First Dig With HF Pin Pointer Mod

DarkPrognosis said:

That is what I am doing as the Garrett is proven but there are a lot of people who buy something trying to get something for nothing, my mother is like that, and that is fine but when people complain because something is "junk" yet they continue to use it out of its intended purpose then something is wrong with that person.

Stick with what is made for the job and you will be so much happier then, and only then, if something breaks, or goes wrong, can you actually complain about it. Go get that Minelab 36 dollar job and at least it was made to look down holes not up into human ones.

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LordOfTheZincs said:

LOL I thought the same thing! I guess if I had to have a cavity search I would prefer the cen-tech over the garrett any day! Now that we have that out of the way.......I bought a Nokta RS and it was described as a pinpointer and I tried to check out the co. before buying it but not much to be found. It was $95.00 free shipping and came with a gator tool I needed anyways so I got it knowing the slide switch would be an issue in the mud. It does the random incessant beeping that people describe the garrett as doing. Turn it off and back on and cured for awhile. But now that we have mud the switch has been giving me fits and I've opened the case twice now to clean it out. Not bitching or complaining and not a moron either, making an informed statement that may or may not help someone in this forum. If it does, great! If not, who really cares? I am an auto tech. and don't mind tinkering and fixing problems, heck I spent 15 yrs. fixing potential lemon law cars for General Motors and if I have to redesign how the pointer works because it was engineered wrong then that is just right up my alley. I ordered a push button microswitch with a waterproof rubber cover for $4.00 but for now I am thinking about putting a condom over the thing for the weekend. Problem is, I think I may have the only 16 yr old boy in town that doesn't have one? Don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing.....

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LordOfTheZincs said:

LOL I thought the same thing! I guess if I had to have a cavity search I would prefer the cen-tech over the garrett any day! Now that we have that out of the way.......I bought a Nokta RS and it was described as a pinpointer and I tried to check out the co. before buying it but not much to be found. It was $95.00 free shipping and came with a gator tool I needed anyways so I got it knowing the slide switch would be an issue in the mud. It does the random incessant beeping that people describe the garrett as doing. Turn it off and back on and cured for awhile. But now that we have mud the switch has been giving me fits and I've opened the case twice now to clean it out. Not bitching or complaining and not a moron either, making an informed statement that may or may not help someone in this forum. If it does, great! If not, who really cares? I am an auto tech. and don't mind tinkering and fixing problems, heck I spent 15 yrs. fixing potential lemon law cars for General Motors and if I have to redesign how the pointer works because it was engineered wrong then that is just right up my alley. I ordered a push button microswitch with a waterproof rubber cover for $4.00 but for now I am thinking about putting a condom over the thing for the weekend. Problem is, I think I may have the only 16 yr old boy in town that doesn't have one? Don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing.....

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OleSarge said:

Thanks for the post DarkPrognosis. I believe the Minelab you recommend may be a much better alternative for a back-up pin pointer and I'm checking it out right now. I hope my GPP lasts forever but there is always the possibility the next time I lose it, or it gets terminally broke, I'll need a (cheap IS good) back up. I don't sell, or even endorse Garrett, or any other metal detecting product, I'm just a older guy who likes to stick with something I've found that works for ME. I do own the other hand held metal detector, it is a good little machine for the entry level MDer, but lacks the qualities normally expected for more advanced digging.

AT Pro/GPP/Fiskars Diggers/Bounty Hunter Outback/HF Hand Held

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DarkPrognosis said:

That is what I am doing as the Garrett is proven but there are a lot of people who buy something trying to get something for nothing, my mother is like that, and that is fine but when people complain because something is "junk" yet they continue to use it out of its intended purpose then something is wrong with that person.

Stick with what is made for the job and you will be so much happier then, and only then, if something breaks, or goes wrong, can you actually complain about it. Go get that Minelab 36 dollar job and at least it was made to look down holes not up into human ones.

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OleSarge said:

I'm lost on the Minelab 36 dollar pin pointer. I did find one on ebay for $169.00 which nearly mimics the Garrett Pro Pointer in looks and performance except for the manual sensitivity setting, selection between audio on and vibrate only and the auto off feature. The Bounty Hunter Pin Pointer for $38.00 looks more promising as a back up pin pointer than the Cen-Tech hand held, but again, it's nearly triple the price of the HF hand held. I'm curious now and intend on doing some more research for my own reference in this area. I have noticed though that this topic seems to have exposed some overly sensitive nerve endings and, since I'm fresh out of hydrocortisone, I'll refrain from making my findings public on FMDF.

AT Pro/GPP/Fiskars Diggers/BH Outback/HF hand held

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DarkPrognosis said:

Sorry, I said Minelab I meant the Bounty Hunter one but it goes by various other names but all look, and perform, the same. http://www.walmart.com/ip/10629147
btw, the Minelab 169 dollar pinpointer is not near as good as the Garrett PP (I posted a vid showing how bad it is in direct hole for hole comparison).

