My Harbor Freight Pin Pointer finally broke on me after about a year of use. I want to get a good pin pointer and I have come it has come down to the Garret or the Mine lab. Which one should I go with? It seems like everyone goes with the garret but I see that people say a lot that it works good when it is working, I don't really want to pay $150 for something that will only work half the time. I have not found many reviews on the mine lab, can anyone tell me more about it? is it built better than the Garret?
Minelab or Garret Pin Pointer.
- Thread starter stephenz
- Start date
soughtseven1035
Forum Supporter
If you could find the Minelab for around $150, you are better off with that one. I haven't ever used a pinpointer when I metal detect. A lot of people are saying that it helps with recovery time. I am sure it does, but from all the videos I've seen, it only works half the time and doesn't go really deep if you dig a 8 inch hole or something. I could be wrong, but I am investigating this whole pinpointer nonsense as well. For now, since I have so much experience without one, Im gonna let it go. It doesn't take me longer than 2 minutes max to find what I dig. By the year 2050, they will have personal robots digging our holes and finding what's down there anyways.
Skwerly
Elite Member
yep, the 'unhappy garrett pinpointer owners' thread convinced me minelab is the way to go--NO doubt in my mind.
contact bart at big boy hobbies (he's a vendor here). he'll give you a smoking price on a profind.
contact bart at big boy hobbies (he's a vendor here). he'll give you a smoking price on a profind.
flyin-lowe
Elite Member
Just remember for every person on the unhappy garrett thread, there are likely hundreds or thousands of people who love the garrett pro pointer. I myslef have one and had it from day one. Best choice I made as if it broke down on me I likely would not go out hunting.
Roger B
Forum Supporter
I personally like the Vibra Probe, it is waterproof and vibrates from the tip only so you know exactly where the target is and it doesn't attract attention with noise. I've owned two, my first lasted 6 years.
Jason-NEK
Senior Member
Minelab is the way to go. I have one and it has helped me quietly pinpoint with accuracy my finds after I have dug out the plug. Best thing is I dont have to deal with the chirp of the Garrett because I can pin point in vibration mode only. I will never go back.
happycamper08
Full Member
My wife and I both love our pro pointers but they have both been serviced by garrett and do act up from time to time. Garrett's customer service is excellent by the way but I think next time I am going to go with the minelab just because I haven't heard of any problems. By then the rumored whites my actually exist.
The best pin pointers out there are from Sunray. Unfortunately many detectors can not use the Sunray Probe. As near as I can tell when it comes to portable probes they are not built equally. If you get a good one then you lucked out.
Metal Maniac
Forum Supporter
I have no experience with a PP, but, I got a HF cen-tech today. I'll see how long it lasts.
zgoalie32
New Member
I to am on the market for a new pin pointer. I have the HF cen-tech but ever since it fell 3 feet out of my pouch the push button works when it wants to, it cut my searching time in half but I want a better one that will last.
scout23
Elite Member
Had my Pro Pointer for about 3 years, works great and never had problem. Pro pointers are around 115.00, and for every complaint there are dozens if not hundreds of happy owners.
I know my brand new profind quits working once you go outside. Its okay as long as you detect indoors in the air conditioning.
Got a pro pointer coming as a back up to my pistol probe. Used to have one before, May be interesting to see if Minelab charges me to replace the profind.
scout23
Elite Member
I know my brand new profind quits working once you go outside. Its okay as long as you detect indoors in the air conditioning.
Thats the good thing about the major brands, most will treat you right. Good luck and hopefully they take good care of you
Martin_V3i
Elite Member
There's never been a posted Utube comparison where the Minelab equaled the Garrets Pro Pointer. You gotta understand that for every one Minelab PP, there's likely a hundred Garretts ProPointer in the field. That's because the Garretts led the field for many years before Minelab even started the blue print.
