Metal Detectors for Beach Combing
Summer is almost nearing and with it comes the holidays.
Many families, students, and professionals often plan trips for a weekend
getaway at the beach. It's perfect place to cool down in the midst of the
summer heat and even get a tan. The onslaught of vacationers often leaves
beaches crowded with lots of stuff getting lost in the sand or in the water
ranging from valuable jewelry to commonplace knickknacks. Have you have ever
strolled along a sea shore and chanced Upon a lost piece of earring?
Lost items on the beach are sometimes actually “treasures” - by treasure we mean it has some monetary value for exchange. But such items are often difficult to find especially if they've been left on the sand or in the water for a long time. This is where metal detecting comes in for beach combing. if you are a beginner and you are interested in learning about metal detectors for beaches and what things to consider when buying one, then read on to find the perfect beach combing partner for you.
What are metal detectors?
A metal detector is exactly what it is - an instrument used to detect if there is metal nearby. As mentioned earlier, metal detectors help you find objects with metal inclusions, even those buried undergrounds. Metal detectors can be walk through or hand held metal detectors. Walk through metal detectors are those we usually see in airports and are usually used for security purposes. Hand held metal detectors are the types used for the purpose of metal detecting on the beach.
The way a hand-held metal detector works is by passing the
sensor probe or moving it over the ground. When there is a piece of metal
nearby, it can either be indicated by a beeping sound or a moving needle. The
louder the beep or the higher the needle points to the indicator means that the
metal is closer.
What type of beach are you going to for metal detecting?
Many beach combers find that there are more valuable objects
detected in a saltwater beach especially during the holiday seasons with more
tourists losing a variety of items. In saltwater metal detecting, there occurs
a higher chance of false signals. false signals happen when your metal detector
is indicating that there is a nearby piece of metal but in reality, there is
not. This can be caused by the presence of black sand in some beaches. Black
sand contains iron which can be detected by metal detectors.
In freshwater metal detecting, it is easier to find
“treasures" since they cause very little corrosion or damage to the metal
object and even old pieces of metal can still be sold at a profit. However,
although freshwater beaches will give little occurrence of false signals due to
black sand deposits, it does comes with the abundance of garbage which can
impede with your beach combing and which you also have to filter through.
Are you going over dry sand or wet sand?
There are different types of metal detectors for the beach depending on where you would use them- You do metal detecting on dry sand or wet sand. Metal detecting on dry sand is simpler and a bit easier. For dry sand metal detecting, any type of metal detector can be used. It is also easier to dig up detected objects when they are buried in dry sand. Dry sand metal detecting is the more common activity for beginners and those who do beach combing with the use of entry level metal detectors.
When it comes to wet sand metal detecting, you will need a more specific type of metal detectors - one that is water proof. Wet sand metal detecting is also more difficult than dry sand metal detecting. If you are going to do some wet sand metal detecting, you'll need pulse induction machine or a multiple frequency machine. On the one hand, a pulse induction is best used in saltwater beaches and other areas with large mineral deposits. It has the better depth which means that even the older objects which have been buried deep down into the sand for a long time can be detected. It does however come with the disadvantage of being heavy.
On the other hand, a multiple frequency metal detector is best used in areas where there are lots of garbage since it has the ability to discriminate. This means that it has better accuracy in detecting a target. The downside to this type is that unlike a pulse induction machine, it performs poorly in terms of increasing depth of detection.
Here are some of the best metal detectors for you.
1. Fisher F2 Metal Detector
The Fisher F2 Metal Detector is considered one of the best
entry level metal detectors in the market ever since it launched in 2007. It
has an 8-segment visual target identification and 4 tone audio ID as well as
fast and sensitive target response. The Fisher F2 is recommended for coin
shooting, relic hunting, and also beach honing.
Get it on Amazon for $199
2. Garrett Ace 300
Metal Detector
The Ace 300 Metal Detector has a higher frequency which
provides better sensitivity to low and medium conductivity targets such as gold
and lead. it also has an increased iron resolution suitable for saltwater beach
combing.
Get it on Amazon for $254.95
3. Tesoro Compadre Metal Detector
The Tesoro Compadre Metal Detector is said to be designed
for all ages. It has an 8 inch coil and is perfect for detecting metal in areas
with lots of trash.
Get it on Amazon for $165-88
4. Garrett AT Pro Metal Detector
This metal detector is a mid-level detector but is also
suitable for advanced metal detecting with its advanced features. It can be
used for detecting metal that have buried for up to 10 feet deep. It also
high-res iron discrimination for those highly mineralized beaches you visit.
5. Bounty Hunter TK4
Tracker IV Metal Detector
The Bounty Hunter TK4 tracker is useful for detecting
objects even in the most extreme of environments. It’s preset ground balance is
perfect for saltwater metal detecting since it neutralizes the response to
mineral deposits in the sand.
Get it on Amazon for $129.95
6. Fisher F22 Metal Detector
The Fisher F22 Metal Detector is the latest and upgraded
version of the Fisher F2 model. It is useful for detecting coins, jewelry, and
artifacts. It has an additional search mode, new coil design, 10 adjustable
sensitivity levels and can detect metals that are up to nine inches deep. Its
weatherproof control box is also smaller and more compact.
Get it on Amazon for $229