New Metal Detectors

I was just window shopping the other day browsing at some of the new metal detectors for the 2012 year.

Obviously,I didn't read any reviews,because many of these new models just came out a couple months back,and spring has now pretty much arrived on our doorsteps.So more of us will be getting out there with our detectors.Some of us using are older one's,and some trying their skills on a newer model.

I know many of the models doing all they can by trying to trump the competition,by various ways..Bigger coils,or trying to be the best dector for depth,or perhaps identification of the targets in the ground etc.

I haven't seen anything to make me drop the one I'm using,to go out and buy a new detector.

I don't need a detector that goes 3 feet deep possibly identifying it's target etc.Where I detect I can't be digging 3 foot holes.Not only that,not sure how many I could dig at that depth anyways.

Now if I was looking for gold,and if I new the area didn't have aluminum cans,or old iron chunks of garbage burried 3 feet deep,then I'd want that detector.

I already know that reading reviews can go both ways.There are honest reviews,and then reviews generated by the company that are always comparing one detector,to another.They stick out like a sore thumb.

Another thing that erks me in reviews of the new metal detectors is how one brand always finds something,that another brand did not.Well odds are on the next controlled trial,the other detector would win.

So many of these trials are one sided,and conducted by the competition.

The best way to know the reliability of another detector is to ask someone you personally know who has one,because I've read enough reviews here online that makes the worst detector,worthy of giving up mine for it.

One thing I do notice when it comes to the quality,and the reliabilty of a new detector is the price.Usually the more expensive the detector,the better the detector.

I also think the best detectors are in the 700-1000.00...Unless you are really planning on doing some serious prospecting,the one's designed basically for gold prospecting might cost a little more.That's not my expertise,because they don't have gold here in the area I live,so why would I pretend to be an expert on those detectors..I'm not.

I'll post some reviews when they come in on some of the new metal detectors 2012 as they come in.

Minelab Explorer Reviews

I read some Minelab Metal Detector reviews this afternoon.

I can't really knock the machine,and is more than a tad expensive than my White's Spectrum XLT when buying new.

My understanding is this is a great detector for deeper objects in the ground.


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Some of the reviews claim up to 3 feets deep.I suppose if you're in the woods,or some farm field before planting,you can get away with digging a whole that deep.
       
Personally that's just to dang deep for me,and this detector aint no break through on technology by slapping a bigger coil on it,just more hype in my opinion.

I got suspicious of many of the reviews,especially when they kept comparing this detector to the White's brand.

Proving a good detector by bashing the competition is a sure sign of dishonesty..Review the detector,not compare it.Anyone can compare metal detectors,but stick to the review to give other readers a sense of what the detector is all about,not a scale from 1-10 on how it compares to some other brand.

I think this one is a bit over-priced,and if I was going to buy one,I'd probably look around to buy a used one.Another thing that kind of sticks out with this model,is there are an awful lot of these for sale used,unlike some of the other brands.

I know the economy has something to do with that,and they probably hold their value to some degree.I've sold things myself while in a pinch.

I used this machine,and let my friend use mine.

My opinion is this detector is great for deep objects..it really can't be beat as far as depth.

If that is an issue that makes you determine buying one,then this detector is for you.

But if you are looking to buy one,and buy one not so dang expensive,and not worried about objects 3 feet deep..Go with another brand at half the price.

There is no way this detector could beat my Spectrum...I'll be finding more stuff,while the one using this machine is digging trenches to dig up a 3 foot deep aluminum cans.

Maybe on the beaches,and in fields,and parks in Europe where civilization has crossed the same piece of land for 1000's of years,but here in Minnesota I don't need something like this.

Metal Detector Online

I've received some mail asking me where a person should shop for a metal detector.

I've mentioned before,and I'll say it again.Check out some of the shops in your area,or shop around for a metal detector online.See where you get the better price.

With the price of gas these days,and if the nearest metal detector store is more than 50 miles from you,perhaps it's easier to just buy one online.

They all come with directions,and may have a video included with it.Not only that,there are plenty of Youtube videos out there,and odds are using the same detector you purchased.

If you can work a simple transister radio,or operate a coffee maker,odds are you'll understand,and easily learn on your own how to work your metal detector.

