Ok call me dumb.

[BLK]

I have decided to go two routes. If this is crazy please tell me. Don't be bashful please. I have read and read until I can't read much more. I have decided to do the following:

1. Just bought the HF 66 dollar knock off to simply experiment with detecting. Will try it on a gold earing in a plastic bucket of dirt. Lead shot in a plastic bucket of dirt and then a pull tab in a plastic bucket of dirt. No handle on the bucket. After "learning" what the el cheapo does I will go to an abandoned elementary school playground and try it or throw it away if it does not detect anything in the buckets. The school has been closed 40 years and torn down but the property sits as it was. Just trying to locate a quarter or dime. Want to see if detecting turns me on or not. Looking at the majority of reviews on the HF el cheapo it appears it is a knockoff of a Bounty Hunter. Don't like Chinese knock offs but it is the cheapest way to see if I am even interested. I think.

2. After seeing what the el cheapo does and seeing if I even want to spend more time and more money I want to buy a Fisher Gold bug or Garrett AT Pro and do some serious work around 150 year old abandoned foundations and in a iron ore bed stream for gold. It is a stream fed from the first iron ore mine in my state so discrimination will be quite important I would assume. My problem is I hate to spend 500- 1000 bucks to find out if I even enjoy this hobby.

Any and all comments would be much appreciated.

 

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[airscapes]

Sort of like trying golf with a hockey stick.. would like it better with the proper equipment.

 

[BLK]

Thanks Doug, I tried golf with clubs and I might just as well have used a hockey stick!!

 

[K1DDO1979]

Any trashy sites will be hard. Just go to a quiet yard spot and lay some coins down and get a idea of the sound they should make and depth your machine will pick them up. Then nothing better than to go get a real find. That will tell you if you like it or not. Sounds like you got some good old spots to try. Beware though if you get "hooked" there is no cure! [emoji2]

 

[K1DDO1979]

Also you can get some great starter detectors for a few hundred that will get the job done and no big deal if you end up not using it much (which I doubt). Over time you will know how big,deep and chances of it being a good target by putting some time in with it. After you feel you got all you can out of the machine you can upgrade to a more expensive machine. There are many tips and help that people on here will give you. Don't be afraid to ask. There are no "dumb" questions! [emoji2]

 

[BLK]

Thank you sir. I am 71 and not sure how much stamina I have with three artificial joints and fairly bad arthritic ankles. I am still somewhat active but do not want to get a real expensive detector until I find out if I can stand two three hours at a time with a cheap on. I can always give to my grand kids if it works at all or just can it for 66 bucks.

 

[luvsdux]

I'm a couple years older than you without the artificial joints or arthritis, but don't have the stamina I used to. That said, I strongly recommend most any of the Tesoro choices as they are light enough to easily swing for hours without pain and all are pretty easy to learn and operate.
luvsdux

 

[K1DDO1979]

One thing that's great about detecting is its good exercise. Can take it easy as you want like in a park or hard as you want hiking to a spot a hour back a steep trail. A good find is always a bonus and if your not up for a lot of digging you can cherry pick the good signals you want to dig. If your into coins then they are a easy read most times on your machine especially when they are close to the surface and not in a trashy area. There is so much more I could say good about it but it would take all day. Haha
Also a good hand pin pointer will save you loads of time bending over searching for your target and less chance of damaging a valuable find. [emoji2]

 

[DonDigger]

Have you thought about looking for a local metal detecting club? Attend a meeting and ask about a local mentor. Bet you could find someone who would take you out for a few hours and try your hand with some of the better detectors out there. Always helps to have a little instruction from an experienced digger.

 

[Escape]

Nothing wrong with your plan. Turn on your cheapo detector and wave a coin in front of it. It should make a sound. You're now half way there. I suggest that you try to find a place that is not full of trash as you are starting out. I hope you have a lot of fun and find something really cool. Keep us posted.

 

[boogeyman]

I hate seeing people buying these HF detectors. I can't count how many people I've run into that got one and got completely discouraged with MDing, and a couple days later it's in the back of the closet or on the garage sale table. They miss out on a great outdoor activity because of these cheap pieces of junk. Kinda like trying to build a garden shed with your kids plastic hammer.

