Metal Detectors for Treasure Hunting

By Ben Shaw - 2006-12-30 - Viewed 2454 times. Find more articles like this in our Gardening & Hobbies category.

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Metal detecting is fast becoming one of the hottest hobbies in town.You have seen scores of people using metal detector on beaches and at parks. Your neighbours kid told you how he found a historic gold coin in the backyard using his metal detector and made a tidy sum selling it to the antique shop down the street. Your friend has just bought one of the sleekest looking metal detector and has to show it off. All sound good, but WAIT, before you jump onto the bandwagon, be sure you know how a metal detector work and how to get the ideal piece for yourself.

Although there are many brands available, hobby metal detectors all have common parts and components. Normally, the metal detector consists of the stabilizer which keeps the unit steady as it is swept to and fro, the control box (which contains the circuitry, controls, speaker, batteries and microprocessor), the shaft which connects the control box and the search coil, and the search coil to detect the buried treasure.

Metal detectors function based on the principles of electromagnetic induction. The search coil generates an electromagnetic field around itself when a current passes through it. In the presence of a metal item, this magnetic field is changed and induces electric currents called eddy currents in the metal item. The eddy currents generate their own magnetic field and generate an opposite current in the coil. This in turn produces a signal indicating the presence of metal.

The price tag of a metal detector range between $100 and $600. Of course, added features and greater sensitivity come with a higher price tag. Here are some considerations before committing on your metal detector:

Intended use - What do you use the metal detector for- gold prospecting, home or work use, jewellery hunting, relic hunting, coin shooting or beach hunting? While most common detectors in the market are "general purpose" metal detectors, there are models which cater to specific activities.

Frequency of Use - How often do you treasure hunt? If you plan to use a metal detector several hours a week, look for a model with more electronic features and higher accuracy. Nonetheless, bear in mind what we said earlier, added features means a bigger price tag.

Experience of user - Metal detectors come in different sizes and complexity. Many brands have fuss free models developed specially for juniors.

Gender - As a rule of thumb, ladies prefer light-weight models that allow them to be carried around effortlessly.

Price - Metal detectors are relatively inexpensive on their own. However, you may want to include in your budget accessories such as headphones, digging tools and carrying bags on top of the equipment itself. Buy the accessories together with the detector and the merchant will normally give you a discount.

Warranty - Check out the warranty period for the product. Most brands provides a 5-year warranty for their products.

More importantly, do your research! There are many review websites for metal detectors that offer comparisons amongst brands and models.

Whatever you are looking for in a metal detector, there will be a metal detector to suit your needs.

Need more tips on spotting the ideal treasure hunting site? Visit Metal Detector 10

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