beginner detectors

[faeth1]

Hi
I'm Mike and I'm new to detecting Iv'e always been interested, I built a bfo about 20 years ago and then
took it apart and recently I found the circuit board and put it back together It seems to work ok but I don't like the
constant drone in my ears. Anyway my question is with all the new technology is it better to by a 150.00
detector then to build one, I mean most of the schematics I've seen on the web are two or more decades old
and by the time I buy all the parts and put in the time to build one of these the cost will be pretty much the same.
I would like a VLF or a PI but am apprehensive about building one if the new technology is better.

Thanks
Mike

[sinclairuser]

that 150 will buy a few kits, dont be discouraged by the fact that we work with older designs, the main difference between the stuff here and a 150 pound off the shelf machine is bells and whistles, also that 150 pound MD will be
A- a chinese clone of 20 year old stuff.
B- the same detector they sold 20 years ago in a new case possibly with a processor replacing some of the curcuit.
C- a new digital design thats basically a useless toy.
but your 150 pounds or dollars or whatever spent on the right kit/s for you will give you something far more usefull and satisfying.
the thing is to decide what you need in a detector and then pick that project, the part that seems to stump some are coils, and a scope comes in handy.
p.s. welcome to the forum.

[Carl-NC]

Anyway my question is with all the new technology is it better to by a 150.00
detector then to build one

If your goal is to go metal detecting, then the hands-down answer is 'yes'.

[sinclairuser]

If your goal is to go metal detecting, then the hands-down answer is 'yes'.

i have to say if detecting is your primary interest then i agree completely with carl, if tinkering is primary then build your own.
also if you decide to buy start with a major manufacturer garret or whites both have capable machines in that price range,
and buy new direct from them, the only other advice i can think of right now is dont be tempted by "used" MDs from 3rd parties or you could end up tinkering just to get it running, so to sum up buy new, buy direct, and stick to your budget.
happy hunting.

[Waikiki_Sweep]

If you will detect not in sea water and not in heavy mineralization ground try to buy Garrett ACE 250. Anything made before and even after that detector is not much worth the money. If you can buy used you can find it $100-150. I got fantastic success with the machine for a 4 years before I have started to build custom detectors with big lightweight coils that no any company able to offer for sale. That is why I build and not buying detectors now.

ACE 250 has good depth and sensitivity,
coil is light enough to move it many hours ,
good iron discrimination,
target ID,
not reporting beer caps as gold ,
plays different sound tones for different metals ,
you can adjust what targets you want to dig or not (several segments niche discrimination).

Such set of features you can't find all together with any kit on this forum.

Interesting that next ACE 350 has a big and heavy DD coil and many users just do not like it. So it is not such popular like 250.

[6666]

You can use the 250 very successfully in wet sand at the beach, run it in coin and jewellery mode and trick is to notch out the 5cent section so it does not respond to salt and knock back the sens a couple of notches , works for me.

[Waikiki_Sweep]

You can use the 250 very successfully in wet sand at the beach, trick is to notch out the 5cent section and knock back the sens a couple of notches , works for me.

Thank you! It is a good trick! Never tried it before. Unfortunately some gold rings (but at least not all ) falls into 5 cents section.
I am not using 250 anymore because 17" is my favorite size of coil now for my PI and VLF machines.
Also my wife used 150 for wet sand just reducing sensitivity a little. 150 was more stable than 250 on wet salt sand.
Anyway for wet salt sand there are multifrequency Fisher CZ and FSB/BBS Minelabs and Whites Spectra Vi (3 frequency) and sure tons of PI detectors for "we digging all targets" guys.

But on dry sand ACE 250 was a king! Especially once you notch that penny.

[6666]

Hi WS
What shape do you make your 17" coils for your PI ?

[Waikiki_Sweep]

Hi WS
What shape do you make your 17" coils for your PI ?

17" x 9.5" rectangular with round ends.

Good for pinpointing and covering 100% area because my steps approx. 17"
Also hydrodynamic shape hepls me to move it in water without drag.

18 turns gives 300uH

[6666]

Thanks WS, it it covered in fibreglass ?

[sinclairuser]

17" x 9.5" rectangular with round ends.

Good for pinpointing and covering 100% area because my steps approx. 17"
Also hydrodynamic shape hepls me to move it in water without drag.

18 turns gives 300uH

[ATTACH]28209[/ATTACH]

thats probably the most impressive home made coil i have ever seen,

[Waikiki_Sweep]

Thanks WS, it it covered in fibreglass ?

Molded in fiberglass, all edges are sharp to cut water like fish.

[Waikiki_Sweep]

thats probably the most impressive home made coil i have ever seen,

Thanks!

Total weight of my detector 1450 gram without headphones.

Also it has MP3 music player inside mixing sound with detector signals. So I am listening to the music in the background when detecting. Sure target signal several times louder than music.

And I have installed waterproof LED light into headphones for night hunt. It turns on by magnet (Reed switch on handle).

Detector, player and light powered from same set of rechargeable Li-Ion batteries.







Disassemble player and remove Li-Ion battery. Player will work from +5V to his USB connector from same source as audio amplifier TDA2822.
That simple, $2.33, microscopic size player needs no adjustments or pressing any buttons to start playing so it will turn on when you turning on your detector. Just that simple!
Also changing music by changing Micro SD (TF) card is very convenient.

Enjoy!!!

[6666]

Also it has MP3 music player inside

Thats a very novel idea, that should be included in all MD's

[Waikiki_Sweep]

Thats a very novel idea, that should be included in all MD's

It was idea of my wife. She always listening music when detecting. But after she sunken couple of MP3 player in ocean I have started to embedding them into detectors waterproofed cases.