New Zealand Gold Prospecting & Metal Detecting Forums Archive

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Detectors for sale - basic starter dtector

goldhanded		Posted : Friday, 2 August 2013 1:46:11 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 29/03/2013(UTC) Posts: 43 Location: nationwide Thanks: 66 times Was thanked: 41 time(s) in 19 post(s)		Hi,I have a friend that is wanting to get into detecting,he has a budget of under $500 and id like him to get himself into a half decent machine so hes not wasting his money on a cheap bit of junk,do's anybody have something for sale that may suit him,let me know what you have,cheers

chrischch		Posted : Friday, 2 August 2013 2:21:18 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 28/08/2011(UTC) Posts: 811 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 192 times Was thanked: 105 time(s) in 104 post(s)		I have a Fisher F2, great machine. If I didn't want to go find nuggets, I would be still using it. Found well over $1000 in goldies. $300 ono
		Fisher Goldbug Pro, Fisher F2, Garrett Propointer.

Guardian		Posted : Friday, 2 August 2013 4:42:52 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 30/10/2011(UTC) Posts: 716 Location: Dunedin Thanks: 42 times Was thanked: 222 time(s) in 185 post(s)		That's a good point Chrischch. What does your friend want the detector for Goldhanded? Gold or Beach? The Fisher F2 is an awesome machine and really I don't think there is anything close for the price. The F2 Holds it's price as they aren't that expensive to begin with - Features/Performance - Not many people want to part with them. The only bad thing you seem to hear about them from ex-owners is "I wish I hadn't sold my F2". That said if he can push the $$$ up $40 go for the F4. As it has adjustable Ground balance it will be more forgiving in different environments. If your after gold than the Fisher Gold Bug is about $775.

goldhanded		Posted : Friday, 2 August 2013 9:49:25 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 29/03/2013(UTC) Posts: 43 Location: nationwide Thanks: 66 times Was thanked: 41 time(s) in 19 post(s)		Hi,cheers for that,I will PM you his phone number as he is interested,at this stage its just to be used to learn with,coins etc but I am expecting once hes into the swing of things he will move towards a gold bug (or similar) for up the creeks,is that $775 nz?I use an infinium,a gold bug would be a handy machine,do you know if the fishers are waterproof at all?Cheers

overdog		Posted : Saturday, 3 August 2013 12:00:47 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Medals: Groups: Registered Joined: 2/03/2010(UTC) Posts: 418 Location: nelson Thanks: 69 times Was thanked: 82 time(s) in 68 post(s)		Hi Goldhanded-All coils for the bug are waterproof,there were some issues with the 11 inch leaking and the 10 inch to a lesser extent but the 5 inch seems to be bulletproof and that's the one you want for nuggets...

Guardian		Posted : Sunday, 4 August 2013 9:08:59 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 30/10/2011(UTC) Posts: 716 Location: Dunedin Thanks: 42 times Was thanked: 222 time(s) in 185 post(s)		Hi Yip that price is NZ from a NZ dealer with warranty. Comes with the 5" coil so for doing parks you would require something bigger but the 5" is great for trashy areas like around swings and other play equipment and of course for crevices when deteting for gold. The Goldbug can also be used to an extent at the beach. Which is it's slight advantage over the Garrett AT-Gold as the ATG can only be used on dry salt sand. The advantage with the ATG is it's waterproof (whole machine) to 3 metres. In my opinion the Goldbug is just a tiny bit more stable in the Gold fields (down here at least). I know from others that the Goldbug is great at parks as well but I have only used one in the gold fields.

goldhanded		Posted : Monday, 5 August 2013 11:15:27 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 29/03/2013(UTC) Posts: 43 Location: nationwide Thanks: 66 times Was thanked: 41 time(s) in 19 post(s)		Cheers Guardian,yes wouldn't mind getting my hands on one in the future,dont think Id need to splash out on AT-gold as would have well enough covered with bug and infinium,would be an interesting combination anyway,Iv thought,thanks for the info

Guardian		Posted : Tuesday, 6 August 2013 9:27:34 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 30/10/2011(UTC) Posts: 716 Location: Dunedin Thanks: 42 times Was thanked: 222 time(s) in 185 post(s)		Yeah more mentioned the AT-Gold as a reference for being waterproof - The Goldbug isn't. As you would know with the Infinium even if your not using the machine in the water it's nice to know if it goes in accidentally it's not an issue *8^)

goldhanded		Posted : Tuesday, 6 August 2013 4:27:00 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 29/03/2013(UTC) Posts: 43 Location: nationwide Thanks: 66 times Was thanked: 41 time(s) in 19 post(s)		hmmm,good point though,especially after my last trip,we dropped a pack into an eddy in the creek,it was bad enough losing the coffee and sugar,haha,am thinking though if im underwater I think I wouldn't worry to much about the smaller bits the AT would pick up on as im not dredgeing,but if the infinium gos off,Im digging come hell or high water,so the gold bug would probly be the best bet and just use for land,it would be bloody good if they were waterproof though,even just for a couple of metres,if my theory works out,maybe Il buy both lol,cheers mate

chrischch		Posted : Tuesday, 6 August 2013 5:57:49 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 28/08/2011(UTC) Posts: 811 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 192 times Was thanked: 105 time(s) in 104 post(s)		i'm sure with some ingenuity you could either mount the control box above water or make a waterproof container to hold the control box.
		Fisher Goldbug Pro, Fisher F2, Garrett Propointer.

Guardian		Posted : Tuesday, 6 August 2013 7:29:06 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 30/10/2011(UTC) Posts: 716 Location: Dunedin Thanks: 42 times Was thanked: 222 time(s) in 185 post(s)		No worries. Keep in mind that $775 is with the 5" coil if you're using it on land you would probably want an 11" And if you're not using it for gold the F4 (comes with the 11") would be a great cheaper option. I think that if you got a Goldbug you would be happy and not go for the AT-Gold. It's funny how I liked the Goldbug and the owner of the Goldbug liked my AT-Gold we are funny creatures always want what we don't have. All the machines mentioned are excellent. Cheers Gregg