Practice in your back yard with various coins you burry,and also practice with trash.

There is no rush,so take your time and learn your detector.There easy to figure out,and odds are the guy showing you at the store how to use it,has never used one outside of the store.

There are way more complicated things to learn than a metal detector.I learned on my own about mine,and read the directions of course,so don't let buying a metal detector online scare ya.

Good Places To Metal Detect

I've written prior articles to this one,and discussing good places to metal detect in Minnesota.

Now please think about what your asking,and searching for regarding that very question.

First off,that very question has been asked probably by 10,000 people before you,and if there was a page online that listed the best places to detect here in the state,you can rest assured that 10,000 people would have metal detected those spots before you even thought of asking.

So use some common sense when asking that question.

Here is a good example -->

Say I wrote an article on best places to metal detect in Minnesota here on the blog.Even gave good directions,and even added good parking spots with each location.

By the time you got there,all you'd find is evidence of prior metal detector enthusiasts,who left their junk targets in the ground,and every target you dug up would feel like the target was just burried by a squirrel.Then you'd realize someone was there prior to you,and already checked out what it was,and then covered in back up.

Oh yea...Parks,beaches,and various other sites are cleaned out.

I've cleaned parks out of all the silver change,rings,and what have you..I left the pennies because I'm not digging up a hundred of them to make a buck.So rest assured there are plenty of pennies for you at these locations.

You're not going to find much after I comb an area.

Sure,things get overlooked many times,but not 99% of the time.

A person who knows how to work his detector,can easily clean out an area.

Just like your back yard..You want to keep metal detecting that over,and over,and over again?

Imagined it detected 200 times...Would you like to metal detect it again?

Of course not.

Good places to metal detect are places that have not been metal detected...PERIOD!!

Do you think someone is going to write the locations on where the good places are?

They'll write about it afterwards,when they got the place cleaned out.

The best places are wherever you can get away with detecting.

Anywhere you can...I wouldn't recommend farm fields,unless something gives you reason to,or you live in the U.K..or Europe..Well,lets just say I'm talking about Minnesota farm fields.I'm sure down south there could be some ineteresting finds.

I'd say anywhere there is a lot,where people camped,fished,swam,old parks,near old businesses etc..etc..Any where you can get away with it.

I know the laways etc,and I only hear crap reading it online where people are always talking "know the laws".

Just stay off private property.That's all I say.

I've been metal detecting for several years,and I've never had one problem with the cities,police,park workers etc.

I wouldn't go into "any location" during the busy season,and especially if it looks like I could draw some attention to myself,but you could catch me there in the late fall before the ground freezes,without a person knowing.

Another thing is how you conduct yourself,and never carry a shovel..EVER...That looks bad!!

Use a little,but strong handspade..While I slowly walk & detect,I carry the handspade up against my wrist,like a prison inmate carrying a knife to hide it...I look so non threatening while detecting.Anyone going by,never even sees my hand spade.

Make sure you take your target out of the ground carefully.Learn how to pinpoint your target.If all possible keep the hole 2-3-4 inches,and cut out the clump of dirt.Take the treasure,or the pull tab and put it in your pocket,and put the clump back in,and the dirt..Make that spot looks the same before you dug it up.

Early mornings are better also..Before alot of people are out and about.

I say this over,and over again.The best places to metal detect is wherever you can.

Places you find on your own.That's how this game is.

The last place you want to detect is some spot mentioned online..Right?

Because it's been detected many times over.

I was detecting a small beach once,and a truck pulled up with a father,and his 2 sons..I suppose between 17-19 years of age.

They had 3 top of the line "Bounty Hunters",and a sour look seeing me packing up with my "Whites".

We talked some on detecting,and they were very nice folks who were vacationing here in Minnesota.

Anyways..I had the place pretty much cleaned out.

I did return a few days later to that location,just to kill some time before lunch,and detected again...That family REALLY cleaned the place out,and also left the junk in the ground,and I could tell this trash was unburried,and then put back in the hole.

