Made my own Metal Detector and took it out for a spin!

[goldencoin]

Hello everyone

For the past few weeks, me and my physics class have been making metal detectors. We started by printing the circuit board design on the copper side of a circuit board. Then, we dipped them in acid to eat at the copper that was exposed. After drilling holes into it, we put various transistors, semiconductors, and other sciencey stuff. Afterwards, We built the coils by making three wooden circles, one smaller then the other two, then wrapping copper wire around the small one and gluing it all together. Additionally, we glued copper on it so it would not false when we moved it up an down.Then, we made a tuning device, a volume control, and a switch. Lastly, we held it all together with hot glue and tape. Nine people participated, one didn't bother to finish it, some didn't show up for the hunt, others fell apart or shorted out. Basically, mine and one other person's worked well enough for the hunt. My teacher buried around a hundred in dollar coins and quarters, plus some foreign coins. I found $37 in dollar coins, $19 in quarters (one dollar roll and the quarters were taped together), and a chocolate coin. Then I cleaned up with my DFX and was surprised to have only found nine remaining dollar coins and 4 foreign coins. Additionally, my sister showed up and used my detector to find three dollar coins.

HH
-GC

 

[diggergrl]

Neat! I wish more teachers did projects like this! And congrats on your finds!!! I probably would have hard-core tried to find the chocolate coins. If only all the foil that I dug was wrapped around chocolate.....

 

[UTcoinshootR]

$50 would have been an amazing gift, not to mention $100. Thats a dedicated teacher. If all of my teachers were like that, I'd probably have gone on to get a Phd. I'm sure this teacher has probably done many things like this. Take note of all of them and nominate him/her for teacher of the year.

 

[relichunters]

That's awesome! we should make detectors to sell!

 

[ivan salis]

now the questions no one else has asked --how much did it cost to make your "project" and how do I get a set of blue prints / instructions ? -- the next thing is to design a big better machine 4 in depth is about what a all metal $100 machine normally gets ---- its basic design is most likely on the lines of an older bfo type all metal detector design

 

[Detectingfreak]

So i vote for that to be on the banner! That is the first time i have seen an individual actually make there own detector! Thats awesome! Congratulations! I am sure you got an A in that class!

 

[dugdigger]

thats the coolest thing ever

 

[NGE]

BANNER! Many years ago, I built a BFO, and the kit and instructions were from Heathkit.

 

[CanadianTrout]

That's great stuff! Way to go! No way i could do something like that...

 

[goldencoin]

now the questions no one else has asked --how much did it cost to make your "project" and how do I get a set of blue prints / instructions ? -- the next thing is to design a big better machine 4 in depth is about what a all metal $100 machine normally gets ---- its basic design is most likely on the lines of an older bfo type all metal detector design

It was not all expensive to make as a group- just a circuit board, some ordinary electronic components from Radio Shack, a few yards of copper wire, a sheet of copper, some ordinary switches, and other ordinary stuff. Plus a band saw, solder, and a drill.

All I can say is that he is a great teacher and that this was the most fun project I have ever done in school!

HH
-GC

 

[JasonB]

You should send your story to all the big MD companies, Whites, Tesoro, Minelab, Bounty Hunter, etc. I bet you'll get an internship offer or who knows, maybe a scholarship or something.

I bet the teacher is a treasure hunter!

 

[PBK]

​

 

[Nana40]

That is SOOO KEWL, GC! I know you had a great time with it!

Nana

 

[kindafoundabuckle]

Keep it up! You never know you could be the next "Whites or Minelab". I wish we did that in school! Im sure that would have been one class I would have aced and never would been tardy for!!!!!!!!!!!!!

KFB

 

[Mirage]

Pretty cool. It actually looks like a simple design - only 6 transistor circuits.

Did your teacher give you all soldering lessons? Usually the "falling apart" comes from poor solder joints/connections.

What, no headphone jack?

Bob

 

[morris]

and the next Whites is Born... Great Job
Morris

 

[bootybay]

did this make banner yet??

 

[Michiganne]

That is incredible, You and your teacher are very inspiring and you should be proud of the work you have done. Not only was this a fun project but you have gained knowledge of the inner workings of a metal detector which many of us, including myself have no idea on. I agree whole heartedly that this is a Banner find!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Keep up the good work!


HH
Slipperyjack

My thoughts exactly! Awesome job and congrats to your great teacher who made learning fun.

HH

 

[Bartman]

Great story. We need more teachers like this! I'm sure you guys learned so many valueable tools doing this, rather than some state-mandated assignment to improve test scores. I agree...Banner!

 

[JasonB]

How about you make a larger coil and test it to see if the depth increases?

 

[goldencoin]

Pretty cool. It actually looks like a simple design - only 6 transistor circuits.

Did your teacher give you all soldering lessons? Usually the "falling apart" comes from poor solder joints/connections.

What, no headphone jack?

Bob

Well, the problems come from wires touching each other and shorting the circuit board and the coil being improperly tuned, plus all the little gremlins that toy with us

How about you make a larger coil and test it to see if the depth increases?

I would, but i don't have a band saw and i would have to tear it apart to re-tune it

HH
-GC