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DarkPrognosis said:

Sorry, I said Minelab I meant the Bounty Hunter one but it goes by various other names but all look, and perform, the same. http://www.walmart.com/ip/10629147
btw, the Minelab 169 dollar pinpointer is not near as good as the Garrett PP (I posted a vid showing how bad it is in direct hole for hole comparison).

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OleSarge said:

I just viewed your Minelab VS Garrett Pro Pointer video and I suggest you repost it for others contemplating spending a wad of money on either pin pointer.

AT Pro/GPP/Fiskars Diggers/BH Outback/HF hand held

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HarveyH48 said:

It so easy to spend other people's money for them, like our government. Tools for any hobby, craft, or trade, come in different quality, price ranges. A $12 claw hammer works fine for most folks around the house, who pound nails occasionally, but would be more of a joke, among the other guys at a construction site, where you couldn't get a decent used hammer for under $100...

Part of learning to use tools properly, taking care of them, is breaking them, or losing them. Don't think I'd be quite as upset over losing, or breaking my $17 pinpointer, as I have been with my Propointer's failures, or if I lost or misplaced it. $127.50 isn't exactly pocket change for me, but then again, I never really walk around with more than I'm actually going to need.

If you take the time, and learn to pinpoint with your main detector, you don't need to rely so much on the handheld pinpointer, don't even need to use it every hole. A pinpointer is nice, in that you don't have to feel around in the dirt with your fingers, finding nasty sharp things the painful way. I really don't concern myself with time or productivity, do that all week for a paycheck. Detecting is my escape from the everyday routine. Probably not as driven as most people here, I'm simply out to relax and have some fun on my time off. I hope to dig up some good stuff, but don't get disappointed, when it's a mostly trash day (frequent), since I didn't go out with any needs or expectations.

You need the right tool, for your needs and conditions. Use the tools as designed, and they will work well, abuse them, they break. Anybody ever break the tip off a screwdriver, prying the lid off a paint can? Guess that would happen with a $21 Snap-On screwdriver, but wouldn't know, since I would pay that much for one screwdriver, or use it for anything other than screws.

I don't abuse my tools (much), but the Propointer has completely failed twice, and needs to be repaired/replaced, again. This isn't $127.50 worth of quality to me, where I making do, quite well, with $17 tool. The fancy features, automatic operation, isn't enough to make me want a second one as a backup, to one that shouldn't be failing in the first place. A lifetime warranty, great customer service, is something you expect for tools, that won't actually need them.

I do wish the Centech had a sturdy case, the box shape is a little difficult in deep holes, but it works.

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Pulltabby said:

Good points, another more expensive pp out there is the Tesoro Treasure Mate, it goes deep and built strong... but if money is no issue would go for the Sun Ray built in.


hh

re the complaints on the Cen-tech for me was mad at myself for buying such
a low quality tool, it kinda ah sorta works is best could say about it.

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HarveyH48 said:

It so easy to spend other people's money for them, like our government. Tools for any hobby, craft, or trade, come in different quality, price ranges. A $12 claw hammer works fine for most folks around the house, who pound nails occasionally, but would be more of a joke, among the other guys at a construction site, where you couldn't get a decent used hammer for under $100...

Part of learning to use tools properly, taking care of them, is breaking them, or losing them. Don't think I'd be quite as upset over losing, or breaking my $17 pinpointer, as I have been with my Propointer's failures, or if I lost or misplaced it. $127.50 isn't exactly pocket change for me, but then again, I never really walk around with more than I'm actually going to need.

If you take the time, and learn to pinpoint with your main detector, you don't need to rely so much on the handheld pinpointer, don't even need to use it every hole. A pinpointer is nice, in that you don't have to feel around in the dirt with your fingers, finding nasty sharp things the painful way. I really don't concern myself with time or productivity, do that all week for a paycheck. Detecting is my escape from the everyday routine. Probably not as driven as most people here, I'm simply out to relax and have some fun on my time off. I hope to dig up some good stuff, but don't get disappointed, when it's a mostly trash day (frequent), since I didn't go out with any needs or expectations.

You need the right tool, for your needs and conditions. Use the tools as designed, and they will work well, abuse them, they break. Anybody ever break the tip off a screwdriver, prying the lid off a paint can? Guess that would happen with a $21 Snap-On screwdriver, but wouldn't know, since I would pay that much for one screwdriver, or use it for anything other than screws.

I don't abuse my tools (much), but the Propointer has completely failed twice, and needs to be repaired/replaced, again. This isn't $127.50 worth of quality to me, where I making do, quite well, with $17 tool. The fancy features, automatic operation, isn't enough to make me want a second one as a backup, to one that shouldn't be failing in the first place. A lifetime warranty, great customer service, is something you expect for tools, that won't actually need them.

I do wish the Centech had a sturdy case, the box shape is a little difficult in deep holes, but it works.

Click to expand...

Pulltabby said:

Booger can you hear me? Gilbert can you hear me? just bought a Cen Tech

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