Gary's Metal Detecting Forum

Gary's Detecting forum => General detecting talk => Topic started by: Keith67 on May 03, 2018, 09:07 am

Title: Can you recommend a light cheap beach detector?
Post by: Keith67 on May 03, 2018, 09:07 am
Hi all

I have a friend at work who wants to detect the beaches near where his mum lives, problem is he uses a crutch, but he's determined to give it a go albeit slowly.  His budget is around 500.

I realise this one may be a challenge, but if any of you can recommend a lighter easy machine that can be enjoyed on the sand then please advise.  Budget may be able to creep up a little for the right machine.

Many thanks in advance.
Title: Re: Can you recommend a light cheap beach detector?
Post by: redkite on May 03, 2018, 11:41 am
Contrary to whats said about TESORO on the beach I used a GOLDEN UMAX for years with great results

Mike
Title: Re: Can you recommend a light cheap beach detector?
Post by: Keith67 on May 03, 2018, 11:51 am
Thanks Redkite  ;)
Title: Re: Can you recommend a light cheap beach detector?
Post by: mayhem147 on May 03, 2018, 01:13 pm
I'm sure I've read good reports about the 9HF Deus on the beach. As I don't do beach detecting and don't own the HF coil though, my input may be somewhere close to useless! ;D

However, if weight is a critical factor, a Deus Lite surely has to be on the shortlist on that criterion alone. A second hand one would be very near to being within budget, though it may be hard to find one with the HF coil.
Title: Re: Can you recommend a light cheap beach detector?
Post by: lobo on May 03, 2018, 01:48 pm
How about a Minelab Sovereign GT, and hip mount it.
Still one of the best beach machines going.
Title: Re: Can you recommend a light cheap beach detector?
Post by: nailman on May 03, 2018, 03:49 pm
Contrary to whats said about TESORO on the beach I used a GOLDEN UMAX for years with great results

Mike

I use a Laser Scout great coin shooter on the dry  calm on the damp, but like,OST VLF machine chatters on the wet.
No doubt some Minelab fan will say the CTX 3030 ;D
Title: Re: Can you recommend a light cheap beach detector?
Post by: Keith67 on May 03, 2018, 05:40 pm
How about a Minelab Sovereign GT, and hip mount it.
Still one of the best beach machines going.

Thanks Lobo.  He uses crutches (yes you read it right) but he's determined that this won't stop him.  I think a harness may mean there's a bit too much going on.  Sorry I should have mentioned the crutch !!
Title: Re: Can you recommend a light cheap beach detector?
Post by: lobo on May 03, 2018, 05:55 pm
No problem Keith. You did mention a crutch which I assumed was one so he may have been able to mount on the opposite side.
As it's crutches, I can understand the concern.
There's the C Scope CS4PI (pulse induction) machine which goes for around £320 new.
Title: Re: Can you recommend a light cheap beach detector?
Post by: Keith67 on May 03, 2018, 05:57 pm
No problem Keith. You did mention a crutch which I assumed was one so he may have been able to mount on the opposite side.
As it's crutches, I can understand the concern.
There's the C Scope CS4PI (pulse induction) machine which goes for around £320 new.


Yes that's a good shout mate, I'll add that to a few machines for him to look at.  Many thanks.
Title: Re: Can you recommend a light cheap beach detector?
Post by: nailman on May 03, 2018, 06:33 pm
The c scope is great but you dig everything been a PI wished I’d kept mine
Title: Re: Can you recommend a light cheap beach detector?
Post by: Keith67 on May 03, 2018, 07:18 pm
The c scope is great but you dig everything been a PI wished I’d kept mine


I guess there's less iron on beaches in general, and you gain a lot more that way.
Title: Re: Can you recommend a light cheap beach detector?
Post by: Keith67 on May 09, 2018, 08:57 pm
Update, he's off to see C-Scope and have a look at the CS4PI.  Considering his mobility issues I think he's wise to play around with a machine before he spends his money, and he's only going to do the beaches so it sounds like a good move.
Title: Re: Can you recommend a light cheap beach detector?
Post by: gonzo on May 09, 2018, 09:20 pm
Don't forget though Keith,the c scope will pick up every bit of metal on the beach,so if he has mobility issues it maybe hard work for him doing all that digging.I had a pi and at first i liked the fact that i was'nt missing a thing,but in the end digging a foot down for a small rusty piece of rubbish soon grows tiresome.
Title: Re: Can you recommend a light cheap beach detector?
Post by: Keith67 on May 09, 2018, 09:57 pm
Don't forget though Keith,the c scope will pick up every bit of metal on the beach,so if he has mobility issues it maybe hard work for him doing all that digging.I had a pi and at first i liked the fact that i was'nt missing a thing,but in the end digging a foot down for a small rusty piece of rubbish soon grows tiresome.


