The schonstedt is the cadillac and is bullet proof. I have owned several for my crews and they are rock solid. The magna traks are good if you are doing ocassional use. I have shopped with engineer supplies a few times and have been please. http://www.engineersupply.com/magnetic-locators.aspx
I friend of mine gave me a blue SS because he couldn't hear it. The fact is he is a Schonstedt man. I get along with the Subsurface quite well. Around fences it's not what you hear, but that null in the sound or signal that will show you where the iron rod or pipe is. I'd buy another one if and when this free one dies.
I hate when the point man or woman tries to use a locator. Yea my wife works with me sometimes. They'll go back and forth, back and forth, and back and forth, until I walk down the line and look for myself. Then it's " I LOOKED ALL OVER THE PLACE, AND YOU THINK YOU"RE GOING TO FIND SOMETHING?" Yep! Dig here. Never mind giver me the shovel. Put some flagging on it. Give me a shot when I get back to the gun. Then the fact is I've been using locators for over 43 years.
Has anybody used one of these?
I need to buy a locator also. I'd like some input from a user of this Hounddog.
I've only used Schonstedts and a CST with the cancel-out feature that I could never get to work real well although some people like it. I like my old Schonstedt with the sweep knob better than my new one with the stops for sensitivity. The old one was just about to go in the dumpster but I sent it in to that place that advertises in POB and it came back not exactly like new but in good working condition. I've still got a couple of old dip-needles if the locators give out. I've heard good things about the subsurface locators, too, but have never used one.
It's been mentioned before on the forum that some manufacturer needs to sell a locator with the standard features PLUS an electronic dip needle mode so you can tell when the mag field goes vertical.
There's a metal detector app for the Droid.
I love my pistol grip Shoenstat. There is no other locator that can be easily carried around a large parcel.
Hold the phone, Perry!
> I love my pistol grip Shoenstat. There is no other locator that can be easily carried around a large parcel.
Hold on now, Perry! Do you mean to say that you need a *metal detector* to tell where those scarred-up trees and old rock walls are? All of the photos of rebar monuments that I can ever recall you posting were of rebars sticking up about 24 inches out of the ground. Now if the metal detector is for Winter work, when the snow is 25 inches deep, that sort of makes sense. But if it's for Summer work, is it mostly just for show? Do you even put batteries in it or do you save some money on them and just wave the stick around while making a metal detector sound with a kazoo in case anyone is nearby?
Hold the phone, Perry!
Mostly on our forest boundaries the monuments stick up at least 18" so I don't bring a locator unless I can't find a monument then I have to go back and get it because it could be there cut off at ground level.
There was one where there was a t-bar so before going back to get the locator I just swept the duff, leaves and dirt away at the base of the t-post and there it was flush which is unusual for us.
Fire Stations are more like regular semi-rural boundary surveys where you might have to beep up monuments.
I don't usually bother with the holster thing. It's true for hiking a mile through steep, brushy slash piles the pistol one is easier to carry but I still think the Subsurface is a better locator overall.
Kent
Occasional we get some out of state surveyor (most likely a Texan) who set's a flush monument in the middle of nowhere, but, yes; usually I need the locator to find short pins in the snow. Sometimes, they can also be covered by a fallen tree or uprooted with tree when it falls over.
Have 4 Schonstedts and 1 SubSurface. When looking for hard to find monuments or control, it is always the SubSurface that is the "go to" locator. The search is not over until the SubSurface has been used. When the existing Schonstedts are replaced, it will be with new SubSurfaces. If you have any doubt about the SubSurface, call the President of SubSurface, Ron Davenport. He once told me that if someone purchased a SubSurface and was not satisfied that he would take it back. I believe that he would do just.
Kent
> Sometimes, they can also be covered by a fallen tree or uprooted with tree when it falls over.
Well that sort of makes sense. You use the metal detector then to figure out where the ferrous object is on the other side of the tree? How do you describe that? "Thence to a squealing metal detector that I think is where the corner is?"
Kent
You use a device called an "axe" which is not known to exist in Western Texas. This "axe" may be used to clear away the downed tree.
You may recognize it, it has a skinny metal head with sharp edge, see photo:
Kent
> You use a device called an "axe" which is not known to exist in Western Texas.
So, you folks up there use this "axe" instead of a chain saw, huh?
i did a boundary survey next to one of the people that designed the "ignore this fence signal" circuit on a detector. he has a shop at his house. said he could convert a schonstedt as well. always wondered if i should look him up.
Thanks for all of the responses....
....I knew I could count on you folks.
Dennis
