Newbie question

[Richard Farkas]

I am interested about metal detectors. I just a newbie, my question is, could someone recommend me a design from this site, that relatively easy to build and could give good results in searching (for example coins, etc.)?
Which design I could choose from this site, if I would like to search for specific metals (for examle silver or gold) and still not so complicated to build at home?

Best regards,

Richard Farkas

[Ed in SD]

Re: Newbie question

Unless you are relatively accomplished at circuit building, I would think building a detector from scratch that has discrimination would be a complicated task. There are designs on this site that could probably do what you ask, but they often have multiple circuit boards, many parts, and detailed construction, not all of which might be explained to where you can easily replicate the design. The parts may have to be searched for at several different sources and you may have to find substitutions. Not to say it can't be done, but for the money, and the time invested, you may do better by buying a low-priced entry level machine with discrimination.
I tried to get three different circuits working before I finally succeeded with a simple all-metal BFO design. I'm sure lots of people can run rings around me in electronics, but, if you want good results, a project of this size done from scratch is a serious undertaking.

Good luck whichever way you go.
HH-Ed

[Carl]

Re: Newbie question

Richard,

Sorry I didn't answer your email, so I'll post the answer here. Basically, Ed is right, IB (VLF) detectors are pretty hard to build and get anything that has decent performance. I suspect that you can buy something for $100 that will beat a homebuilt.

The projects I've posted are really for tinkerers, people who want to learn theory, see how it works, maybe make some improvements. But not to actually go out and hunt with. A good PI design is all I would recommend to build for hunting, but it's mostly for saltwater.

Regards,
Carl

[James (Nevada)]

Re: Newbie question

A lot of us built BFO detectors 30 to 40 years ago and they worked as good or sometimes better than the ones you could buy, but It would be extremly difficult to put together a machine today that could come close to what is being manufactured