Metal Detectors: A Complete Buying Guide for Metal Detectors

We have all dreamed of being Indiana Jones and finding incredible treasures hidden in the most remote places. Better yet, go on adventures with friends or family or spend more time with our children. Well, there is a tool that will allow us to have all this in an instant, in addition to giving us emotion, fun, or satisfaction. We refer to metal detectors.

This article will deal in-depth about this product to solve all your doubts and concerns. Please keep reading to learn more about metal detectors, their possible uses, their mode of operation, and the regulations that regulate them. We started!

The Most Important

• Metal detectors are a fascinating tool for various uses. Its utility allows it to operate in different locations, with options for both children and professionals.
• Three metal detectors can be distinguished: handheld, arm, and submersible, each with different characteristics and functionalities.
• You must consider the size and shape of the metal detector coil, along with the other purchase criteria. The performance of the detectors may vary from one product to another.

Shopping Guide: Everything You Should Know About Metal Detectors

If we are not too familiar with this product, totally understandable questions may arise. In this sense, it is necessary to know more in-depth how it works and the composition of metal detectors. Therefore, in this section, we will solve the most frequent doubts surrounding this mysterious artifact. You will see that it is easier than you thought.

What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of a Metal Detector?

The metal detector is a product that offers many more advantages than disadvantages. Although they are not toys, they are a great element for parents and children to spend time together, sharing a hobby. Therefore, the main advantages it grants are sentimental. They help create memories, give excitement, fun, and satisfaction to those who use them.

In addition, for those who use it professionally, it has the advantage that they can earn money thanks to it, being able to invest made in this product profitable.

As a great disadvantage, we can emphasize that not all metal detectors can be used in all spaces since not all are submersible.

However, to make all the advantages and disadvantages more visual, we present the following explanatory table:

What Types of Metal Detectors are there?

We can make a general classification of metal detectors, differentiating three large groups: submersible, arm, and hand.
These three groups may share characteristics, as there are handheld and arm metal detectors that are waterproof so that We can use them on the beach, but others are not. However, each group has certain weights and dimensions that characterize them.

Therefore, it is convenient to avoid confusion and clarify the different models of metal detectors, create a comparative table between the different detectors establishing their specifications:

How do you use a Metal Detector?

We can use a metal detector in many different ways depending on the detector you have decided to buy. For example, We can use a handheld detector ( pinpointer ) to find the object we are looking for in very confined spaces, as it offers greater precision at the cost of a lower detection range.

Unlike the previous one, the arm ones have a greater range of use since they are mostly used professionally. These are called multifrequency, and their function is to search for hidden objects or less deep in the earth. We can also highlight the so-called high frequency, which is used to discover tiny objects hidden underground.

Also, it should be noted that the more complete and professional the metal detector that interests us, the more complex it will be to use. Therefore, those detectors that are intended to be used by children will be much easier to use.

How does a Metal Detector Work?

In terms of operation, there are no differences between the various metal detectors. However, in the following lines, we will explain the mechanics of this tool without going into excessive detail.

Let’s say the brain of a metal detector is the coil, which generates everything necessary for the rest of the detector to work. The coil creates an electromagnetic field, which can be higher or lower depending on the metal detector we are using. This field is the one in charge of detecting hidden objects underground. If it detects a metallic object, the signal intensifies its strength and, later, is transformed into sound, light, or any other warning.

Where can I use a Metal Detector?

Metal detectors can be used practically anywhere, such as beaches, dirt, gravel, mountains, walls, and even at sea, if your model allows it. However, there are certain places where we cannot use these instruments, which are:

• Archaeological zones
• Natural reserves
• Well of cultural interest areas
• Castles
• Churches
• Archeological sites

You have to move to a minimum radius of 2 kilometers to use our metal detector without violating any legal regulations from these areas. Therefore, it is convenient to be very attentive to these small details if we do not want to commit some irregularities.

What can I use a Metal Detector for?

In this sense, the answer may be redundant. However, we can use a metal detector for certain tasks depending on its characteristics and technical possibilities. For example, depending on the frequency that our metal detector uses, it may even have a greater or lesser type of metals, including gold. Who has not ever imagined finding a great treasure in the backyard of his house or near your residence?

However, its use is not always based on the search for gold or treasure. In fact, where they are most used is to find mines in areas immersed in armed conflicts or to detect weapons in the field of security, such as in airports.

