Need Help Deciding on a Pinpointer

P.ALLEN

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Location
A2 Michigan
Detector(s) used
AT Pro, Tesoro Compadre, Ace 250, CMS magnetics, Garrett pinpointer, Fiskars trenching spade.
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
So let me just bullet list it

-Cheap
-Waterproof
-Wont die after one season

I'm a very shoestring budget, I'm probably not going to get a lot of recommendations that meet my criteria (like $50 bucks is a lot out of my budget) so any ideas help, thanks for reading.

V/R

P.A.

Quick Edit: I've done quite a few searches online but most results that meet the waterproof criteria are $100 plus
 

Last edited:
It's not just the waterproof aspect that puts them over $100, it's the not-a-piece-of-junk aspect as well.

With that budget, your best (and basically only) bet would be to buy a GP Pointer (it's a ProPointer AT knockoff) and waterproof it yourself. If not, you MIGHT get lucky and find a used one.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 

So let me just bullet list it

-Cheap
-Waterproof
-Wont die after one season

I'm a very shoestring budget, I'm probably not going to get a lot of recommendations that meet my criteria (like $50 bucks is a lot out of my budget) so any ideas help, thanks for reading.

V/R

P.A.

Quick Edit: I've done quite a few searches online but most results that meet the waterproof criteria are $100 plus

save your money and clad until you can afford a good one. The cheap ones will frustrate you to no end and will end up breaking wasting your money. If you can get the cash together, get a garret pin pointer or whites pin pointer. Neither will disappoint.
 

Stay away from the Fisher and Bounty Hunter pin pointer and other brands that have the same design.. I bought one a few years back and it makes a better paperweight than a pin pointer. It only has .5 to .75 inch range. I like my pin pointers to have 1.5 to 2 inches range. I own both the older Garrett pin pointer and the newer carrot.
 

As others have said it's worth saving up and getting a quality pointer that works well and will last. Some people do use the cen-tech pinpointer from harbor freight, but the quality isn't that great. I think I've read that the switch on them have a tendency to break, but there is some mod people make on them to fix the issue. Also it says only the tip is waterproof, but a person could probably waterproof it in some way. There is also a 20% off coupon that can be printed online.
 

I use the Makro pinpointer. I have always used Garrett before this ( original black pro pointer and the pro pointer AT ). I didn't think I would like the location of the controls on the Makro and yes it does have a delay when powering up but it has served me well with no falsing whatsoever. I bought a couple of the Nokta orange tip protectors which fit perfectly.
 

My Whites TRX paid for its self long ago. If you learn to coin pop with a screwdriver and a brass probe you will be glade you spent the money.
 

List is mutually exclusive, you get what you pay for.

Why waterproof, planning on going diving ?
 

Imho, I believe it's important to have a waterproof pp simply for keeping it clean. I don't dive, but it's nice to gently hose it down.
 

I have dug water saturated sites where the hole fills with water as soon as the plug is plopped out. I put my old Garrett pin pointer in a zip lock bag and it worked fine in these situations, but have since got the waterproof carrot. I like simple things, turn on and go when it comes to pin pointers and not needing the additional settings that's why I always grab my old Garrett when I do most of my detecting.
 

I like my Garrett carrot once I learned to use it.
Up until then, I had the Fisher pinpointer and I can tell you that I have to be right on top of something for it to work and it's not waterproof; so I agree with Loco.
 

I didn’t think a new thread was appropriate for a quickly answered question so here goes:

How well does the Garrett carrot detect gold? How small of gold can it see?

How well does the Falcon MD-20 pick up other metals?

I know both are designed for the opposite of what I’m asking about target wise & am trying to make up my mind as to which one will pair better with my EQ800. Maybe I need both, idk yet.
 

I didn’t think a new thread was appropriate for a quickly answered question so here goes:

How well does the Garrett carrot detect gold? How small of gold can it see?

How well does the Falcon MD-20 pick up other metals?

I know both are designed for the opposite of what I’m asking about target wise & am trying to make up my mind as to which one will pair better with my EQ800. Maybe I need both, idk yet.

You do not need the Falcon. That pinpointer is made for checking specimens and sub-grain gold - The Garrett Carrot will see an individual birdshot BB, just like the Equinox 800, or a gold ring, silver coin, or Bud can.:skullflag:
 

Hey Terry,

I was originally purchasing a metal detector for the purpose of prospecting & I was originally going to go with the X-Terra 705 gold pack. I opted for the Equinox 800 after researching it for a couple weeks & realizing that I’d use the machine for general detecting as well as prospecting.

Would this info change your recommendation?
Thank you.
 

Carrot, 9 volt battery and you're ready to conquer the world.
 

I've only used Garretts and the AT's have a VERY sensitive setting. I will probally stick with Garrett, because anytime i have an issue, i can send it to them and they pretty much replace it for free or very cheap.
 

I still have my original Garrett pro-pointer but will be getting the Garrett pro-pointer AT.
 

I just snagged a Garrett Carrot from MetalDetectingStuff.
Price was as good as it gets.
 

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