Metal detectorers

[billpierce]

Hit a tonne of nails when last out milling. Have a gimpy cheapo wall scanner. Doesnt really work beyond an inch. Are there simple cheap detectors out there? Not looking to spend hunnerds. The bosch wall scanners seem to work real good on walls but not used in timber.

 

Thanks

[AHPP]

Gut feeling is spend more money. I'd probably work out how much money you have to file off a chain for every nail strike and budget from that. I bet it's between £5 and £10 on a 36" or over. Ten avoided hits pays for a £75 scanner. Can you get scanners that will do nails in logs and also underground cables/pipes? That'd be worth investing in.

[Macpherson]

  On 08/06/2020 at 20:10, billpierce said:

Are there simple cheap detectors out there?

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If you are tempted to buy a detector I believe that the pulse induction type that are used for detecting in wet sand or under water get the best results in timber.. I' m supposing from using one that the more moisture in the wood.... the deeper it see's.

 

I bought one a few years back, it's a C scope 4pi , so far Iv'e managed to avoid milling any metal as it has found the stuff, I keep it handy as it can definitely see as deep as your next board and in the right circumstances probably up to a foot.

 

Got it s/h on ebay for £120 which is a bit less than 1/2 the price of a new one on there just now.

 

Anyway milling some Spruce this week...Talk about tempting fate ? cheers

 

  

[spudulike]

PI is pulse Induction and is used predominantly in wet sand and where there is high mineralisation as this sends normal detectors all over the shop. The down side is the PI detectors react to all metals and have no discrimination at all - not so great when looking for gold!

A good detector will cost circa £100 - 300+ and you can expect it to detect from 6-12" with different metals reacting differently. They are surprisingly good and the more you use them, the better you get at sensing the metal and using the tool. Practice at setting the machine makes you get more out of the detector - same with most tools!

 

[billpierce]

Thanks for replies. Spud can you reccomend a decent pi model/make for around £100?

[spudulike]

I have a Cscope CS4PI that was nearer £300 new, I also have a Whites Classic IDX that I modified in line with some fella called Mr Bills recommendations that livened it up somewhat. That one was £120 second hand.

You will struggle to get a PI new for that price.

Where are you going to use it? PI is good for the beach but would go for a discriminator on dry land.

[billpierce]

It will be purely for saving chains when milling. The scuba ones look handier for living in the truck. Thanks for tips

[Macpherson]

  On 09/06/2020 at 18:54, spudulike said:

not so great when looking for gold!

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Yeah, wouldn't mind finding that in a tree... but it finds any metal for sure  ?