An old saying..."It easier to bring 10 optimists down than to bring one pessimist up." The complaints people talk about with the Garretts are from a huge sample group compared to the Minelab. I have owned 2 Garretts(still do) for nearly 2 years each. Both are outstanding.
I would never agree that Minelab is the only way to go. It is only second because Whites hasn't presented their up and coming PP yet. Garretts is still #1.
Btw, as far as Sunray? I ain't buying one for each of my detectors. A handheld is universal. martin
An old saying..."It easier to bring 10 optimists down than to bring one pessimist up." The complaints people talk about with the Garretts are from a huge sample group compared to the Minelab. I have owned 2 Garretts(still do) for nearly 2 years each. Both are outstanding.
I would never agree that Minelab is the only way to go. It is only second because Whites hasn't presented their up and coming PP yet. Garretts is still #1.
Btw, as far as Sunray? I ain't buying one for each of my detectors. A handheld is universal. martin
soughtseven1035
Forum Supporter
I have to say that the integrated PinPointer on my Teknetics Delta 4000 does a superb job. I wonder why there are no reviews of the Teknetics Pinpointer tool itself. They said they make one in the manual.
Color counts
I use a Garretts but which ever company brings out a bright orange or yellow one , its mine!!! That may sound kinda funny but check on how many MDer's have lost their pinpointer and most mark them with tape or paint to make it easier to spot in grass and brush. I don't understand why one or the others hasn't said Duhhh, lets make ours out of high visibility colored plastic?!?? Hope you guys an Garretts and Minelab are reading this!!??? LOL
I use a Garretts but which ever company brings out a bright orange or yellow one , its mine!!! That may sound kinda funny but check on how many MDer's have lost their pinpointer and most mark them with tape or paint to make it easier to spot in grass and brush. I don't understand why one or the others hasn't said Duhhh, lets make ours out of high visibility colored plastic?!?? Hope you guys an Garretts and Minelab are reading this!!??? LOL
1948-SilverDime
Full Member
Minelab
I own the Minelab and liked it so much that I bought a second as my backup. I like the fact that I can hunt with vibrate only if I choose ( the motor could be stronger in my opinion) or hunt with sound and vibration. I also like the fact that I can adjust the sensitivity on the fly without worrying about sliding a sidekick. Also if you set it down and walk away it will beep to help you try and locate it. I've not had any problems and hope it stays that way, but time will tell.
I am anxious to see what Whites has in store though.
SD
I own the Minelab and liked it so much that I bought a second as my backup. I like the fact that I can hunt with vibrate only if I choose ( the motor could be stronger in my opinion) or hunt with sound and vibration. I also like the fact that I can adjust the sensitivity on the fly without worrying about sliding a sidekick. Also if you set it down and walk away it will beep to help you try and locate it. I've not had any problems and hope it stays that way, but time will tell.
I am anxious to see what Whites has in store though.
SD
Henry Frap
Junior Member
My newer Garrett ProPointer was acting odd, so I called the nice folks in TX. I sent the unit to them for a look and they sent me a brand new ProPointer.
Customer Service? Ah, yep!
scout23
Elite Member
jd88047
Full Member
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2013
- Messages
- 211
Think they both have their pluses.
After two years with a centech pinpointer, I needed one that wasn't put together with tape and wire.
I bought the Garret Propointer and did good. I took it out today for its first run. I hope it can survive my almost daily hunts as it really did make a difference in my finds.
The Minelab has a few funtions I would want in a Pin Pointer. But Phil on here sold me a Propointer. Very fast shipping too.
The propoiner will find metal the size of a back of a ear ring, small back that is.
After two years with a centech pinpointer, I needed one that wasn't put together with tape and wire.
I bought the Garret Propointer and did good. I took it out today for its first run. I hope it can survive my almost daily hunts as it really did make a difference in my finds.
The Minelab has a few funtions I would want in a Pin Pointer. But Phil on here sold me a Propointer. Very fast shipping too.
The propoiner will find metal the size of a back of a ear ring, small back that is.
