Handheld Pinpointer

cstraiton

cstraiton

Jr. Member
Sep 29, 2009
56
10
Flatwoods, Kentucky
Upvote 0
cstraiton said:
I'm new to the forum and I'm looking into getting my first MD. I was just wondering how useful is a handheld pinpointer? If I bought my MD from a certain online retailer, they have an offer to get an Automax V4 pinpointer for an extra $20.00. Is that deal worth getting? Thanks in advance for your advice.
Click to expand...

Probably...
A pinpointer is good to have when your out digging around, maybe better when your new to this
hobby, I say maybe because like everything in this world there are good ones and bad ones.
I have never heard of this one...
but for 20 ?? you probably won't lose any sleep over that one...
 

I have pin pointers but never use them :icon_scratch: To much junk for me. Maybe old school but I always keep my coil close and swing my hand over it. I have a friend that spends more time with a pinpointer than digging the target. None of its rocket science. Harbor freight also carrys one for around 15 bucks.
Good luck and have a blast. Hope you find many treasures :thumbsup:
TnMtns
 

I posted the same thing about that namebrand pinpointer because I was in the market for a new pin pointer and found out kellyco kind of includes them with detectors they sell. If you had the extra cash and want a pinpointer I would at least get one of the fisher,teknetics, or bounty hunter models.........you can find them new for about 50.00.....or you can go to harbor freight like alot of the other guys on here and get theirs also for about the same as your talking about..I used to not use a pinpointer but I tried a Whites bullseye 2 and I fell inlove with it. I sold it with a detector as package deal and I missed it.......I now have a vibra probe I got off of a T'net member. Now I am looking into the Sun ray that works with your metal detectors ID but they are a little bit pricey for your average detectorist. A pin pointer can aid quite a bit in finding what is in the hole and keep you from scratching that "rare key date coin" you may have found too.
 

I bought a detector and got that pinpointer deal. It lasted a very short time, and didn't work very good. Got a sunray and love it, but can't use it with other units. Will be getting the propointer from garrett, have only heard good about them.
 

save your 20 bucks... same for the bounty hunter one. I personally don't see the need for one. Maybe I'm just old school.
 

cstraiton said:
Thanks for the input guy's. Maybe my $20 will be better spent by putting it towards another coil. That would probably be more useful.
Click to expand...

I go the other way: I can't detect without a pinpointer. It cuts my retrieval time in half. Check my video:



The pinpointer I'm using in that video costs fifteen bucks at Harbor Freight:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=97245

It's like a TV remote control: You don't know you need it until you use it. Then you have to have it all the time.

---Dan Hughes, http://danhughes.net
 

Great video. I actually learned a lot from that. I definitely see the benefit of using a pinpointer. Maybe I'll get the cheap one and see how long it lasts. If I wear it out and like using one, I can always upgrade to a better one later. Thanks for your post danhughes1 it was very helpful.
 

TnMountains said:
I have pin pointers but never use them :icon_scratch: To much junk for me. Maybe old school but I always keep my coil close and swing my hand over it. I have a friend that spends more time with a pinpointer than digging the target. None of its rocket science. Harbor freight also carrys one for around 15 bucks.
Good luck and have a blast. Hope you find many treasures :thumbsup:
TnMtns
Click to expand...
Agreed
 

I use the Harbor Freight pinpointer and love it. It will not detect anything deep but I was looking for something to help me locate something in the dirt I already dug up. It has saved me a lot of time. Small items such as dimes and small jewelry are hard to locate and pinpoint without swinging over it several times and checking and rechecking. Also if you have an object near the surface you can run the pinpointer over it and save from digging a large hole. For $15 dollars it is a great starter until you get something much better. I too would not hunt with one.
 

4-H said:
If you must have one buy a "Pistol probe" from Detector Pro. Detector Pro is the makers of the infamous "Grey Ghost" headphones. I tried the pistol probe and I'll be honest IT GOES DEEP. I can't use it any where near my Etrac unless I turn it off. I don't use them because The less I have to carry in the woods the better for me. To be honest with you Buy a good one if you must use one. The old saying goes.........You get what you pay for. There ya go
Click to expand...

Can't you vary the depth on the Detector Pro? You can set the sensitivity up to a bit over three inches with the Cen-Tec (Harbor Freight) pinpointer, but that's too far for your best efficiency. The whole point of the pinpointer is to pinpoint, and if it beeps at more than an inch from the coin, it isn't telling you enough about where the coin is.

I know that sounds silly, but you have to experiment in the field to understand. Your main detector gets you close, then the pinpointer zeroes in. The farther the beep is from the coin, the harder is it to find the coin. For me, about an inch is just about right.
 

When I land hunt I use the DetectorPro Uniprobe, cuts recovery time in half, I rarely dig a hole wider then 1.5-2 inches, and most times there are no signs I was ever there when I leave as I also use the EZ-DIG-R II system.
 

I find a pinpointer invaluable when coin shooting. Especially when the coin is small and has been in the soil long enough to become the same color as the soil. Also true for any small target that discolors and blends in. Pinpointer use can help keep the plug or hole to a minimum, less noticable size and over several hours of hunting save a lot of time in the retrieval. I'm a believer in "if you like it, use it" whether I agree or not, but a pinpointer is always in my arsenal.
hh
BB
 

I just went to Harbor Freight and bought their "Hand Held Metal Detector." It is made by Cen-Tech (?) However, it makes a great pinpointer. $15. Old_tex
 

I just got my Garrett Pinpointer in the mail today. From doing air tests I can not wait to use it in the field. It should cut my recovery time a lot......Matt
 

I use a Harbor Freight pin pointer also. It has worked fine for me and I am quite happy with it. Although it is not really necessary, it has cut my recovery time a lot since I made it part of my gear.

capt1989
 

Something nobody has mentioned is the fact that when your hunting a school yard or grassy
play area and you get a "Multiple" coin signal that is obviously shallow, (surface but under the grass)
Pinpointers are indispensable in finding all the coins in a small area without the need to stand up
and re-find another target in the same 6 inches.
You can just stay there on the ground and rub that pinpointer all around and dig all those pennies
without getting up again.
 

My DetectorPro Uniprobe will detect 4-6 inches deep depending on soil conditions, most others don't go that deep. I use it under bleachers and playgrounds under the equipment where you cant swing a coil.
 

You can make your own very easily from a stud finder and little bit of modification.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Hunting those hunted-out parks and schoolyards

⬅️ Previous Thread

Explorer SE Pro...high trash area tips???

Next Thread ➡️

Top Member Reactions

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 2 (members: 0, guests: 2)
High Plains Prospectors

Latest Discussions

Back
Top