QUESTION ON DETECTORS

[jayhawk]

Will any metal detector differentiate steel from lead

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Can't say "any" because there are some pretty simple devices available that will not.

Any practical detector will tell ferrous (iron/steel) from non-ferrous metals; but may or may not display or signal differently.

"Stud-finder" types just give an alarm when metal passes through their coil field.

 

[cudamark]

Will any metal detector differentiate steel from lead

VLF detectors will......PI's will not.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Yes, as mark says, there are detectors that can differentiate lead from steel. I mean, that's what discrimination was invented for 40+ yrs. ago afterall

Maybe your real question is, is there a machine that will never get fooled by steel ? No. But it depends on your ears. Because certain pieces of big enough cast-iron (old stove parts, etc...) can fool you into thinking conductive. But with a little learning, you can tell most of the larger cr*p that's trying to bleed through. But the bigger the iron/steel item is, the more likely it'll false up into the conductive ranges. Also steel O-rings tend to give a positive, even though steel/iron.

 

[Sandman]

A magnet.....But that is not a detector. Otherwise Tom is right.