Gold/Metal detecting.

ST391GQ · Senior Member

Gold/Metal detecting.

gooba53 · Guru

Not an expert, haven't really got a clue, but thought I'd share. We also thought it would be a bit of fun. We've had two cheap detectors, the second one just last year from Aldi. It is a bit of fun but pretty frustrating. It did fill in a bit of time but we found that the machine went flat pretty quickly and that the sensors weren't very accurate. When I worked our Manager was a very experienced fossicker and always said to get something mid range to even start with. The experiences I've had with the cheap ones leads me to think he may have been correct. I don't think we've given up on fossicking yet, it still is a good bit of fun. I will be interested in others experiences.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

I thought the same...
Bought a Minelab $700 version. Good product, but not good enough.
I suggest if you are dinkum you need to spend $5,000 or forget it.

Cheers,
Peter

03_Troopy · Guru

If you can't buy something decent for $700, then it isn't worth buying one. I have an ex Army (same as used by US and Aus Army in Vietnam or possibly a little later) mine detector that used to work pretty well. Found a bit of stuff here and there, but nothing of much value. And it's bluddy heavy to use. Still sitting in the shed somewhere. The expensive ones can supposedly discriminate between different metals, but to be so selective they would have to miss out on smaller pieces I would imagine.

Bessie · Veteran Member

Hi Keith, Our first metal detector was a Whites, purchased in 1980 (still works a treat) we have also used Compass and Minelab have all been good and they were all reasonably priced. In saying that we will be upgrading to a new Minelab in the near future, great hobby, more fun now we have the van, fills in many happy hours. Have you thought of hiring one, might be a good place to start. Picture shows a SMALL collection of our finds from the gold fields. Bessie.

Bruce and Bev · Guru

Keith. If you have a retailer selling only detectors that you can access - go visit them and get advice on the various 2nd hand ones they will be selling. These people usually also have the detecting "bug" and will be happy to tell you what would be best for you depending on where you intend to go, what you want to find and costs -v- benefits.

Write down the names and model no's of what they recommend and their prices for them or what they reckon you would pay for one, then have a look on EBay and Gumtree. Plenty of people buy quality detectors, get sick of it and then flog them off cheaply for some ready cash (especially just after Xmas when they have lots of bills and no $$$$)

Gunsondeck · Senior Member

ST391GQ wrote:
Anyone here do this??
I am fairly interested in trying it out ...but know diddly-squat about it. Thinking of getting a second hand or cheapie to start off with to see if it will catch on or not....but have not a cue how to go about it.
So I was wondering if any cluey folk on here could help out with some advice on what I need to do or get to get started with this.
Don't wanna spend heaps in case it turns out to be a flop....but obviously want a machine that will work....and if all the planets align....go from there.

Cheers Keith

Hi Keith, all need to know and everyone is very helpful.

Australian Metal Detecting and Relic Hunting

Hi Bessie, some fantastic and very rare finds in that box, like the powder flasks and cricket buckle.

G.

hako · Guru

Bessie - what great stories some of those items in your collection could tell.

banjo · Senior Member

My son in law is an avid metal detectorist, he is a militaria enthusiast and has a shed full of gear he has found, from wartime identity tags to a rusted out 303 rifle !
His places to search are mainly old army camps around the WA coast.

He uses a Minelab 2100 model, he's never been gold detecting though.

Goldfinger · Senior Member

G'day Keith and welcome..Please refer my post as Golddetectornomad which I have just re-posted for your info.......contains constructive information and links...
Good luck...Hoo Roo

P.S. It's on page 77 in this General Forum....I thought when I just made the update post that the thread would be brought forward......however if you are prepared to 'dig' <pun intended> you will find it....

-- Edited by Goldfinger on Tuesday 6th of January 2015 04:43:01 PM

-- Edited by Goldfinger on Tuesday 6th of January 2015 08:40:01 PM

Cloak · Guru

We might be doing some detecting when we retire soon and yes the detectors that work are in the order of $5000 - $8000.

I've spoken to others who make a living out of it and on average pinhead size specks is what you can expect to find.
The larger models are like a lotto win, kinda rare. That said if you average $50 - $200 each and you find a few per week then
it makes sense. Folks I've spoken to treat it like a job and spend 4 - 8 hrs / day buzzing around so it's like anything - you make your own luck.

I guess the biggest reward is going to those places and enjoying the lifestyle weather you find much or not.

