Need new metal locator

Asked my dealer about the Hound Dogs, said they weren't to impressed with how the internals were constructed and that they wouldn't stock them.

Have since bought 3 SubSurfaceInstruments (SSI) and love them (although the ring can sound a little more whinny). The last SSI we bought was their waterproof ML-3(Short) and it is by far worth the extra $100 as the balance in your hand much improved over their ML-1Ms.

All our units have the digital screen that shows you the polarity of the object, pretty handy when you looking around fences & posts (top of a pipe or rebar will typically be + and the bottom of the fence/post will be -).

http://www.ssilocators.com/magnetic-locators/magnetic-locator-ml3-short.php
http://www.ssilocators.com/magnetic-locators/magnetic-locator-1m.php

My understanding is that a Schonstedt repaired by Schonstedt is as good as a brand new Schonstedt. So why mess with success? Or is that $400 burning a hole in your pocket?

BTW, you are probably just as good with the dip needle as you ever were. It's your memories of using the dip needle that are really good.

Send it in for repair. It will come back good as new.

I sent an older model to Schonstedt to get repaired, they said they don't have the part that was broken, but did give me a credit towards a new purchase.

> I've been using a dip needle which I used to be really good with but not so good now.

Hopefully that was a joke.

What about Atlas Electronics? I've seen their ads in POB for years, $175 flat rate.

Anyone ever use them?

I've used Atlas and have been very happy. Call them and talk to them.

Squire-

Try: http://batteryrevival.com/

Arthur Dias covers all of North America.

Cheers,

Derek

I bought one of the Chrisnik Houndogs back when they were marketed under the magnawand brand. Looks to be identical construction. It is a plastic case. However very durable. I think I bought mine at least 15 years ago, maybe closer to 20. I've been extremely pleased with it and would buy another if mine ever busted. Mine still looks almost new and its been bouncing around in the back of a truck and dragged through the woods on a regular basis.

What I really like about it is its isolation capabilities. It helps tremendously in finding a vertical metal pipe/rebar in an area full of metal scraps. It also allows one to find monuments next to a fence line. While it can get false readings of vertical magnetic flux in relationship to some types of fencing, it has been a tremendous asset to my work and has reduced my search efforts tremendously when compared to other magnetic locators I have used. I used to use a Schonstedt, but have found the houndog/magnawand to be a superior tool. The polarity isolation feature is a huge asset.

Thanks for the info , guys. I'll have to decide whether to repair or replace soon. I am going to call the two repair firms suggested.
clearcut, thanks for the review on the ChrisNik.

imaudigger, I really have had to use the old dip needle recently, LOL!!!.
In the last two years, I haven't be doing a lot of surveying due to the economy and problems picked up by a deer tick bite in June 2012. It's been kind of rough. NC doctors like to think Lyme disease doesn't exist here, but my best doctor, Dr. Internet, and I disagree. My flesh and blood GP thinks Lyme and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever are the same!!!

I started surveying in May 1972 and the only locator available was the dip needle. It can be quite effective but nowhere near as good as the electronic thingys.