What are the best beginner metal detectors? Are you looking to get into the treasure hunting hobby and you are wondering what the best metal detector to use is? Well, you have come to the right place.
In the good olden days, there was no internet or texting. Children would engage their minds with hobbies such as treasure hunting.
Even today, many still introduce their kids to this engaging hobby. After all, they would acquire valuables such as gold, buckles, silver, relics, jewels, and many others.
When these youngsters grow up, they would be accomplished metal detectorists capable of finding and unearthing different types of metal. However, to succeed in this hobby, you need the best metal detectors for beginners.
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Contents
Types of Beginner Metal Detectors
There are several types of detectors depending on what you want to hunt and where you want to hunt it. These detectors include gold detectors, land coin detectors, multipurpose detectors, and beach and underwater detectors.
Beach and underwater sectors
These metal detectors are used to detect the presence of a metal in water bodies or beach sand. Their search coil is more sensitive, waterproof, and water-resistant. This ensures the detectors are rustproof and long-lasting. Here, we also have the land metal detectors for finding treasures in the ordinary dirt.
Gold detectors
These beginner metal detectors are used to find gold objects. Such detectors have very high frequencies which help them differentiate gold from other metals. They are mainly used in gold-rich areas since gold does not appear just anywhere. It’s important to note that high-end detectors have settings to tune frequencies when they want to find different types of metals.
Multipurpose detectors
The metal detectors are suitable for beginners who don’t know the type of treasure they want to hunt. These gadgets can find any metal as well as gold. Their preset frequencies help you know the type of metal they have found in the search area. i.e., low beep for less valuable items e.g. iron, and high beep for valuable items such as gold.
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How Do Beginner Metal Detectors Work?
A metal detector is used to find various types of metals such as iron, silver, gold, and many others. They are used by personnel such as the army, police, and treasure hunting hobbyists. Most of these individuals use them to either trace lost objects or to find treasures for fun or financial gains.
These gadgets use radio frequency signals technology. When searching for metals, the search coil of the detector sends signals to the ground. If there is a metal present, the signal bounces back to the coil. The coil receives these signals and sets off an alert to the metal detectorists
Depending on the type of metal detector you are using, and the metal present in your search area, the signal can be either strong or weak. Signals strength in most coils is interpreted as a low beep for a weak signal and loud beep for a strong signal. Gold is best detected at high frequencies while iron and relics are detectable at low frequencies.
There are advanced metal detectors for experienced individuals. These high-end detectors use complicated controls to sieve trash and only find the metal you want. Some will also display figures, approximate location, and many more settings. As a beginner it’s important to use less complicated detectors to avoid confusion.
Beginner Metal Detectors Buying Guide
Finding good metal detectors for beginners is exhausting. Several companies make these gadgets, not to mention the limited experience a beginner has. Lucky for you, we have drafted some factors to consider before buying any metal detector.
Comfort of use
Using a metal detector for an extended period is likely to cause injuries, soreness, or extreme exhaustion. For this reason, it’s important to go for ergonomic designs that have a harness and soft grip to lessen the strain. Ensure your gadget is also lightweight to prevent fatigue.
Frequency
Frequency is the speed at which the metal detector sends signals to the ground in search of an object. The most type of technology used is the very-low-frequency (VHF) which helps distinguish between types of metal. However, valuables such as gold are detectable using higher frequencies. For a beginner, frequencies of 5 kHz to 10 kHz are enough, but you may need higher frequencies as you specialize.
Ground balance
The ground always has several other metals that may not be of interest to you. That is why you need a detector with ground balances. Ground balance is the ability of the metal detector to cancel out other signals, in search of more valuable targets. Most beginner devices come with present ground balance, while specialized devices have an automatic ground balance that changes with the search environment.
Sensitivity
This is the ability to increase or decrease the depth of detection. When in areas where minerals are scarce, it is advisable to use devices with high sensitivity to increase search depth. On the other hand detectors with low sensitivity are best suited for mineral-rich areas.
Discrimination
This is the ability of a detector to ignore other targets in the search for more valuable ones. Here you set a certain threshold of conductivity on your device, which in turn ignores items below this threshold. Try to go for devices with this feature, since they help your filter out worthless items such as bottle caps.
