In the market for a new metal detector? We know what you’re thinking. “What should I look for in metal detectors?
Well, there are 3 things you should consider. Its ability to ground balance, the sensitivity and its discrimination.
Keep reading to find out just what those mean and how they can help you.
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- Make sure your detectors can ground balance
Ground balance stops your metal detectors being set-off by false signals in the soil. It does this by ignoring mineralisation, being set for specific soil and can be set in 3 different ways.
The mineralisation can happen for any number of reasons. But, ground balancing can negate it. So, having a machine that tells the difference between magnetised soil and real metal can save you a lot of digging time.
Whether the soil is mineralised depends a lot on its location and what you’re looking for. For example, beach sand is often full of minerals and salt, which can give you false signals. So, opting for a beach specific model will save you a lot of headaches.
And, this is the same reason why the best metal detector for gold is a specialised gold detector. Different soils have different conditions which you need to work with. It’s even possible to get an underwater metal detector, this is because one machine can’t be the best at everything!
Now, there are different ground balancing options available, manual, automatic and tracking. The manual setting is best for those of you who are experienced or willing to put in some work. And, automatic settings are best for beginners who want to get up and running fast.
Finally, tracking balance is a constant adjustment. And, it balances levels based on a programmed algorithm. This can be great for soil that is always changing but, some people have said it can be slow to react.
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- Consider the sensitivity of the detector
The right sensitivity comes down to what kind of objects you’re looking for and in what kind of soil you’re looking in.
First, you want to think about the objects you want to find. Having high sensitivity will help you find small objects like coins, but will cause trouble with bigger pieces of metal.
Besides finding small objects, high sensitivity can also pick up a lot of false signals. So, beware of digging in mineralised soil without the right equipment.
That’s why finding a balance is important, choosing the best metal detector for you will take some thinking. But, these days, you can find companies with gold detector hire and metal detector hire. So, you can find a good fit before you buy.
What’s the detector’s level of discrimination?
In a nutshell, discrimination is the ability to tell the difference between a piece of junk and your desired treasure. Some do this with sound, while others do it with visuals.
Your metal detectors ability to discriminate will save you tonnes of time and energy. Nobody wants to be digging for junk all day!
So, again, you want to think about what you’re searching for. If you’re hunting for coins, can your machine tell the difference between a coin and a bottle cap? These small details will help you be successful in your hunting.
But, it’s possible to get around these limitations another way. You need to do your research and make sure your area has as little junk as possible. This way, you can dig without wasting your time.
There you go folks, a few tips on how to find the right machine for your particular job. Remember, there is no best machine for everyone, but there is one for your specific needs.
Now, if you’re looking for metal detectors for sale or hire, check out our website Lucky Strike Gold. We’ve got some of the top brands in the business and were voted the #1 prospecting shop in Victoria.