Brilliant feedback Gonzo, thank you.  I have very little knowledge of beaches, only been on them 3 times.  A bit green of me but I associated deep iron with farm fields, and I didn't realise iron could be such a problem on beaches.  It's something he needs to consider I guess.
Title: Re: Can you recommend a light cheap beach detector?
Post by: gonzo on May 10, 2018, 06:38 am
Some beaches are "cleaner" than others,but i have detected many and i have yet to find a single one where iron has not been present in fairly large quantities.
You have indeed set yourself a bit of a challenge looking for a suitable detector as most of the really good beach machines are cumbersome and on the heavier side.
There are a few non dedicated beach machines that do a decent job though,even on the wet sand,so there are a few lighter options out there.
I wish your friend all the best in getting a good machine that will do the job for him.
Title: Re: Can you recommend a light cheap beach detector?
Post by: Keith67 on May 10, 2018, 09:01 am
Thanks Gonzo, much appreciated.  Certainly plenty for him to consider.
Title: Re: Can you recommend a light cheap beach detector?
Post by: redkite on May 10, 2018, 10:38 am
I still think a look at Tesoro/Laser worth while, after all the Laser Scout was built with the Thames foreshore hunters "The Mudlarks " in mind

Mike
Title: Re: Can you recommend a light cheap beach detector?
Post by: nailman on May 10, 2018, 11:11 am
I still think a look at Tesoro/Laser worth while, after all the Laser Scout was built with the Thames foreshore hunters "The Mudlarks " in mind

Mike
The Scout is my back up machine and is used on the beach as well
Title: Re: Can you recommend a light cheap beach detector?
Post by: Keith67 on May 10, 2018, 09:54 pm
I still think a look at Tesoro/Laser worth while, after all the Laser Scout was built with the Thames foreshore hunters "The Mudlarks " in mind

Mike
The Scout is my back up machine and is used on the beach as well


Thanks fellas, it's in his price range too.
Title: Re: Can you recommend a light cheap beach detector?
Post by: Nigel at Regtons on May 30, 2018, 04:28 pm
We sell new 4Pi's at £255.......
Title: Re: Can you recommend a light cheap beach detector?
Post by: Willy muffit on May 30, 2018, 04:39 pm
Got a friend who detect on beaches and her CTX got to heavy 

and she now swears by her DEUS  on 4.1  and REALLY  finds tons of proper goodies
Title: Re: Can you recommend a light cheap beach detector?
Post by: Keith67 on May 30, 2018, 05:51 pm
We sell new 4Pi's at £255.......

I think the dig all with PI may be too much for this fella.  Thanks all the same though.
Title: Re: Can you recommend a light cheap beach detector?
Post by: Keith67 on May 30, 2018, 05:51 pm
Got a friend who detect on beaches and her CTX got to heavy 

and she now swears by her DEUS  on 4.1  and REALLY  finds tons of proper goodies


Cheers Willy, I love using the Deus on the beach too.
Title: Re: Can you recommend a light cheap beach detector?
Post by: gonzo on May 30, 2018, 07:25 pm
How about something like the whites mx5.....lightweight and suppoeed to do well on the wet sand.Also weatherproof i believe.Its based on the mxt so enough said.
Title: Re: Can you recommend a light cheap beach detector?
Post by: Keith67 on May 30, 2018, 10:27 pm
How about something like the whites mx5.....lightweight and suppoeed to do well on the wet sand.Also weatherproof i believe.Its based on the mxt so enough said.


Underrated machine I hear, from a reliable source.
Title: Re: Can you recommend a light cheap beach detector?
Post by: gonzo on May 31, 2018, 06:48 am
Hi Keith,
I moved to the coast 7 years ago and started beach hunting exclusively.I took a whites m6 with me as that was the only detector i had at the time that was capable of hunting the wet sand.It was brilliant on the beach,the best single frequency detector by far ive ever used in wet sand conditions.
If the mx5 has similar performance your mate can't go wrong with it........i had plenty of jewellry with the m6,some of it at decent depths in the wet sand.
Shame he cant use a harness to support something a little heavier as a used explorer or similar would be ideal .
Title: Re: Can you recommend a light cheap beach detector?
Post by: Keith67 on May 31, 2018, 11:13 am
Thanks Gonzo.

I think he's settled on a Racer 2, for the ease of use and some respectable enough feedback on the beaches.  My last piece of advice though will be to consider going wireless.  With his mobility issues the removal of a tethered headphone will be another thing to help him.