Are you new to treasure hunting and are probably wondering, "how much are metal detectors?" You undoubtedly believe that value to be high, but that is not the case. Depending on your technological needs, metal detectors are affordable. We invite you to read this article to know which metal detector on the market is the most effective and pocket friendly.
Let's get started!
What Is a Metal Detector?
A metal detector is an electronic device that can respond to a metal object that is not detectable by the human eye. Simple, a metal detector generates a current that can measure metallic items using an oscillator.
A metal detector, invented in the early 1800s by Gustave Trouvé, can find anything made from metal-like materials, including coins, jewelry, guns, and other items.
Historians may use them to locate relics and other valuable items. You can utilize them on beaches where people search for lost jewels and cash. The price of one will vary depending on the kind, features, brand, and store where it is purchased.
Types of Metal Detectors
It would help if you first decided where and what metal-detecting venture you will undertake. There are four basic categories: gold prospecting, coin and jewelry searching, deep-seeking treasure hunting, and relic hunting. Each metal detection may be carried out on land or underwater, and different metal detectors are needed for each activity.
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Mid-range metal detector frequency is needed to discover coins and jewels on land or underwater with a depth of up to 20cm. A two-box or deep-seeking metal detector is required to locate deep treasures and significant amounts of hidden precious metals. "A gold detector is a unique metal detector explicitly made to look for tiny particles of gold.
Each usage necessitates a different metal detector setting, and as a result, each will cost an additional amount.
The following are a few of the different metal detector options:
i. PI Detector
A PI detector, or pulse induction metal detector, is utilized when there is a lot of iron in the ground. These detectors produce brief electrical pulses, which travel through the earth and are reflected in the receiver.
ii. VLF Detector
The most popular metal detectors are VLF detectors or very low-frequency detectors. These detectors detect changes in the environment by detecting changes in the electromagnetic field that extends from the detector's search coil to the ground.
iii. Security Metal Detector
Security metal detectors are utilized in several contexts to find firearms and other metal items. You can install these detectors on a vehicle, walk-through, or handheld.
iv. Portable Detector
Small and portable handheld security metal detectors are used to check people for metal items before or after they pass through walk-through metal detectors. You can find these detectors at facility security checks.
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So, how much does a metal detector cost? We will group them according to cost if you want a working metal detector. There are low-cost, average-priced, and expensive metal detectors.
a) Inexpensive Metal Detectors
Various metal detectors are available, with prices ranging from 200 to 500 dollars. The ultimate cost varies depending on the feature you want. These detectors are affordable, but that does not mean that they perform subpar; on the contrary, they are great tools to get started in the metal detecting field. They are designed for novices and individuals who do not do deep explorations.
The following metal detectors are among the most affordable:
1. Garrett ACE 200
- Garrett ACE 200 Metal Detector with 6.5" x 9" Waterproof Coil, Garrett Treasure Sound Headphones, Instruction Manual, Batteries, and a Two-Year Warranty
- New Digital Target ID: 0 to 99 scale offers target information
- New Camlocks for increased stem stability
- New Includes Pulse-Width Modulation audio: sharper, more responsive audio
- Light weight with big performance at a small price
The Garrett 200 is an excellent machine, costing $199,95 as of writing this. This gold prospecting metal detector is perfect for people looking for gold, artifacts, coins, and jewelry. Unlike most metal detectors, The Garrett 200 is designed to operate in freshwater and on beaches.
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Every excursion is made more accessible by the Garrett ACE 200 detector. What consumers love the most about this detector is that it weighs just one kilogram, roughly, is portable, and has attractive features like the automated adjustment of soil mineralization or the currency depth indication that enable anybody to make a good discovery.
2. Fisher F22
- ALL PURPOSE METAL DETECTOR: Weatherproof metal detector that can detect Jewelry, Coins, and Artifacts on land and shallow water. Finds metal targets on the surface and buried up to nine inches deep.
- TREASURE HUNT IN ANY CONDITION: This metal detector is weatherproof for use in the harshest weather and environments. Rain or shine, this metal detector can find treasure.
- JUST TURN-ON-AND-GO: A metal detector made for adults but easy enough for a child to operate. Easy-to-use features like discrimination, sensitivity, notch, and pinpoint make finding treasures buried deep underground a breeze.
