Metal Detector

[toby99]

Has anyone got one? If so, which type can you recommend for a family to use and how much do you need to spend? - thanks for any advice

[what..the?]

I have got one, it was about �100-150 I'm not sure on the make as it's stored away for the winter. It is a "Beach Comber' by name, which is why I bought it. Living in the south west it all beaches here and that the my target search area.

I have found lots of stuff on the beach with mine but nothing of value just scap. You do get what you pay for like most thing's and well it is not the best, the depth the detector will search is limited and for what materials too.

I would say points to look for when buying would be:

- good battery size, say AA they are cheap and easily sourced so you are never without.
- 'low battery' signal if it does not have one or it is difficult to read, you can be out searching for hours without realising the detectors 'dead'.
- light weight and comforty to hold for long periods, when your in the shop you will think ...yeah thats fine but after 30mins holding the thing on a beach and scanning the ground it begins to ache! So you can get ones with lots of handle space and a croutch like handle that distributes the weight.
- dismantle so it can fit in to a big back pack, very useful for the beachs or fields that are a walk/hike away.
- easy read signals to show you have hit the spot!
- head phone socket so you can hear faint signals and so the rest of the people on the beach don't hear you.

Also get one of those hold up army/camping spades, for when you find something! Cannot say much more than that, you need to research the different depth's they can go to. I suppose it depends on the amount you want to spend, I want to up grade to get a better depth but it could cost me more like �200+

[SteveD]

You might find these sites interesting:

http://www.garysdetecting.co.uk/

http://www.detecnicks.co.uk/

http://www.uk-metal-detectors.co.uk/