Target identification
This is a vital characteristic that helps you to know which type of metal your detector has found. It runs on a number scale and is displayed on an LCD screen. The number ID usually runs from 0-99, depending on the conductivity of the metal. Low conductivity metals have a number between 0-30 while high conductivity metals such as gold run from 30-99.
Best Beginner Metal Detectors Reviews
You might be wondering which metal detector is best for beginners. Well, below are three of the best based on customer reviews and useful considerations.
Bounty Hunter TK4 Tracker IV Metal Detector
Maximize your treasure hunting exploits with this affordable Bounty Hunter TK4.
The device features a 6.7 kHz operating frequency, thus making it suitable for beginners who want to detect a variety of metals in extreme ground conditions.
Its preset ground balance features, ignore other frequencies, making it only sensitive to ground minerals.
This rugged metal detector also features a notch control that helps it distinguish between treasures and unwanted targets.
Features
- Features 3 operations mode – discrimination, all-metal, and tone mode
- Uses two 9V alkaline batteries
- With target strength meter
- Easy sensitivity controls
- With low and high audio discrimination modes
- 8-inches waterproof search coil for a seamless search
- Comes with headphones for use in noisy areas
- 6.6 kHz operating frequency
- Coin-sized detection up to 6 inches deep
- Large object detection is up to 3 feet deep.
Pros
- It is lightweight -only 4.2 lbs.
- Features adjustable length
- It is waterproof hence durable
- Easy to use
- Can hunt all types of metals
- With built-in speaker
Cons
- No pinpoint features
- Does not have volume controls
Garrett ACE 300 Metal Detector with Waterproof Coil and Headphone Plus Accessories
The Garret ACE is one of the high-end machines that have beginner-friendly features.
Featuring a 7-10 inches submersible search-coil, the device allows for deeper scanning to ensure optimized treasure hunt.
Its operating frequency is 8 kHz which is suitable for various metal hunting including gold. What most people love about this detector is its ergonomic and soft-grip handle that ensures you can use it for a long without exhaustion.
Additionally, it comes with accessories such as ACE environmental cover-up, search-coil cover, and easy stow headphones.
Features
- Electronic pinpointing for accuracy
- 7 Inches search coil
- 8 kHz operating frequency
- Five search modes
- Eight sensitivity modes
- Depth adjustments.
- Coin depth indicator,
- Digital target ID function
- Comes with headphones
Pros
- Friendly to beginners
- Can detect up to 8 inches deep
- Suitable for finding a variety of targets
- Accurate thanks to its pinpoint attributes
- Lightweight and ergonomic design
Cons
- Not suitable in salty water
- Lacks adjustable ground balance
Fisher F22 Weatherproof Metal Detector with Submersible Search Coil
If you are looking for a versatile detector that searches amazing depths and is easy to use, the Fisher F22 is an ideal choice.
It features a 9 inches search-coil with a super-fast retune speed thus making your search more enjoyable.
With four modes of operation, this detector is suitable for searching for various types of treasures in different geographical locations.
The equipment features beginner-friendly features such as numeric target ID, iron identifier, adjustable volume, and features to set your tone.
Features
- Easy to use discrimination features
- With a high Sensitivity
- Weatherproof 7 inches Concentric Elliptical Search-coil
- Features notch and static pinpoint features
- 7.69 kHz operating frequency
- Comes with 0-99 numeric target-ID
- Iron identifier icon
- Operate on 2AA batteries
- Customizable 4-tone audio-ID system
- With superfast retune speed and excellent target separation
Pros
- Easy to use
- All-purpose metal detector for any metal
- Versatile in any environment
- Waterproof and durable design
- An ergonomic and lightweight device
- Comes with a 5-year warranty
Cons
- Does not have a manual ground balance
- Does not come with headphones
Conclusion
For a beginner, searching for the best metal detector to start with can be overwhelming. You should not dwell too much on specialized features.
With the already discussed features, you can find a suitable device. If still you can’t choose, try our reviewed beginner metal detectors to give you a valid starting point.
