metal detectors

[TexasTimbers]

My dad got me into hunting with an ooooold Garrett BFO. He still has it tucked away in a closet somewhere.
When he was about to retire from the Navy in '76, he and Mom didn't want to move me in the midle of my senior year. I had been moved around every 2 -3 years of my life and when I was about to be a senior I put my foot down and said I was moving back to Texas for my senior year with or wothout them. You just didn't talk to Dad like that, so he knew that by me risking that level of disrepect with him I must be serius. So he sent me and Mom and my sister packing back to Texas (from Chesapeake VA) so I could start the school year down here.
Well, to stay out of trouble, he told Mom he was going to take up metal detecting and find buried treasure. He hunted for 6 months while he was still up there with his ooooooold Garrett BFO. I finally took and interest in it around 88 and borrowed his old BFO and then bought various used detectors until in 89 I bought the GMH from Garrett. State of the art. Funny thing is, when you look at what Dad found with his oooooold BFO and what I found with my newer "Hi Tech" machines, his pile of 6 months of effort of watches, kinves, coins, jewelry, rings, endless trinkets make my app 3 year effort look like HE had the Hi Tech equipment and I had the old unit.
We still argue today about it. I have the theory that he was simply better at it, and that if he would use more modern equipment, with his tenacity and patience, he'd find even more stuff.
His theroy is that where and when he was hunting had alot to do with it. He said he knows many of the spots he hit were virgin territory. Some of the tales he has sound like fish stories, but I have seen the piles of stuff he recovered. He does admit my unit (I sold it in '95) went deeper, but claims his was more sensitive within its range.
I can't hardly call him wrong. In my book, HE, is the Grand Master Hunter. 

[getoverit]

FWIW, I bought a Bounty Hunter "Pioneer 202" metal detector from wally world. So far I have been pleased with it. When it tells you there is something inside a log, you can believe it. I havent found anything metal inside a log  yet that this thing didnt tell me was there.

[jerry-m]

Yeah Quinton, glad you are getting fixed up... Keith is a great guy and is always ready to help  you out with any questions so don't hesitate to give him a call anytime... But I bet he already told you that...

Tom, I wish I still had my BFO but a kid down the street wanted it so I sold it to him... There are somethings that the old BFO will help you with that no other modern detector will... Garret factory will get you fixed up real  soon...

Getoverit, Bounty Hunters are good machines... I did have one that I would take to the park with our bus sunday school kids and let them do the digging... They could keep all the coins...

[karl]

After sawing two 40d nails in two logs in half an hour  the other day- I went E-bay hunting and now have one of them thar Pioneer 202's on the way - first thing I'm lookin' for is my wedding ring- it vanished and is hopefully waiting for me right near the mill...shore miss it......

BTW- why is it the straightest, clearest and generally most desireable logs that somebody needed to nail into

[wiam]

Karl  stiff looks better hanging on them.

Will

[SPIKER]

Hey all:  just wondering if anyone tried the "How deep does this cheap-o harborfreight unit detect a nail test"?   I was wondering if it worked well or not just for finding nails around my many hap hazzard trash piles the last owner left laying everywhere b4 I get a flat tractor tire...

mark M

[logwalker]

So Spiker, how deep does the El Cheapo go? LW

[jpgreen]

Hey all:  just wondering if anyone tried the "How deep does this cheap-o harborfreight unit detect a nail test"?   I was wondering if it worked well or not just for finding nails around my many hap hazzard trash piles the last owner left laying everywhere b4 I get a flat tractor tire...

mark M

It's a total worthless don't-waste-your-time-on piece of junk.  It costs money to make a good detector.

My neighbor bought the HF unit.. I just laughed as he couldn't get back in the box fast enough..