The BEST Kept Secret THE Garrett Infinium LS & Pulse Devil

[Michigan Badger]

The BEST Kept Secret THE Garrett Infinium LS & Pulse Devil

The Garrett Infinium LS Metal Detector w/10x14" Coil is one machine I haven't owned...yet.

This detector interests me due to some claims of extreme depth.

Has anyone here used this machine?

How does in perform in salt and fresh water?

Anyone here use it on land in trashy areas?

How does the discrimination work?

Do tell all.

Badger

 

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[U.K. Brian]

Re: The BEST Kept Secret THE Garrett Infinium LS & Pulse Devil

The prototype Pulse Devil had two analogue meters and had a Whites shaft/control box. Now its gone all fancy with its digital lcd display, multifunction single control (which worries me a bit) and is a chest mount which I prefer.
The Surf Devil should be of more interest to those who venture into the surf as its waterproof to 10 metres.
There's also a design he hopes will give the Nexus a run for its money (his words). Its a VLF discriminator. Looking forward to seeing that in action !

 

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[Willy]

Re: The BEST Kept Secret THE Garrett Infinium LS & Pulse Devil

The Infinium DID have a change made to the circuit, but it was because of problems that arose from using the mono coil. The DD was unaffected. ..Willy.

 

[Michigan Badger]

Re: The BEST Kept Secret THE Garrett Infinium LS & Pulse Devil

Great posts! Thanks!

If I'm reading the posts here correctly, it seems to me everyone is saying the Infinium was a good try but didn't really make it as a great PI. It's okay for some minor types of hunting but misses the mark in too many major areas. Is this correct?

Question for anyone. What is the Infinium good for?

 

[Willy]

Re: The BEST Kept Secret THE Garrett Infinium LS & Pulse Devil

About the only area it falls down in is for coin hunting in parks (lawns). ..Willy.

 

[U.K. Brian]

Re: The BEST Kept Secret THE Garrett Infinium LS & Pulse Devil

In the U.S. its a lot of machine at a reasonable price. In my view it cannot be considered a discriminator as long as silver gives a lo-hi tone and gold a hi-lo (though I think a huge nuggett gives lo-hi).
There never seems to be a mention of target masking which straight P.I.'s don't suffer from but the Garrett does due to long drag tone on near surface items
You really need to have a few other detectors to fall back on. Running nice and smooth out in the country has to be counterbalanced by Rf and other interference in and near towns. You can and should use the discriminate control as a frequency change BUT you often have several sources of interference.
Beach use I still would pick one of Erics machines.

As I haven't had a 'proper job' in twenty plus years but have been full time detecting plus get hit by the almost doubling of prices on imported machines I can't afford to use the wrong equipment. If your a few hours at the weekend or spend your vacation detecting it doesn't make much odds. This is not an attack on Garrett because Minelab are perhaps worse for weight, price and external machine design. I get to try the GPX4000 next week but don't expect it to be a major leap forward. There's been to many disappointments in the past.

 

[Michigan Badger]

Re: The BEST Kept Secret THE Garrett Infinium LS & Pulse Devil

About the only area it falls down in is for coin hunting in parks (lawns). ..Willy.

Is it true that the Infinium gets 2 or 3 times more depth than most VLF detectors? If this holds consistently true then the Infinium would be ideal for those who dig everything anyway.

Badger

 

[neilo]

Re: The BEST Kept Secret THE Garrett Infinium LS & Pulse Devil

Dont get sucked into the depth gimmick of PI machines. Any experienced water detectorist will tell you in the water you are limited as to how deep you can recover your targets. In sand and soft mud you have to contend with the hole you are digging refilling as the sides of your hole are continually collapsing. Some times you disturb the sand and it makes your target sink deeper out of reach. I have been using an Excalibur for about 12yrs and there have been plenty of times when I have had to give up because the target is too deep. I have recovered items at times to a depth of about 15inches. Digging deep holes isnt easy it is hard work,with the PI machines you might be digging more deeper holes and also more holes for useless rubbish due to their limited discrimination.Happy digging seeya Neilo

 

[Michigan Badger]

