the rings are silent too. The Tesoro line are very good and easy to learn while going deep too, but as mentioned are hard to find used. Good Luck.

HH,
Sandman

 

[Monty]

I gave up the demon rum several years ago . I found out all the wild women weren't that wild, it was me all stoked up on booze! Mental illness and metal detecting go hand in hand. My shrink says I am doing fine and will live forever if I don't die. What kind of horse trading are you talking about? I have a near new detector I have been trying to practically "give away" with no takers. Any of the higher end machines are great but they have a long learning curve, that is to say it takes you quite a while to be as smart as your new detector. Monty