Has your detector[s] paid for itself ?

Has your detector[s] paid for itself ?


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No. Every time we go out I always seem to be the one paying. :happysmiley:
 

Yes in finds and great memories.... since 1977
 

Unfortunately, the crusty old wheats, indians, buffalos, and V-nickels that I hunt for, along with the infrequent silver dime, just don't buy much at the old detector store nowadays.
 

Unfortunately, the crusty old wheats, indians, buffalos, and V-nickels that I hunt for, along with the infrequent silver dime, just don't buy much at the old detector store nowadays.

Yes but a couple grand in clad + jewelry got me from a used Bounty hunter to a slightly used Minelab Etrac and accessories plus a few other nice machines in between. Not bad for four years hunting. Old coins are the goal for many, but the clad and jewelry pays the bills.
 

Mine paid for itself the first year everything since then has been gravy, sorry poker term.But I am not sure if the gas and batteries have made me break even.Although the joy of being outdoors Trumps the small loss if there is a loss.
 

it all depends on how much you swing it. if you put in the hours they will . if you think you will pay it off in two hours a month and that is your main point of doing M Ding find a new way to spend your time.
 

My cheesy Bounty Hunter paid for itself AND it's successor, my M6.
 

Think the second day it did , 14 kt gold ring valued at 180 bucks, paid 158 for a Ace 150
 

Cashed in well over $700 in clad alone since I bought my AT Gold 2 years ago. Found several silver coins, hundereds of foreign coins, many pieces of gold and silver jewelry and quite a few valuable relics too but have not sold anything yet. I hunt twice a week or more so it adds up quickly. Still can't believe it sometimes that people lose so many valuable things just so I can come along and claim them, finders keepers forever! HH! :icon_thumright:
 

Every detector with the exception of one has easily paid for itself. The one exception is the Garrett Ace 400 which just has to many shortcomings and anymore gets left in the rack.
 

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I have found enough to pay for all my equipment but haven't sold much. I've been extremely lucky. You shouldn't enter this hobby thinking it is self funding but if you work hard and luck is on your side it can be. I'm in the process of a very expensive upgrade now and will pay for it from my collection. But I'm here to tell you, it's not easy, at least for me. I have a hard time letting go. Lol!

HH RN
 

There is one coin that if I were to sell it would pay for both my machines 10 times. Last year I took 2 chains and a heavy platinum ring to my local jewler and sold them. I was able to buy a nice 2004 ford f-150 crew cab. Its used well but in great shape and I drive it to work everyday !!! Both chains were found here at local swim holes. 1 was 56 grams 14 k the other was 72 grams 14k. I forget the weight of the ring but it was big heavy and nice. It was found in ankle deep water too. Im proud of the fact that my current daily driver was purchased with proceeds from metal detecting booty !!! I dont think I will ever sell the coin. If I find another then I would sell one. This is the only place in the world to find them
 

MOST, never find enough to pay for their machine and equipment. Heck, MOST never find enough to pay for their gasoline. The people belonging to this forum are more interested in, and devoted to, the hobby. I would guesstimate that maybe 1/3 of the folks here have actually come out on the "paid for it all" end. And less than that have actually profited from the hobby. Unless you are detecting at least four-days a week, your odds are VERY low. It is the exception that keeps us all going! :skullflag:
 

I've found over $600 in scrap metal since I bought my Ace 250 in 2013. Add to that the $450 in clad and you can see that I'm way ahead of the game. Of course, I probably spent 1,000 hours finding the stuff, so I'm actually "working" for about a buck an hour! LOL!
 

Almost every detector i ever had paid for itself a couple of times over.... not a hard thing to do if you understand it ,and take it to a good spot "do research"
I used to sell them and after i would sell one to a newbie... i would tell them i will go with you till you find your first coin ...to show them the detector worked and to show them they could find a coin with it at their own spot not my spots.
Well one new guy names Pete K. bought a ( Tesoro Side Winder) the new "U Max Surface Mount Technology" we went to his house the very first target was a woman's 22K Gold Diamond Ring worth over $1000.00 so ya it is done some times.
My T2 paid for itself the first Week two pewter USA buttons ya !
Gary
 

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My F2 paid for itself and I am well on my way to buying an AT pro with my finds. I combine detecting with picking up pop cans, in Iowa we have a 5 cent deposit so they add up faster than zinc pennies!
 

A man was making fancy decorative boxes in his wood shop. His neighbor stopped by and was impressed with the quality and craftsmanship. Are you selling those his neighbor asked. Yep, he replied, 1 million dollars each. Wow, you gonna sell those for a million bucks each? Yes, but I only need to sell one.
 

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