Hobby Metal Detector Guide

If you are considering purchasing a handheld metal detector, there are a few things you may want to consider in order to choose the right one. At Regton, we stock a wide range of metal detectors for a variety of uses.

Hobby metal detectors at regton metal detectors


Uses of hobby metal detectors
Buying a metal detector to suit your needs is essential. It is important to consider what you will use your metal detector for. If you are considering a hobby detector that can be used in a variety of locations, you will want to choose a device that is specifically designed for that purpose.
We have a detector for every budget if you are a beginner or looking for a device to use in parks, beaches or back gardens. You might consider a detector within a lower price range. Be cautious of cheap detectors that flood well-known online sales platforms – we have yet to see a decent detector under £140.

Features of hobby metal detectors
Hobby metal detectors can come with various features, such as pinpoint mode, preset discrimination modes, sensitivity control, target ID and depth reading. There are specific detectors, known as pinpoint probes which are designed for locating targets using a small palm-size detector. This is an invaluable tool. Regton stocks a range of pinpointers, including Garrett, XP and Nokta Makro.

How much will a metal detector cost me?
Consider how often you are planning to use your metal detector. They range in price, so if you are planning on using your device frequently, investing in a more expensive, durable model with a range of attributes and features will be worthwhile.
No matter what your budget, there is a hobby detector perfect for you at Regton. We stock a wide range together with supporting accessories such as spades, headphones, pinpoint probes and books to aid you in your hobby metal detecting journey.

10 Top Tips for Metal Detecting

Are you new to metal detecting? Perhaps you are looking to brush up on your metal detecting skills? If so, Regton has provided tips to help you get the most out of your hobby.

1. Do your research before you buy a metal detector. There are many different types and models on the market, and choosing one that suits your specific needs is essential. Regton stocks a wide range of metal detectors for professional use.

2. Get a decent metal detector if you’re serious about finding valuable items. While some good-quality consumer-grade detectors are available, they won’t have all the features or attributes of a more expensive model.

3. Make sure you have a waterproof control box on your new metal detector if you plan on using your detector in anything deeper than 6 inches. Some models’ control boxes are only weather-resistant, so they won’t be able to withstand being submerged in water. You can view our range of underwater metal detectors here

XP Deus II Metal Detector

4. Brush up your knowledge of local laws and regulations in case of finding treasure. Research the Treasure Act 1999, and remember that you must report all finds of treasure to a coroner for the district in which they are found within 14 days after the day you made the discovery.

5. Practice using your metal detector in different terrain and soil. Open countryside & beaches are very different detecting experiences. This will help you get a feel for how it works and what kinds of objects it can detect.

6. Be patient, and don’t be afraid to experiment with different settings on your metal detector. It takes time and practice to get good at metal detecting, and you may need to adjust the sensitivity or ground balance depending on the conditions you’re detecting.

7. Keep an eye on the weather forecast before you go out metal detecting. If there’s a chance of rain, it’s best to take precautions, so take a sandwich bag that could be placed over a non-waterproof control box if you get caught out.

8. Wear comfortable clothing and footwear when you go metal detecting. You’ll be doing a lot of walking, so it’s essential to be comfortable. Remember, no steel toe caps. Have you ever seen a dog chase its tail?

9. Bring along a small shovel or trowel to help you dig up objects you find. Make sure you fill any holes you make, so the area is left in its natural state. This is equally important on farmland despite it sometimes being a rough terrain; it’s all about etiquette, making good your holes & remove any rubbish, and helping the farmer.

10. Have fun and enjoy the outdoors! Metal detecting is an excellent hobby for people of all ages. 

For more information, you can look at Regton’s beginner guide here

Be sure to check out our range of professional metal detectors and waterproof metal detectors at https://regton.com

Beginners’ guide to the best metal detectors

If you’re new to the world of metal detecting, it can be challenging to know where to start. There are various metal detectors on the market, each with its own set of features and functions. How do you know which is the best metal detector for beginners? This article will look at some of the best metal detectors for beginners and what makes them ideal for those just starting.

One of the best metal detectors for beginners is the Garrett Ace 200i. This metal detector is easy to use, with a user-friendly control panel that makes it simple to operate. It’s also lightweight and compact, so you can take it wherever you go. The Garrett Ace 200i also has many helpful features, including a coin depth indicator, target ID with numerical readout and adjustable discrimination control.

If you’re looking for a metal detector specifically designed for children, check out the Garrett ACE 200iC. This metal detector is specifically designed for children ages six and up, making it the perfect choice for families who want to get started in metal detecting. Its shortened stem makes it ideal for juniors. The Garrett Ace 200iC detector is easy to use, with sensitivity and a discrimination control that makes it simple to find artefacts, coins & jewellery. It also comes with a built-in speaker & also a headphone jack so that you can hear the detector with or without headphones.

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If you’re looking for a more affordable option, the Garrett Ace 300i is a great choice. This metal detector is priced under £270, making it an excellent option for those on a budget. The Garrett Ace 300i metal detector is easy to use, with preset modes of discrimination that make it simple to operate. It also can override the presets, allowing you to adjust the settings depending on what you are looking for, along with sensitivity adjustment for depth, frequency shift for removing the interference, and a pinpoint mode.

The Garrett Ace Apex metal detector comes with a number of helpful features, including an LCD that indicates the probable type of metal you’ve found, a pinpoint mode that helps you locate targets more accurately, and, if required, optional wireless headphones that allow you to listen to the sounds of the metal detector without disturbing others. The Garrett Ace Apex is also lightweight and easy to operate, making it an excellent choice for an intermediate/ experienced user whether detecting inland, dry sand or, very importantly, able to handle wet salt sand with ease.