- ACCURATE ALL METAL DETECTORS: This underground detector distinguishes between valuable targets and unwanted metals. Quickly identify all types of buried targets by Target Categories and a 0-99 numeric Target-ID, enhanced with a 4-Tone Audio-ID System.
- LIGHTWEIGHT ERGONOMIC & COMFORTABLE: This well-balanced weatherproof metal detector weighs approximately 2 pounds and has a padded hand grip and arm cup for comfortable treasure hunting.
This is a good metal detector, which costs $254,96, and offers five search modes, which means the metal detector finds everything from coins to artifacts. This gadget has a 7-by-10-inch Performance search coil with an 8-kHz frequency that provides excellent search quality.
It also contains four discriminating features that let you locate everything you need and has a high conductivity to find items made of silver.
b) Regular Cost Detectors
Other metal detectors, which range in price from $400 to $600, offer excellent conditions for searching for different metals. The Garrett Ace 400 and the AT Pro are a couple of them.
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1. Teknetics Omega 8500
- User-friendly metal detector ideal for coin shooting, relic hunting, and gold prospecting
- Large, easy-to-read LCD display with 2-digit numerical target ID system
- Running depth indicator identifies target depths from 0 to 8 inches
- Discrimination, All Metals Autotone, and Static Pinpoint modes; 4-tone audio discrimination
- Runs for up to 25 hours on single 9-volt battery; 7.8 kHz operating frequency
This robust metal detector costs $339,96, as of writing this, and has several capabilities that let you embark on an adventure and discover riches at great depth. It features a digital target ID that can show values between 0 and 99 at 10 kHz.
One of this detector's standout features is the discrimination control, which may change search patterns by excluding things you do not want to find. It includes an 11 DD" search coil cover, an environmental covering, and wireless headphones.
2. Garrett AT Pro Waterproof Metal Detectors
The Garrett AT Pro is the best metal detector since it can withstand practically any environment, and you can test it in any setting. The AT Pro costs around $552.46. Additionally, the housing can withstand submersion up to three meters deep, enabling one to detect objects in marshes and other moist environments.
Its most significant advantages are the adaptability features to the all-terrain, waterproof coil, high-resolution iron discriminations with a professional kind of audio, and its operations at a frequency of 15 kHz. This enables a search with a better likelihood of discovering an exceptional discovery.
c) High-Cost Detectors
There are many expensive, high-end metal detectors with features that cover the military's requirements for metal and gold detection.
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Even though it often costs a bit more than the other expenditures, it is also simple to get, especially with various payment options.
The Garrett AT Max Waterproof Metal Detectors is among the top-class high-end metal detectors.
1. Garrett AT Max Deep-seeker Metal Detector
- Fully Waterproof to 10 Feet
- Wireless Headphones Included
- 8.5" x 11" PROformance Searchcoil Included
- All Metal Iron Audio
- Maximum Detection Depth
The price of this waterproof metal detector is $722.45. It is regarded as the all-terrain beast for which every Garrett user long yearns. One of the best qualities that make Garrett AT an excellent metal detector is that the Z-Lynk transmission system is already integrated. It also emphasizes the 175 resolution points in its automated ground balancing, making it the right metal detector.
The Garrett Max metal detector has many characteristics, including its maximum depth and operating frequency.
Factors to Consider When Evaluating the Cost of a Metal Detector
a) Discrimination: This enables you to ignore or recognize all metals to concentrate on the ones you desire.
b) Ground Balancing: This enhances the metal detector's performance by adjusting for various mineralized soil conditions.
c) Adjustable Sensitivity: Adjusting the sensitivity of a metal detector will affect how far below it can detect targets.
d) LCD Display and Visual Target Displays: The operations, controls, and analysis of the target are shown on the metal detector's liquid crystal display (LCD screen), which also serves as a visual representation of the target displays.
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e) Waterproof Capability: Some versions are made to withstand submersion. Depending on the depth rating, you may use your gadget to snorkel or dive.
f) Weight and Design: While many detectors are light and easy to handle, others are hefty and difficult to use. Be cautious about reviewing each model's weight and method under the site's specs category.
g) Pinpointing: This enables you to focus precisely on a particular target.
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