A guide to buying a metal detector

Unfortunately, there is no detector that will perform perfectly on all terrain. Should you want a detector for one purpose only, then choosing a detector is a relatively simple task. Most of us, however, want a detector for a variety of different terrain and so will need to choose carefully to get as close as possible to our requirements. A browse through this site or any magazine is all that is needed to demonstrate that, as a potential metal detector buyer you are spoilt for choice. There so many to choose from that even for the seasoned detector enthusiast the task is made no easier.

So where do you start? How do you sift through the metal detector minefield and find the detector best suited to your needs? This short guide has been prepared based on our knowledge of metal detectors and our experiences of supplying metal detectors over recent years:

• The first consideration is to decide how much you are prepared to spend and if that amount is to include accessories (the most important of these being headphones and a digging tool).
• The next question is where will most of your detecting be carried out? This is possibly the hardest question to consider, especially for the beginner, but it does have a bearing on what you buy. The easiest approach if you are not sure is to think about your geographical location, as most people tend to detect locally. For instance, are you near enough to the beach and know you will detect there? Perhaps you live inland and will never visit the beach, but will your sites be on arable land, pasture or park land, etc?
• The weight of your new detector is also important as it is no good ordering the perfect detector only to discover you can hardly lift it!
• Finally do you want new or used? A new detector will offer you piece of mind in having a full manufacturer's warranty (and in some cases free accessory packs), but choosing second hand will enable you to buy higher up the range.

Once you have these basic questions answered, it is time to read the brochures and look at the detectors that fit into your classifications. Finally, talk to us - don't be afraid to ask the questions the brochures never seem to answer. Remember, your new detector is going to be your companion for a long time and your success in the hobby depends on you making the right start with the right equipment.

What is metal detecting?

Metal Detecting would probably be defined in a dictionary as something like 'The process of locating metal objects using an electronic device'. However, this rather cold description fails to mention the many aesthetic aspects you will discover when delving deeper into this fascinating hobby.

There are numerous pleasures associated with Metal Detecting, such as healthy outdoor exercise and the companionship of fellow enthusiasts, but there is one exciting component that puts Metal Detecting way above any other pastime - TREASURE!

What is treasure? In short, it is what ever you want it to be, it is anything that is precious to you. If you have it because you love and enjoy it, then it is your treasure. This need for treasure is part of being human and has been an obsession and passion of man since a time before he could even truly be called man. Even from those early beginnings, he has held a desire for treasure, a need to own, love and protect it. Treasure has driven him to travel the world, to fight, even kill, often risking his own life in the name of this desire.

But generally when anyone thinks of treasure, they conjure up images of pirate chests overflowing with gold and silver, of coins, jewellery and other such valuable trinkets. Metal Detecting takes you closer to this perception of treasure than any other pastime simply because valuable items can be, and frequently are, found with metal detectors. However, as you are about to discover, there is much more to this hobby than mere financial gain. Metal Detecting is about the thrill of the chase and the excitement of unearthing an object not touched by man for hundreds, possibly thousands of years. As your collection grows, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that this treasure is yours to hold and look at any time, whilst for most people the view of similar items is hampered by the reflection of museum glass.

Welcome then to a hobby of fascination and mystery, that takes you on a journey through time, unravelling the millions of ways man has used metals to ease and enrich his life. Some of your finds will have monetary value, some will have archaeological value, whilst others may seem mundane. However, they will all have a story to tell, helping piece together the massive jigsaw that is history, and showing us that for thousands of years metal has been used, abused, loved and lost.

Metal detectorzone is a part of Crawford metal Detectors so is backed by over 15 years serving the industry.