What does a good metal detector cost to build? Why I want one...

[PeterA]

Hi everyone...

I want a metal detector mainly to find old nails in timber pallets. But I also need it to be powerful enough to detect a metal staple in wood as well. Often timber sleepers etc will have a label that has been stapled onto the lumber. I need to detect all these metal items before I cut up and plane the timber etc..

Also if I can make a metal / gold type detecting unit as opposed to the smaller hand held wand type detectors (which you can buy specifically for wood working) then I can walk around my back yard and find any nails left lying around in the grass.


So, I guess I'd like to know how much money is involved in making a metal detector. I just figure that rather than be limited with a small wand metal detector, maybe I can make a proper unit for a similar price DIY?

I think that a Pulse detector would be what I am wanting to build. Can anyone tell me what is a good KIT or plans that I can find to build up a unit. It must be able to detect staples in timber, only on the surface. If I can detect a coin in the ground at 12" with the same machine, well maybe I could also have a go at detecting lost treasures too one day.

Peter

[baum7154]

You ask a very broad and good question, kind of like "what does a car cost?" You give good specific info on what you are looking for, iron, which is one of the easier things to detect, but if you want to add small gold, it is one of the most challenging to detect. There are a lot of kits out there and one place you should look is at SILVERDOG.com. He sells complete circuit board kits that should find the iron you seek. You will still have to wind a coil and build a boom and enclosure.

Good luck

Dan

[Carl-NC]

You can build a detector for $50-100 depending on features & packaging. A lumber detector usually has no GB and can have elevated sensitivity to get staples & deep nails, whereas a ground detector would have opposite trade-offs. However, you could build something that works decently for both cases. An easier way to get surface nails in the yard is to drag around a magnet.

[PeterA]

Thanks Dan,

Do you know if those kits are as powerful as a factory bought machine? Are those kits comparable to any specific model detectors.

p.s. if small gold is harder to detect, I will just detect the easier large gold. Makes me wonder why people want to detect the harder to find smaller gold. ;-)

[6666]

p.s. if small gold is harder to detect, I will just detect the easier large gold. Makes me wonder why people want to detect the harder to find smaller gold. ;-)

Mainly because the easy found surface gold in public areas is rare and hard to find, and getter harder, at least here in Oz.

[PeterA]

drag around a magnet. r u serious? unless you know of a place that sells 4ft long magnets. what if the nail is half stuck in the soil. the magnet would not pull it out. okay on a concrete floor but don't think it would work through grass.

[PeterA]

i am in oz to, qld , toowoomba

[baum7154]

Thanks Dan,

Do you know if those kits are as powerful as a factory bought machine? Are those kits comparable to any specific model detectors.

p.s. if small gold is harder to detect, I will just detect the easier large gold. Makes me wonder why people want to detect the harder to find smaller gold. ;-)

As far as being as powerful as a factory built machine it depends on which machine we are comparing, a $45 dollar Harbor Freight or a $6000 Mine Labs detector. Generally 'Yes" to being as good or better than the Harbor Freight, and "No" to being better than the Minelabs. I guess you get what you pay for most times. If you enjoy building electronics and paying meticulous attention to details then a build may be good for you. If not, the Harbor Freight detector with a better coil mod would probably do what you need it to do. There are threads on the Forum regarding improving the Harbor Freight detector and some of the results sound pretty good. Actually these can be purchased with a coupon here in the US for about $35. Most builders have far more than that in a detector, never mind the value of time spent in optimizing the unit. For me the fun is in building as much as in using the detector.

I think there is a lot more small gold to be found i.e. 5 to 15 grain size, at least in my area than there are large nuggets.

Good luck!

Dan

[baum7154]

[QUOTE=baum7154;176914]You ask a very broad and good question, kind of like "what does a car cost?" You give good specific info on what you are looking for, iron, which is one of the easier things to detect, but if you want to add small gold, it is one of the most challenging to detect. There are a lot of kits out there and one place you should look is at SILVERDOG.com. He sells complete circuit board kits that should find the iron you seek. You will still have to wind a coil and build a boom and enclosure.

Good luck



CORRECTION:

The proper site for SILVERDOG is http://www.silverdog.co.uk

Sorry for the misinfo

[bernte_one]

baracuda would be a good choice

i think you can build a good quality anil dtector for wood under 100€

baracuda has enough output to drive a 45cm coil

if you build a coil where the wood can pass though you could detect alsosmaler items then nails (finger nail sized shrapnells)

try it