Go down the street and buy one of the cheap Garrett's or look at Craigs list or even pawn shops for used machines. Spend a few bucks more and get a decent start. There's so many types of MDing you should be able to find a lot of pleasure in MDing no matter your age and physical condition. Think I'm kidding? I know an 82 year old man that works the parks dragging an oxygen tank behind him! Told me before he found this he was just sitting home on his "A** gathering dust".

 

[TheHarleyMan2]

Like DonDigger said get with a metal detecting club, introduce yourself to them and let them know you are interested in it but don't know much about it. One of them should have more than one detector to let you try it out on adn should explain to you how to use them.

If you get to where you like the sport, you can always invest in a fairly good used metal detector and save some money in the process.

 

[K1DDO1979]

I hate seeing people buying these HF detectors. I can't count how many people I've run into that got one and got completely discouraged with MDing, and a couple days later it's in the back of the closet or on the garage sale table. They miss out on a great outdoor activity because of these cheap pieces of junk. Kinda like trying to build a garden shed with your kids plastic hammer.

Go down the street and buy one of the cheap Garrett's or look at Craigs list or even pawn shops for used machines. Spend a few bucks more and get a decent start. There's so many types of MDing you should be able to find a lot of pleasure in MDing no matter your age and physical condition. Think I'm kidding? I know an 82 year old man that works the parks dragging an oxygen tank behind him! Told me before he found this he was just sitting home on his "A** gathering dust".

I hear ya. I just knew that was the detector he was going to try first so had to make the best of it. Wish he would even go for something like a ace 250 or f2 the first time at least for a hunt. They would blow the cheapo away in performance and be in a good price range! [emoji2]

 

[kingskid1611]

If you are going to try at least give it a fair shake. spend a little more for the detector and if you find it too hard on you, give to grand kids and watch their minds work when they start to discover history.

 

[rickn1]

A good piece of equipment will usually pay for it's self in the long run. My advice is " Buy the best you can afford on your budget", If you decide detecting is not for you, at least with a well known brand of MD you can recoup some of your investment, not so with some of the "knock-off" brands. Once "the bug" has bitten you and you decide how deep you want to get into the hobby you can go for multiple detectors for different applications ( beach/water, gold, hardrock etc.) This being said, I will offer some advice my grandfather once told me. " beware of the man that only owns 1 gun, for he probably knows how to use it." Just my 2 cents ...Rick...

 

[relicmeister]

Why not try to get a deal on a cheap but bona-fide detector on ebay or craigslist? Prob. can score a BH for well under $100

 

[RustyGold]

Welcome to TNet! May I suggest the Eurotek Pro detector! It's a great lightweight machine that gives you enough bells and whistles to make it easier on you and it only cost 219. To 299. Depending on the coil you choose.
See YouTube on people using them to get a good idea if you'd like to try one! Just type in Eurotek Pro in the YouTube search box.
Best of Luck!

 

[Msbeepbeep]

If you can test out some detectors first and ask questions wether that's from members of a detecting club or places where detectors are sold, it would at lest help you figure out what detector is best for what you want to search for and if you think it's the thing for you.

 

[Escape]

A lot of suggestions for a better detector except he already bought one. The cheapo will find metal. Its his starting point. Did a search on the BH. A number of people do start with that detector.

 

[ARC]

Ok...
Here is my "philosophy" on this...
Buy a GOOD detector that has a good resale value from the get go...
This way you can resell if not for you...
AND the reason I say this is simple...
IF you are gonna take the time and effort to walk and dig... why walk OVER something good because you have a POC (piece of crap) in your hand ?
I have always been an advocate of... If you are gonna do it... do it right... the FIRST time.
This way you have a true understanding of the "MD life"...

Just picture this image in your mind...
You just dug all day in area with a detector that reaches say 5-6 inches down...
And everything of value lies at about 7-8 +...
OR...
How bout this image...
The detector you buy picks up nails and crap left and right...
but the gold coin makes no sound at all.