Metal Detectors for Beginners - Whites 5900 DI & 5900/DI Pro SI

[LCP1963]

Metal Detectors for Beginners - Whites 5900 DI & 5900/DI Pro SI

I am a beginner and will be hunting on the beach. Are the Whites 5900 DI & 5900/DI Pro SI detectors good for starting in the hobby? Thanks, LCP

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

A Handbook of Civil War Bullets and Cartridges - Grab it through Amazon!

[Eu_citzen]

Re: Metal Detectors for Beginners - Whites 5900 DI & 5900/DI Pro SI

I don't know any of them but many favour the Garrett Ace 250.
Are you already addicted? if so go and get "a real" detector, don't waste your time on toys.
The Garrett LS would probably be great but can be hard to use for a begginer, look up Explorer Se/II These seem good "real" detectors.


Welcome!

 

[Sandman]

Re: Metal Detectors for Beginners - Whites 5900 DI & 5900/DI Pro SI

The two Whites you mentioned are fine and not toys, but are certainly dated. They are also not the best for saltwater beaches in the wet sand. Dry sand, OK. The others mentioned are top of the line detectors an well worth the money. However you can do well with less expensive machines from the major manufactures.

If you are planning to get into the water, you'll need a full underwater detector like the Tiger Shark, Beach Hunter II, Fisher 1280, CZ20, or Excalibur 1000. The PI type like the Garrett LS are very deep, but you will dig deep for iron most times.

 

[TonyinCT]

Re: Metal Detectors for Beginners - Whites 5900 DI & 5900/DI Pro SI

I agree with Sandman. Also they are not made anymore so unless you can find a pretty good used one then they are out of the question. Better to get a new detector in this case. 8)

 

[liftloop]

that detector is still sought after today learn how to ground balance correctly stay in dry sand or wet don't combined the two, get a good scoop, be prepare to dig...how much did you pay for it care to tell. I've have one and it finds me plenty. they still fix them tony lee in Chicago electronic explorations is the place to send it if you have any problems. high power lines, and big hot rock it has a problem...it Ids on the dime best analog detector ever made. I found copper pieces down to 3 to 4 feet al ready your not going to do that with no ace two fiddy. I found lots with mine...I love it...


liftloop

 

[Brian C.]

I use the 5900, I would not trade it for a digital detector, I don't use it on any beech, but you won't be sorry to have the 5900. The only thing I find is it gets a little heavy after while, but you can alway rest, good luck.

 

[donj]

To answer the question no the 5900 detectors are not a good choice for a first detector the manual ground balance may confuse you before you really get started. Im not saying you couldnt figure it out but there are way more capable machines out there for less money. As stated above they are dated so you would only find a used one. the top detector manufacturers all make very good entry level detectors probably cheaper then the used whites 5900. They are excellent relic machines though.Don

 

[Ramapirate]

Ace 250 or 350 will not let you down. Easy to learn, fun to use. Cut them on and basically go at it.

 

[jmoller99]

I also would not trade my 5900 for a different detector (I use mine mostly for relic hunting). That said, it has a very steep learning curve and I would never give one to a new detectorist to learn how to MD with. Something simpler will be better to start with. An ACE 250, Tesoro Compadre, or entry level White's is a good choice - Even a mid range Bounty Hunter will work. Note: None of these will work on wet salty beaches.

Join a MD club before you buy anything new so you can get hands on help from people in your area that are successfully locating objects that you are also interested in. MDing requires a lot of time to learn what your detector is telling you, an expensive detector may not find you anything if you don't know how to detect with it.

 

[williamsingr]

All machines have some learning curve to them of course the simple machines will take less time to learn but then you probably wont find as much either, personally I prefer the best of everything and then learn it like i know the back of my hand. If Im going to spend time learning something then its gotta be the best so I can do the best job i can do. I dont like to buying things twice either.

 

[G.A.P.metal]

I have used a Whites 6000/Di PRO sl bought it new the first yr it came out, i just traded for another detector that is much liter 6000 is to heavy for me now Swingy Thingy maid it liter but was to tied up for good digging.
The 5900 is a good machine and it can still run with the big dogs if, if it was Liter i would have never gotton ride of it Deep and Sweet.
Gary

 

[liftloop]

get the 5900 and practice...

 

[U.K. Brian]

Its far easier to get a dedicated beach machine unless your just going to stick to the dry sand. If your hoping to find gold rings on wet salt then you can press the 5000 and 6000 models into service but there's drawbacks.
If GEB/SAT is used to cancel out the salt then your operating in all metal and will be digging more non productive signals.
GEB/DISC if used needs to be set to salt or a little higher but the higher you set it the more depth and finds that are lost.
TR DISC was all we had at one time and had the advantage of not being as speed dependant as the "motion" modes so you could detector fast or slow, whatever suited. Here the balancing of the salt had to be done by using the discrimination knob at or above the foil reject setting which again lost you depth/performance as for goild you really require the very minimum amount of discrimination you can bare. The other drawback with TR on any detector is it makes the machine "lifty" ie you have to keep the coil level to the soil or sand at all times or it will sound off.

 

[Michigan Badger]

You didn't mention if it is a salt water or fresh water beach you plan to hunt. That makes a BIG difference.

Those machines did very well in their day and there's no reason to think they wouldn't today. But be ready for a learning experience.

Here's something I'd recommend reading:
White's 5900/di Pro | Lost Treasure Online - Official Website of Lost Treasure Magazine

 

[jwm45]

YEP,LIKE THE FISHER 1266X

 

[jwm45]

AMEN TO THAT

 

[jwm45]

WELL, IF YOU HAVE PATIENCE BUT THE GARRETTS ACE 250, THE 350--HAS A D.D.COIL, FISHER 1266X,TESORO COMPADRE OR CIBOLA.

 

[Jason in Enid]

You are responding to thread from 2007! The OP isn't even a member here any longer. I swear, why the hell do you people resurrect these threads. It's starting to feel the TNET version of the Walking Dead.

 

[Gold Itch]

You are responding to thread from 2007! The OP isn't even a member here any longer. I swear, why the hell do you people resurrect these threads. It's starting to feel the TNET version of the Walking Dead.

There is a lot of good info in these old threads and it is helpful to those who know little about them, And I just bought one In perfect condition because it has never been used Still in it's original Box with the original manual.

 

[enamel7]

And you just responded to a almost 4 year old rant?