Newbie-do I really need a pointer \if so recommendations?

[Hillbilly Prince]

I live in a mix of farmland,forest, and bluffs. Creeks,rivers,rocks.
If you have a pointer do you use it or is it a fun gadget.
Not talking about a canine pointer or a stick for some of you purposely obtuse types

 

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[ToddsPoint]

Saves time after you dig the plug. When you're on your knees over a hole the detector is too long to swing and find the target. My Garret carrot goes right down the hole and finds the target. Get the higher priced of the two Garrets, it's better. I wouldn't detect without it. Gary

 

[Hillbilly Prince]

Not a big fan of getting up and down off my knees for sure. Thanks for weighing in!

 

[kenstein]

I once forgot my propointer, didn't notice until I was about to start detecting. I thought I would just do without it that day. After a few holes I went home and got it. It's a necessity after you've used it.

 

[FreeBirdTim]

I thought it was a big waste of money, until I got one. Saves you a lot of time searching holes for that elusive coin or relic.

 

[Dave Rishar]

If you have a pointer do you use it or is it a fun gadget.

Think of it like indoor plumbing, air conditioning, or maybe sliced bread. If you've never had it, you're fine without it. Once you've used it, you'll wonder how you ever got along without it, and you'll be very reluctant to go back to not having it.

I don't leave home without a pointer. (Literally. I keep one in the car, just in case I forget to bring one.)

 

[Slingshot]

Not necessary, but something handy to have on some problem targets. Your detector is your primary tool, learn to use it to pinpoint before you ever begin retrieval, and you can grab the detector wand close to the coil to re-detect in a hole without standing back up again.

 

[Hillbilly Prince]

Thanks everyone. I know from experience with other hobbies you can try to buy skill or talent,but this sounds like it would be a good idea if you are more than a casual detector. Which I hope to be in time.

 

[RustyGold]

Digging in the dirt you most definitely need a pinpointer.
At the beach (think sand) I don’t use one although there are those that will use a pinpointer for targets at the beach.
Pinpointers are great for checking targets that are very close to the surface. Saves you some digging time.

 

[digger460]

Huge time saver IMO.

 

[etex]

No

 

[Rookster]

For the money, get the Garrett Carrott. Uses a 9 volt.

 

[Hawks88]

Much easier with one than without. Wouldn’t leave home without it.

 

[3cylbill]

hunted for 40 years without one , not so bad but the pinpointer helps find faster . a quality digging tool really helps to. the quicker you find your target the more time swinging to find more. only makes sense...

 

[Gare]

The object of detecting is to find the object as quick as possible Fill the hole and make it look as if no one has dug there and move on !! Now the amount of time it saves you is unbelievable. You will dig far less if you use one. With out one you will keep removing dirt with your hands passing the dirt over the coil. When you can just stick the pin pointer in the hold you can find it and it will even tell you how far away from it you are (With a Garrett Carrot) .It is for finding mostly but can save a lot of digging. I would buy the Garrett Carrot @@@@ Hope this helps

 

[Professor of Engineering]

IMHO: Metal detecting is a numbers game; locate target, retrieve target and replace plug. Of the three mentioned retrieving is the most time consuming of the group, a Pin Pointer will reduce this factor.

GL & HH

 

[bowwinkles]

Hear is your question-"Newbie-do I really need a pointer \if so recommendations?" The answer is no but!!!!it is so much nicer, faster, more fun, if you do. Many of the items that are detected in the soil will take on the same texture and look of the soil and you can have it in a handful of soil and not even know it. I found a 14 k ring and it was just another clump in the spoil until my pointer said it was not. The second portion to your question is I would strongly recommend the Whites TRX. After this thread we are going to remove the "newbie" title and enter "seasoned"

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Hillbilly Prince,

You live in a beautiful area! In 2012, I had the pleasure of teaching a two week summer course in the "Engineering Design Process" at Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla. The Rolla people were wonderful and the campus was perfect! I did have many after dinner treats at this little hidden bakery (wish I could remember the name...very small and had only a few tables) that had famous pies...my poison, most days, was the Mississippi Mud Pie. I think the price was $4.95 per slice (almost 1/4 of the pie). Great memories!

Regards,

Doc

 

[Ammoman]

Since this is a yes or no question, i will give it a shot. No, you do not NEED a pinpointer. Please let me know if i got the question right.

 

[DeepseekerADS]

I don't rely on the depth gauges featured on today's detectors. IMO the best advancement in the hobby was pin pointers.

Each time I get a solid signal, I first use my pin pointer to check the signal. The range of my Garrett Carrot is about 2 1/2 to 3". If the Carrot gets the signal, then I stick my screwdriver under the target and pop it out without having to dig - saves time and eliminates having to dig a plug - thus saving the grass versus leaving dead spots in someone's grass.

If the Carrot doesn't find it, then it's a 3 sided flap I flip over and then use the Carrot again.

Pin pointers help us prevent ugly spots in parks and homeowner's lawns.

We want to leave each site as if we'd never been there.

We didn't have tools like this early on, and I see this development as one of the better advancements hunting today.