Metal Detector Advice

A metal detector will pay for itself very quickly.

Consider the price you would pay by not having found that monument you relied on in solving a boundary location and how much it could have cost you had you been wrong.

It will be money well spent and completely tax deductible.

There's a Schonestedt GA-52B on eBay right now for $99.95 Buy It Now.?ÿ That's about as good as it gets.

I have a 15 year-old Dunham & Morrow, works just as well as a Schonstedt, but it won't stand the abuse or have the battery life of a Schonstedt.?ÿ They're cheaper than Schonstedts and come with a lifetime warranty (unless you have obviously abused it).?ÿ I would certainly buy another one.

https://m.imdb.com/title/tt4082744/

Check FB Market and Craigslist for used. Beware any with no case and ask for serial numbers before even meeting. Get a bill of sale, or at least photo the person, car and plates when you meet.?ÿ

There are reliable detectors in colors other than yellow, but I've never seen any as tough and reliable as schoenstedt. Get the best you can afford.

As others mentioned- If surveyors budgeted more for metal detectors and education than gps and lidar we would all be better off.

"I know you are but what am I"?ÿ hm hm hm good one Brad

In between now but Thank You

Thanks Jim, I'll check it out

Thanks Mr Schultz

I agree, Thanks for your input!

That's not quite correct . The starting bid is $99, but the buy it now price is $390. I was going to jump on it for $99.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F253803829028

So how come all electronic tools have got so much better and less expensive except for metal detectors? ?ÿThey cost about the same and work about the same since I began in this business in 86??? Curious minds need to know. ?ÿJp

The starting bid is $99, but the buy it now price is $390. I was going to jump on it for $99.

I must have been still asleep when I posted, I don't know how I would have missed that otherwise.?ÿ Sorry for the mixup.

$400 isn't nearly as good as $100, but it still may be worth considering if money is tight.

?ÿ

They cost about the same and work about the same since I began in this business in 86???

Two thoughts come to mind:

1.?ÿ The technology was pretty much optimized 30 years ago.?ÿ These machines aren't very complicated, so maybe there hasn't been any way to simplify them in a way that would significantly bring down the cost.

2.?ÿ If the selling price is the same as it was 30 years ago, the real cost has come down markedly due to inflation.

I like the?ÿSubSurface Instruments Magnetic Locator ML-1M (With LCD Meter).?ÿ The meter is great for pin pointing.

https://www.engineersupply.com/subsurface-instruments-magnetic-locator-ml-1m-with-lcd-meter.aspx

Posted by: Jp7191

So how come all electronic tools have got so much better and less expensive except for metal detectors? ?ÿThey cost about the same and work about the same since I began in this business in 86??? Curious minds need to know. ?ÿJp

There is a very simple answer to that, If the electronics are for fun and enjoyment the prices have dropped but if the electronics are for work and you use it to make money then the prices have stayed the same or have risen. Smaller market share, controlled supply, limited manufacturing, *raise the prices.

Look at the costs of other tools used by professionals, Snap-On comes to mind, they are very costly as are other items used to make money. Software programs, total stations and data collectors are others.

* Those market principals work for most everything except for surveyors. In the survey "profession" the fewer the number of surveyors and the more in demand you are requires a slavish devotion to reverse logic and profit guilt whereby you are required to work for less and not make money. Sarcasm off.

I purchased a schonstedt on ebay a couple months ago for $325 + shipping. Worth every penny.

I've used Schonstedt, Sub-surface, and CST metal detectors. I prefer sub-surface. They work just as well as (or better than) Schonstedt, but have better ergonomics.

I missed a lot of monuments with the CST.