TorqueMaster
Elite Member
I currently use a Cen-Tech pinpointer, but am ready to move on. Was leaning towards the major depth of the TRX until I started reading it had "no side detection." That is NOT true. It definitely has a unique detection field shape--still deciding if it's better, worse, or just as usable as the others with practice. I'm sure it would be confusing if you are used to sweeping with the side of the blade, not the tip.
So I did some research and cobbled together this graphic of tip and side detection ranges of a penny, some based on others' air-testing and some of my own. It's all air-testing, so take it as such. I had the least info on the X-Pointer, the curve is estimated based on a few depth tests and one side test. The Cen-Tech can be adjusted where it is pretty reliable, just on the verge of falsing, or anywhere in-between. Pretty reliable means even a fair amount of side pressure on the blade won't cause a false. Just on the verge -- any side pressure WILL cause a false. I usually run somewhere between the two unless I'm really rooting around in a hole.
Obviously there are other features to consider, but I think getting a handle on the TRX detection pattern vs. the others might help folks decide if it's going to work for them.
TRX (Orange)
Depth 3", Side 3+"
X-Pointer (Dotted Green)
Depth 2", Side 1.25"
Pro-Pointer (Black)
Depth 1.5", Side ~1.5"
Fisher (Red)
Depth 0.75", Side 0.5"
Cen-Tech (Yellow/Dotted Yellow)
No False Depth 0.5", Side 0.625"
Edge-of-Falsing Depth 1.6", Side 1.25"
So I did some research and cobbled together this graphic of tip and side detection ranges of a penny, some based on others' air-testing and some of my own. It's all air-testing, so take it as such. I had the least info on the X-Pointer, the curve is estimated based on a few depth tests and one side test. The Cen-Tech can be adjusted where it is pretty reliable, just on the verge of falsing, or anywhere in-between. Pretty reliable means even a fair amount of side pressure on the blade won't cause a false. Just on the verge -- any side pressure WILL cause a false. I usually run somewhere between the two unless I'm really rooting around in a hole.
Obviously there are other features to consider, but I think getting a handle on the TRX detection pattern vs. the others might help folks decide if it's going to work for them.
TRX (Orange)
Depth 3", Side 3+"
X-Pointer (Dotted Green)
Depth 2", Side 1.25"
Pro-Pointer (Black)
Depth 1.5", Side ~1.5"
Fisher (Red)
Depth 0.75", Side 0.5"
Cen-Tech (Yellow/Dotted Yellow)
No False Depth 0.5", Side 0.625"
Edge-of-Falsing Depth 1.6", Side 1.25"