Re: The BEST Kept Secret THE Garrett Infinium LS & Pulse Devil

Dont get sucked into the depth gimmick of PI machines. Any experienced water detectorist will tell you in the water you are limited as to how deep you can recover your targets. In sand and soft mud you have to contend with the hole you are digging refilling as the sides of your hole are continually collapsing. Some times you disturb the sand and it makes your target sink deeper out of reach. I have been using an Excalibur for about 12yrs and there have been plenty of times when I have had to give up because the target is too deep. I have recovered items at times to a depth of about 15inches. Digging deep holes isnt easy it is hard work,with the PI machines you might be digging more deeper holes and also more holes for useless rubbish due to their limited discrimination.Happy digging seeya Neilo

That's very good point in regard to water hunting. I've done my share of fresh water dipping and know just what you mean. And it's much more difficult working the ocean.

I guess at this point I'd say if one can only afford one detector a PI shouldn't be it. That is unless one is doing a very specific type of hunting that demands extreme depth. The VLF is probably the best all-round detector for the average coin/relic/jewelry hunter and it will most likely stay this way for years yet.

But for those who can afford it, it would be nice to have a quality PI sitting around for those unusual situations.

I'd like to try one sometime at some deep woods forgotten 18-19th century home sites. That would be interesting I think.

Badger

 

[U.K. Brian]

Re: The BEST Kept Secret THE Garrett Infinium LS & Pulse Devil

I would agree with the two/three times the depth of a VLF comment because I had a few sites where it was true BUT only on extremely bad ground. In low or medium mineralised areas a Lobo, G.M.T.,MXT can blow a P.I. out of the water and often at a fraction of the price.

Interesting and I think true comment about the Infinium posted by 'Uncle Willy'
'It isn't exactly a beginers detector....basically a specialised detector for specialised hunting and a long way from a generalised detector for everyday use. Bill (OR)

The Australians complained that the attempt at making it a jack of all trades limited its use in their goldfields. U.S. relic hunters will no doubt have found out as I did that the stock coil loses depth dramatically on large objects deeper than three feet.

Its a great price but I feel still a machine in development and I would like to see it manufactured in two versions for different uses and optimised in each case.

 

[Willy]

Re: The BEST Kept Secret THE Garrett Infinium LS & Pulse Devil

The Infinium also has a frequency adjustment for minimizing interference. Also, it's true that digging honkin' big holes sux. It's not too bad in the sand, but when there's roots 'n rocks it gets tiresome. I prospect and like to beach hunt, so depth is paramount. For hitting the ghosttowns a VLF is still my choice. ..Willy.

 

[flagold]

Re: The BEST Kept Secret THE Garrett Infinium LS & Pulse Devil

In some cases, digging that honkin' big hole can be pleasurable, and extremely rewarding (6lbs of gold). It all depends on what you have to dig the hole with! After beeping a bar underwater with the Infinium (where it has no equal at all), I went after it with my digger:



and it was an extremely pleasurable and rewarding experience.

I've used the Infinium for a long time, for the power to weight it has (it is an unrefined detector) at the price, there really isn't much to compete with it at the moment.

 

[Michigan Badger]

Re: The BEST Kept Secret THE Garrett Infinium LS & Pulse Devil

In some cases, digging that honkin' big hole can be pleasurable, and extremely rewarding (6lbs of gold). It all depends on what you have to dig the hole with! After beeping a bar underwater with the Infinium (where it has no equal at all), I went after it with my digger:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lPYg5U4P6s

and it was an extremely pleasurable and rewarding experience.

I've used the Infinium for a long time, for the power to weight it has (it is an unrefined detector) at the price, there really isn't much to compete with it at the moment.

Thanks flagold, great video!

Then would you say the Infinium works better for you than any other brand? Have you ever tried it on land?

Thanks,

Badger

 

[flagold]

Re: The BEST Kept Secret THE Garrett Infinium LS & Pulse Devil

No. I'll frequently use the Infinium with an MXT or a GMT and if those are picking up more (small) gold than the Infinium can see, I'll park it. If the gold is deeper, or larger, then I'll keep the Infinium. They all have their place. I originally bought the Infinium to detect underwater nugget beds and for that it really is unmatched for bird-dogging for the dredge.