What is a pinpointer in metal detecting?
Verdict summary
A pinpointer is a small handheld metal detector, shaped like a thick wand, that you put into the hole or the loose dirt after your main detector has signalled a target. It buzzes or vibrates as it gets close, so you find the object faster and with less digging and less damage to the find.
Most detectorists consider a pinpointer the most useful accessory after the detector itself. Waterproof models are used on beaches and in streams.
PinPoint Treasure does the same job one step earlier: it pinpoints where to search, from old maps, records and terrain, before you swing a detector.
Sources: Detector manufacturer documentation.
Where is the best place to metal detect? The best places to metal detect are where many people gathered over a long time: old homesites, parks, schoolyards, fairgrounds, swimming holes, beaches, picnic grounds, old roads and stage stops. Historic maps show where these places were, even when nothing is visible today.
How deep can a metal detector detect? Most hobby metal detectors find coin-sized objects down to about 15 to 30 cm (6 to 12 inches) in typical soil. Larger objects can be detected deeper, and pulse-induction machines and large coils reach further, while mineralised soil reduces depth.
Primary sources cited
- Detector manufacturer documentation