Have a look at "Gold Digger Girls" on youtube. They are an Aussie couple who are living the dream.

ST391GQ · Senior Member

Thanks for all the replies folks.

We are ....atm....just contemplating this for just a bit extra fun whenever we just stop somewhere for a while.

Sort of like whenever I go fishing really...bait the hook....throw line in (used to be able to actually cast it...but stuffed shoulders don't work so good doin that now)...grab hat over eyes...sit back n the world can bugger off. Don't catch many fish .....but that's not the only point of goin fishin is it.....?

So metal detecting is maybe a sort of special interest....but Maybe the bug will bite ...who knows.

Keep the ideas coming but ....already got some good ones from the brains trust on here hey....thank you all for that.

Cheers Keith

SnowT · Guru

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
I thought the same...
Bought a Minelab $700 version. Good product, but not good enough.
I suggest if you are dinkum you need to spend $5,000 or forget it.

Cheers,
Peter

Peter are you Serious...

If you don't have the $5000 to buy the Big Minelab GPX 4500 or the newer 5000 for [$6500] then a good old Minelab X-Terra 705

Is not a bad buy.. with the exchange rate and such they are under $1000 therefore no Tax...

Yes My family has consistently used the above linked site to purchase most of out current detector's..

So Peter Stop Bad mouthing the cheaper detector's....

- Actually if you have managed to watch the any of the Gold Fever Tv show's.. young Kia uses the 705 to great success.. It's not just the quality of the detector it is the user and their knowledge..

Juergen..

pricey43 · Guru

Hubby went up to Maryborough and did a one day course with the Minelab. Included going out in the field with a 4500 and a 5000. Said as a beginner he learnt a lot. Friends have asked us to go out with them this year and borrow one of theirs. Then we can decide whether to buy one or not.

Goldfinger · Senior Member

This is all the gear you need....a Minelab 4000/4500/5000 will find you gold if it is there.....we believe Minelab are going to bring out a new Super Dooper Detector later this year....all the previous Minelabs' in their pecking order should be cheaper then, from Prospectors looking to Trade up...unless your practically full time you don't need spend the big bucks to find some gold...hiring is the way to go to find out if it suits you....

.If you do consider purchase deal with an accredited Dealer..China are now making 5000's that look like the real deal but have a ""rubber band"" inside...fake detectors every day of the week and twice on Sundays...many on Feebay have been caught...China also makes fake Coils of the popular brands as well..Dealers wont touch them.....caveat emptor...Hoo Roo

Delta18 · Guru

I hope in pic 4 you are not walking away leaving that hole unfilled. Surely nobody does that anymore?

Bessie · Veteran Member

Being metal detectors for many years would have to give thumbs up to the cheaper well known brand detectors, our youngest daughter found with a Tesoro Dingo a half gold Sovereign plus a gold wedding band from the 1850's stamped with the royal crown (a great find which she still reminds us regularly) used to get very competitive. We found it does pay to research your sites and history which is just as rewarding as finding treasure. Bessie.

Moonraker · Senior Member

Keith,
Best place to start is to google "Gold Prospecting WA" web site. Has all the info needed if you want to consider gold prospecting using metal detectors. These guys know what they are taking about and offer great info. whether for prospecting in WA or anywhere else.

-- Edited by Moonraker on Wednesday 7th of January 2015 01:05:41 AM

Goldfinger · Senior Member

Moonraker, the link to click, to Gold Prospecting W.A., was already provided to Keith in my previous post on page 77....Keith has already made comments there as well...it is indeed an excellent resource for W.A......I'm also a member on several Victorian Prospecting Forums and I can provide links if any further interest on the Golden Triangle and Qld and N.S.W. Goldfields..

Delta..as a member of PMAV <Prospectors & Miners Association of Victoria> and also the NSW and Canberra Prospectors Association ,I have followed the Prospectors creed of 'always filling the hole' and leaving nothing but footprints for the past 20 years prospecting...I do however fill many holes that I come across possibly dug by Newbies.....

Here is a photo of some gold found with a detector in Wedderburn Vic environs in recent times ...60 odd Ozs....currently gold is approx. Au $1400 Troy Oz <US$1215 Oz> which equates to approx. Au$45/50 gram as a rule of thumb....Hoo Roo

-- Edited by Goldfinger on Wednesday 7th of January 2015 06:42:35 AM

-- Edited by Goldfinger on Wednesday 7th of January 2015 06:44:06 AM

Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.