You'll find alot of targets like that in the parks,when you dig up a target,and it seems like the spot you're digging up was dug up before.It was..:)

It's always aluminum,or big iron objects at times that can give give off a good signal.It happens with the best detectors too..Don't let anyone tell you otherwise...It's part of detecting.The junk does get in occasionally.

Detect wherever you can,and always keep thinking on the virgin ground locations.

Now please don't get depressed.I still hit the beaches,and make great finds occasionally.

But once I clean a place out.I don't go back there,and I know there are veterans like me out there in this hobby that do the same thing.What's the point?

But..you never know..:)

Good places to meatl detect are places you come up with yourself.Not locations you'd find online.

Wisconsin Metal Detectors

There use to be a place my dad brought me as a kid.It was an older man who ran a store out of his garage,and he had all kinds of odd things for sale.

One thing he had hanging on the wall,was a detector he used in WWII,that he considered one of the best of all of Wisconsin Metal Detectors combined,because he personally used it to clear mines,and thus saved alot of American lives.

No,it wasn't for sale,and he had no other metal detectors for sale that I knew of,but to this day my dad still brings up his old shop that he had out back in that old spider infested garage.

But back to Wisconsin,I'd have to say there is some good ground there to detect,and I'd probably rank the state a tad better than Minnesota when it comes to looking for lost items.I judge a state mainly by the minerals to be found,the type of activity that took place there,such as historical events,then peg it down to how long people have been there that used metal.Keep in mind I'm not familiar with metal detector stores in WI.

I so wish they made metal detectors that forund Indian artifacts,but due to the fact they were made out of stone,I guess I could say that's wishful thinking.

Civilizations who used metal,had metal coins,and metal jewelry,not that I'm knocking civilizations who didn't harness the technology of working with metals,just stating the fact a metal dtector can only do so much.So to investigate an area,you have to kind of stick to those who in the past used metal.

Now Europe is an interesting example,because the Roman Empire was pretty much all over Europe at one time,or another.So one could take advantage of the past civilizations there,unlike here in the U.S.

The gentleman I was talking about earlier,who sold things out of his garage shop,found all kinds of unknown object with his metal detector,which back in his day during the war they called a mine sweeper.Now that's what I'd love to get involved with.

There were tons of treasures found just by the trenches dug,and fox holes.It makes a person wish they almost could live in Europe to detect,but I'd assume dig up nails here,than relocate over there.Just a find is good enough for this old boy.

I'm not to familiar with metal detecting stores in WI.I do know however they exist,but I bought my detector online,and saved a few bucks.I don't know where the best places to metal detector there either,but do know there is a large number of us there looking for things lost.So I guess your neighbors to the west of you are in the same boat.So the places to metal detect in Wisconsin would be pretty much the same type of places you'd metal detect here in Minnesota.

I'll update this article later on this week,and add some personal stories from some of the Wisconsin residents,and their tales of hunting for something lost in the ground.

Where To Buy A Metal Detector

I've received quite a bit of mail asking where is the best place to buy a metal detector in Mn.

I know there are alot of dealers out there,and the one's I did do business with closed shop a little while back.As I mentioned in other articles here,Minnesota is not the metal detecting capital of the world,even though there are a heck of alot of nice finds here.So some of the best places to shop for one are probably out of state,or online.

Out on the west coast,or wherever there is ocean coastline,I'm sure there are alot of metal detecting shops,or prospecting type stores that carry,and just specialize in detectors.Another area where the majority prospector shops are located is in "gold country"..The sad fact is,Minnesota lacks the coastline beaches,and not enough yellow in the ground up here to make these shops a success.They'd be closed 6 months out of the year up here.

I bought mine used from a friend,the directions came with it,and learned by myself on how to use one.It's not rocket science,and they are pretty simple to figure out,even for an old fart like me.

Having a manual with the detector is a nice thing also.Because there are fine tune adjustments alot of the new detectors have,and having the directions makes it so much more easier in doing so when buying a detector.

Plus it has the manufacturer contact information of the detector,incase one wants replacement parts,or getting the best information on repair incase of breakage,and some send their metal detectors in every couple years to just give them an old fashioned tune up.

So if you buy one used,get a manual if you can that came with it.If the guy/gal lost it,just find out the manufacturer,and you can look up information online.