Are Metal Detectors Legal?

Of course, they are! As we have already discussed, its use is increasingly widespread, both among children and adults. It can even be used as a hobby or professionally.
However, it never hurts to learn about what can and cannot be done with a detector, where to use it, and where its use is disabled.

Generally, current rules and regulations are often overlooked. For this reason, it is essential to be well informed about the laws that govern metal detection.

Next, we will detail the laws and regulations that organize the activity in Spain. But, for the most part, the guiding premise is the protection of archaeological and cultural heritage.

What is the Regulation of Metal Detectors?

This aspect is crucial when purchasing and using a metal detector. The regulations governing its use are as follows:

• 1992 Malta Convention ( 1 ): Calls for archaeological heritage protection in all countries. To be able to use metal detectors in these places, authorization is necessary.
• Directive 921 of 1981: Requires that all countries have a registry of citizens who own a metal detector, to which a user license must be issued.
• Article 323 of the Penal Code ( 2 ): Punishes damage to historical or cultural property. In addition, it typifies the crimes of theft, robbery, misappropriation, or fraud with higher penalties when it comes to historical or cultural property.
• Law 16/1985, of June 25, on Spanish Historical Heritage ( 3 ): It seeks to preserve the historical heritage of Spain, prohibiting the taking of these assets. However, it does not refer to the use of metal detectors as a cause of infringement. Therefore, if an asset of this type is found, it must bring it to the attention of the competent authorities.
• City of Valencia: This is the only jurisdiction in Spain where authorization for metal detectors is prohibited and required.

Purchase Criteria

Next, we will present the elements that must be taken into account when buying a metal detector. In this way, you can choose the best and most necessary product among all the options that the market presents. The criteria in which you must put all your senses are the following.

• Use
• Age
• Screen
• Batteries
• Coil

Use

When the use that you want to give the metal detector is professional, it must consider several characteristics. First, the price, since these models require a high outlay of money. In addition, this detector must be multi-frequency to adapt to all detection spaces, with ideal power of 40 kHz.

On the contrary, if what you want is a metal detector for beginners, the characteristics to consider a change. First of all, the price of the product will drop dramatically. Furthermore, it cannot use it on all surfaces since the frequency is much lower, hovering around 7 kHz. However, a point in favor of these detectors is their ease of use and handling.

Age

Many parents want their children to get started with metal detectors, with the aim that they acquire a hobby. However, finding a suitable one for them is not an easy task.

The first thing to keep in mind is that the detector is easy to understand and use by the little ones in the house. Therefore, the screen and its interface must be intuitive. In addition, our children must have fun when using it, both in the garden of the house and on a beach or park, as long as its use is enabled.

Screen

Mainly, you will find two types of screens: LCD or LED. However, the important thing is that the screen embedded in the metal detector has high functionality. It marks as many factors as possible, such as depth, volume, sensitivity, or battery.

In addition, the screen must have considerable dimensions, between 10 and 20 centimeters, and a good lighting system, for those cases in which you want to use the detector at night.

Batteries

As for the battery, we can find two types: models with a rechargeable battery and others that work with batteries. However, the most important thing is its duration. This will give us an indication of the detector’s autonomy and the useful life that the device may have.

This is the only aspect that should interest us in terms of battery. If a battery life guarantees a longer duration than that of a battery, we should choose this option as the ideal power source for our detector.

Coil

The coil is the most important item to look at when buying a metal detector. We can find them of small diameter (15 cm), medium (from 16 to 28 cm), or large (more than 28 cm).

In addition, the coil can be circular (detects deeper) or elliptical (handles better and covers more ground). The larger the diameter of the coil, the greater the detector’s magnetic field and the depth at which it can detect objects.

Conclusion

In this article, we have analyzed metal detectors, their operating mechanism, their advantages and disadvantages, the regulations that regulate their use, and the criteria that must be considered when choosing them.

The aspects that it must consider more are clearly two: on the one hand, the use that we will give it, and on the other, who will use it. The answers to these questions will be key when determining what the product we need is. For example, the performance of a metal detector varies if its design is intended for professionals or children. But, on the other hand, we must not lose sight of the coil and the technical specifications of each metal detector.

If you want to embark on an adventure of mystery and exploration every day, then the metal detector may be the instrument for you.