Metal detectors

[Kirsty]

Could anyone recommend a metal detector please? My 80yr old mum is giving up the bulk of her work responsibilities and I need to keep her out of mischief, she has expressed interest in having a metal detector. There is a lot of old (including bronze age) archaeology around us, so we wouldn't go digging up important sites but would like one sensitive enough to detect such traces, if possible. I know nothing about them at all.

Thanks

 

[TeeDee]

Think your best bet maybe to try to find a local group and ask to tag along - they should be able to offer plenty of advice and suggest some entry level units and see if the reality is as appealing as the idea.

 

[Kirsty]

Think your best bet maybe to try to find a local group and ask to tag along - they should be able to offer plenty of advice and suggest some entry level units and see if the reality is as appealing as the idea.

Thank you, I don't think there is one unfortunately.

 

[TeeDee]

Thank you, I don't think there is one unfortunately.

Ok, so budget wise- as its something you may want to drop a toe in before the wholefoot. Facebook market place seems to be the place to pick up low entry models - also a place where people newer to the hobby trade on their starter units to trade up to the more mid level units. ( Circa £500 for Garrett type units )

 

[Kirsty]

Ok, so budget wise- as its something you may want to drop a toe in before the wholefoot. Facebook market place seems to be the place to pick up low entry models - also a place where people newer to the hobby trade on their starter units to trade up to the more mid level units. ( Circa £500 for Garrett type units )

Thank you!

 

[TeeDee]

Thank you!

And obviously it maybe worth joining a metal detecting forum.

UK DETECTOR NET - Forum

 

[slowworm]

I've had a Garrett Ace 250 for several years. It was well reviewed when I bought it and it is still going strong. Mainly used for finding important nuts and bolts dropped off things or tools lost in the long grass. Also found a fair bit of rusty plough type stuff when we've gone in search of treasure.

 

[Nice65]

Minelab Vanquish 340 is what I ended up with after a great deal of research into decent but budget. I haven’t read a poor review of them, they’re fairly simple to operate. In honesty, anything more than this for a newbie is overkill. I have a friend with a Garrett and he spends more time fiddling with the depth sensitivity and metal filters than actually digging stuff up.

Just be aware that metal detectorists generally have a bad rep and the answer is very often “no” when you ask permission. It’s extremely limiting. This is an old highwayman’s haunt on an ancient coach track near me in Petworth, thers also a strong history of smuggling and tunnels. But alas, not allowed.

 

[Nice65]

And here is an ancient spring, the Virgin Mary Sacred Spring. Been used for hundreds and hundreds of years, the old footpath leads into town to the Virgin Mary church, and this water is the holy water used there. Can’t detect the path

Where you are, maybe easier to get permission as you’ll more likely know the landowners around you, or your laws might be different. Beach detecting is legal.

 

[TeeDee]

As Nice above has pointed out - gaining access and permissions is a MASSIVE part for the act - not to be under estimated. Unless you have a lot of land yourself or know land owners and farmers locally ( and maybe sound them out in advance ) you may find yourself getting super frustrated quickly.

Finding a club will probably let you have access to organised events where many many people turn up to sweep the same land.

 

[Kirsty]

Thank you very much for suggestions and advice.

@Nice65 budget but decent is exactly the category we are looking for, I will take advantage of your research and go for the Minelab Vanquish 340.

Permission is fortunately not an obstacle as mum works a wee hill farm - you can see why she will need something to occupy her having been busy with that most of her life.

 

[The Frightful]

Tbh, you'd have to be a bit of a b*****d to pull up an 80yr old woman for using one where the pubic can access. I bet she could charm the birds from the trees if put in a tight spot, fair play to her, kudos

 

[HillBill]

Minelab Vanquish 340 is what I ended up with after a great deal of research into decent but budget. I haven’t read a poor review of them, they’re fairly simple to operate. In honesty, anything more than this for a newbie is overkill. I have a friend with a Garrett and he spends more time fiddling with the depth sensitivity and metal filters than actually digging stuff up.

Just be aware that metal detectorists generally have a bad rep and the answer is very often “no” when you ask permission. It’s extremely limiting. This is an old highwayman’s haunt on an ancient coach track near me in Petworth, thers also a strong history of smuggling and tunnels. But alas, not allowed.

View attachment 93228

A fine place for an ambush.

 

[HillBill]

Thank you very much for suggestions and advice.

@Nice65 budget but decent is exactly the category we are looking for, I will take advantage of your research and go for the Minelab Vanquish 340.

Permission is fortunately not an obstacle as mum works a wee hill farm - you can see why she will need something to occupy her having been busy with that most of her life.

You may want to look into a Pinpointer too.

 

[keen-edge]

I had a XP Gold Max fantastic bit of kit XP make fantastic Metal Detectors

 

[Mesquite]

One important thing to bear in mind is to make sure you and your mother are well acquainted with the requirements under Scottish treasure trove legislation.

 

[Kirsty]

Thanks very much, grateful for all your advice.

 

[Nice65]

You may want to look into a Pinpointer too.

That’s something I need to get. For my usage, I’m looking at cheap, GP or Dr Otek on the list so far.

 

[TeeDee]

 

[Nice65]

This arrived today. Can see it making a big difference to the hole sizes and scratching around in icy cold mud. £14.99 posted.