New Zealand Gold Prospecting & Metal Detecting Forums Archive

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Rusty		Posted : Friday, 13 January 2012 4:03:46 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Dust Groups: Registered Joined: 13/01/2012(UTC) Posts: 3 Location: Invercargill Thanks: 1 times		Hello there. I'm new to metal detecting and to this forum, so I may not do things "right" yet. Is there anyone around Invercargill I can discuss metal detectors/ detecting with in person? I gave my grandson a basic metal detector for his birthday and he's just about hooked - but now I'd like to buy one for myself. Probably 2nd hand as it will not be a number one priority for my finances. It would be just a hooby as I travel around. I've heard about one that "tells" you what kind of metal you've detected before you dig, and that sounds like a good idea to me. Could I get a reasonable one for $100? What are the things to look for? What is a good, reasonably - priced book to buy to tell me how to go about metal detecting? Second-hand, hopefully. Does anyone have a metal detector for sale that would suit my needs? Thanks kindly Rusty
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Guardian		Posted : Friday, 13 January 2012 5:47:54 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)		Hi Rusty Welcome. For the price of a good starter detector I'm not sure I would bother buying second hand. Read through the forums and I think you will see that the Fisher F2 and the Garrett Ace 250 are great machines and are about NZ$320 from there I guess it depends how far into your equipment you want to go. There are plenty of people on here that will be more than happy to assist you along the way. I've only been a member for a short time and have found the input of the other members invaluable. Happy hunting!

nzpoohbear40		Posted : Friday, 13 January 2012 7:00:00 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 14/07/2011(UTC) Posts: 1,482 Location: Matura Thanks: 26 times Was thanked: 384 time(s) in 329 post(s)		hi rusty yes wellcome to the forums.....There are 100.00 detectors out there but trust me they are garbage and you will be lucky if they detect below 2 inches in the ground....ChrisCHCH who is a member on here had asked me what a good starter one would be and even after my advice along with everyone elses he went a bought a 100.00 machine and brought it over and we went out and tested it in a near by school yard...and beleave me he was lucky if he got a target at more than an inch and half to 2 inches....I would find targets and then get him to go over them and he couldnt get a signal at all. needless to say he was very disapointed with it and ended up buying a fisher F2 and he is happy as punch now.
		Chris - Fisher Dealer http://www.puiakisupply.co.nz/

Rusty		Posted : Saturday, 14 January 2012 4:27:15 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Dust Groups: Registered Joined: 13/01/2012(UTC) Posts: 3 Location: Invercargill Thanks: 1 times		Thanks for those replies. My confusion is that I know a person with a cheapie version (under $100) and it picks up coins and metals about 3 inches under the ground, and can discern between metals if the settings are correct. I know that a number of people don't get their settings "right" and when his settings weren't "right" then he didn't get much at all. Some others had tried and said his detector was no good, but when the techie- Dad tweaked it, it then worked brilliantly with coins found everytime he went out. Can I please have comments on this. Thanks.
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Guardian		Posted : Saturday, 14 January 2012 8:26:24 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)		Hi Rusty Poohbears comments are solid. You might think that $100 unit will be ok, sure you will find targets and you might be happy thinking your machine is doing a good job. The next guy who comes along will also be happy with your decision as you have literally just skimmed the surface. In fact it is in our interest to tell you to buy the cheap one. *8^) If you go for the likes of a Fisher F2 or a Garrett Ace 250/350 and invest time getting to know your machine you can grow with it, if you get the cheap one you will most likely grow sick of it. If $100 is all you wish to invest then I hope you're not left feeling like that was $100 you could have put towards a better machine. Still age old saying something is better than nothing. Cheers

Rusty		Posted : Saturday, 14 January 2012 9:58:21 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Dust Groups: Registered Joined: 13/01/2012(UTC) Posts: 3 Location: Invercargill Thanks: 1 times		Thanks Guys. I think I might go for the Fisher F2 then.
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Guardian		Posted : Saturday, 14 January 2012 10:24:30 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)		Hi Rusty Good choice! There is a member on here rgmcbrid he is the Fisher dealer and his prices are brilliant. Here is the link to his site http://www.puiakisupply.co.nz/

Derek0000		Posted : Friday, 20 January 2012 2:54:00 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Flake Groups: Registered Joined: 7/06/2011(UTC) Posts: 14 Location: Gore, Southland, NZ Thanks: 4 times		im in gore come have a go with mine if you want garrett ace 350

Lammerlaw		Posted : Friday, 20 January 2012 9:48:51 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 24/05/2011(UTC) Posts: 1,721 Thanks: 72 times Was thanked: 579 time(s) in 396 post(s)		My son and I use a Minelab which cost $7500 and also have two Goldbugs at $800 each - value for money is the goldbug every time. My son has paid his off I think and I have come close to it as well and we are no out that much. He uses his for coins as well as Gold and I have been amazed at the bits and pieces he has found with it. Just the other day my Goldbug got two pieces of Gold each under half gramme with ease.