The best place to buy a metal detector is honestly where you get the best price.

Sure,a store specializing in detectors will walk ya though it,probably have a demo out,and you can watch their sales tactics...The old pop tab,and quarter,nail trick in the sand bucket show,showing you how great the detector is,in disciminating targets in the ground.

Unfortunately,out in the field it's not always that way,and you'll end up learning on your own the potential of the detector.It's comes down to you learning it,and out in the field using it,and when buying one from a shop,one usually makes up his mind that he wants one,and he's going to buy one before he even steps foot in the door.

I guess I'm saying when buying one,don't let the salesman influence you.He may show you how it works,but the teaching part will be from you,by going the old trial & error route.

I'd find a reputable brand,and money usually talks when it comes to detectors,but there are some good cheeper one's a person can by for starting out.The more expensive you go,usually means the detector has a better idea if the target is junk,or/and identify what it presumes the target is.

Such as,my metal detector is pretty dang good at identifying if a target is a penny,dime,or quarter.

A cheeper metal detector might give you a probabilty if it's a coin,or not.

A real cheep metal detector?..Well the target could be anything,because it don't know a pulltab,from a silver quarter in the ground.

The better detector,the less junk you'll dig up,and thus less times having to bend over.

It would be easier to escavate a part like an archaeologist,than go in their with a cheep metal detector digging up every junk target.That gets old,and I assure you,that'll you'll end up giving up metal detecting altogether going that route.

So when it comes to Minnesota Metal Detectors stores,shop around for the best price,that's all I got to say,and get the best one you can.Odds are you can find the same model online for cheeper.

You're not going to find the good stuff,having to dig up every junk target you come across.You'll be spending all your time digging up junk,and believe me,that loses its appeal after an afternoon,not to mention a sore back.

So if you're wondering where is the best place to buy a metal detector in Mn ,or any state for that matter.Check out some of the online prices below.There is a good variety there from the affordable to the professional.

I will update this article with more tips for shopping for metal detectors.I'll make sure to discuss some brands,and also include some reviews.

The Best Time To Metal Detect

I don't think to many of us treasure hunters ask that question,because the best time to metal detect is all the time.

But supposed if I was asked,and had to give the best answer to that question,I'd probably say the spring in the area I live.Soon as the ground unthaws,but all of us enthusiasts live in all the climate zones.

If I lived down in Florida,or say California,or anywhere for that matter that had beach,and was above 40-45 degrees F..I'd be out there,because the winter months would be the best times.You'd have alot of the beaches all to yourself,but always keep in mind to have back up batteries,because the cooler the weather,the faster they drain.So just keep that in mind when heading out early.


I've had some early mornings here when it's 40'ish degrees,or mid 40's,and detector slows down some,and my led graphic screen can act up also.

This is one subject I've really never looked into,and I'm sure they make detectors than you could use in the artic,but I'm just not familiar with metal detecting in cold weather,except the stories I've read about people looking for meteors in Greenland,or various other snow covered tundra.I think some use metal detectors,but mine wouldn't face up to the challenge.

I'm sure these detectors are specially made for cold weather,and honestly speaking this is a subject not brought up very often,but is an important one to those that metal detect for a living,and there are alot of cool mornings out there,and I'm sure some professionals choose dectors that also live up to the standards of their enviroment.

It could come down to battery power.We're all aware of ice fishing,and the fish locaters many anglers use,and they can sit right on the ice,with the most brutal weather thrown at them,and the batter power they have makes them unstoppable no matter what the temperatures can get down to.

But let us stick to the United States here,there is no sense of us geting into subjects of metal detecting the north pole,but that would make an interesting subject,and I bet several have.

The ground is frozen anyways at 32 degrees,and unless you plan on using a pick axe,just consider putting your detector away for the winter,and if you have a LED graph..FORGET IT..LOL..:)

The best time to metal detect is early as ya can,weather permitting of course.

A couple good reasons for that is,less annoying insects to hamper you,and the brush,and grass/foliage is at its minimal.

But off the subject as the seasonal side to all of this,another good time to detect is after events.

Such as Memorial Weeekend,4th of July,and Labor Day weekend.

I'll add more to this article later on this week.