Garrett Ace 400i metal detector with Waterproof 2D Coil is another fantastic choice. Operating at 10kHz frequency, better sensitivity will be provided to low and medium conductivity targets such as gold and lead. The ‘Frequency Adjust’ feature allows you to quickly toggle between slight frequency shifts helping eliminate interference from other detectors or sources of interference such as overhead power lines. Together with advanced iron audio mode, this is a feature-packed machine. 

No matter what your budget or experience level, we have a metal detector that’s perfect for you. Start your metal detection journey. Shop your new metal detector here.

Control panel LCD Garrett Ace 400I

Garrett Ace 400i Review

With kind permision from AndRew (garysdetecting.co.uk)

Garret Ace 400i Review

Garrett Ace400i Metal Detector

“A brown parcel that arrived by interlink was waiting for me when I got back to the office. It had the Regton label on it. It was wrapped in brown kraft paper so well that it felt a shame to open it. It was evident that care had been lavished on the packing not like a box stuffed in another box without a thought and a shipping label slapped on it that is commonplace these days.

Unwrapping the parcel revealed a box containing the latest Garrett Ace 400i

Opening the box, the contents were:

  • The Garrett Clearsound Easy Stow Headphones with an inline volume switch which consists of Dual volume controls for adjusting signal levels to suit individual hearing requirements along with speakers that have a Frequency response of 30-18,000 Hz which is suitable for all hearing ranges.
  • Garrett Warranty card offering a 2 year warranty cover
  • Regton Delivery note
  • A supplementary instruction sheet expertly written by Nigel Ingram the Managing Director. It contained tips on how to get the best out of the Garrett ace series.
  • A plastic zip tie bag containing a pocket size Garrett Ace 400i owner’s manual, Garrett control box cover to protect the control box from rain, dust, mud and a smaller zip tie bag containing 2 rubber washers, coil bolt and wing nut.
  • A shaft, Garrett Ace PRO Performance 8.5″ x 11” DD coil, fastened securely by a re-lockable cable tie (saves getting the cutters out), a snap on coil cover, and of course the brains of the unit- the Ace 400i control box, with 4 x Duracell AA Batteries already assembled, and at the end of the ‘S’ shaft, an adjustable arm cuff with the Velcro strap already fitted.

Assembly- First time setup.

The coil cover is easy to fit, just align the coil cover the correct way to the coil and then snap fit all the way round.

The coil can be fitted to the straight shaft by fitting the rubber mounting washers, place the shaft into the coil and then insert the bolt then tighten with the wing nut.

Fitting the s shaft to the straight shaft is a piece of cake, firstly by unscrewing the cam lock and then inserting the shaft at the same time squeezing the stainless steel spring clip buttons until they pop out of the holes and then tighten the cam lock. Do the same on the straight shaft and set to the desired length, and fasten the cam lock by twisting it. Wrap the coil cable around the stem leaving a little slack at the bottom of the coil or use insulated tape to keep it at the optimum length and then wrap the coil cable several times round the shaft and then align the plug with the control box socket and then twist the nut to tighten.  The Ace 400i is now ready to be used.

The Garrett Ace 400i has 5 different functions.

Zero Discrimination

Jewellery

Custom

Relic

Coins

I recommend setting it up using the Custom settings as the Ace 400i metal detector retains your settings and is perfectly universal. To do this select the custom mode. Remove the single left hand cursor and insert the missing cursor so that the range is from 40 to 90. The custom mode is the same as the coins mode, and to change to the values displayed, use the DISCRIM and accept/reject buttons to insert the value blocks.

The modes I use most is Zero Discrimination (All metal) and custom as both modes cover my needs and these values are what I used during this review.

It has a unique Iron Audio feature which allows the user to hear discriminated iron.

Out in the field.

Ace 400i Metal Detector by GarrettI turned on the Ace 400i and then away I went- no fiddly complicated settings which would suit a newcomer who wanted a high spec 10Khz machine with a frequency range to provide better sensitivity to low and medium conductivity targets, such as gold and lead.

The machine is very well balanced and light to use, with a very clear accurate VDI display that shows the metal setting at every target, unlike some metal detectors that give an Audio signal but no VDI display value but requires the  target to be nearer the coil before you know what the target values may be.

The Frequency select is a handy add on, just in case you encounter another metal detector within range or EMI interference. Pressing the Discrimination + button and the tick/X button simultaneously changes the detectors frequency.

The audio sound is loud but non-adjustable there is no volume control, it is controlled by the Clearsound inline control or any headphones with adjustable volume control.

On one of the digs I went on I had a good clear signal and a stable reading on the VDI and dug up a little lump at five inches which at first looked like some lead. On closer inspection it was a very small silver bracelet charm which turned out to be a Donkey- I was well pleased with this find.

Metal detector Garrett Ace400iThe electronic pinpointing is also very accurate and simple to use. Just find a target and confirm it’s a digable item and then press the pinpoint button and you will find that the segment bars move. Once the segment bar reaches 100% the target is in the middle of the coil. I use a round composite disc to mark the area, and then turn 45 degrees and the pinpoint again. Once the segment bars reach 100% the target is in the centre

Control panel LCD Garrett Ace 400II have yet to encounter any falsing, and if that happens and the handbook explains just reduce the sensitivity down a notch or two to eliminate it. Positive signals can be confirmed by comparing one signal and then turning 90 degrees. Diggable signals can be confirmed by using the iron Audio mode which will give you a spitting signal if it encounters iron.

Tone ID—The ACE 400i produces three distinct tones based on a target’s metal type and conductivity:

  • Ferrous targets (Digital ID < 40) produce a low- spitting pitch
  • Medium to High conductivity targets (Digital ID of 40–60), produce a medium-pitched signal
  • High conductivity targets (Digital ID > 60) produce a unique bell like signal a bit like an American fire truck

My real world tests are below.

Personally I was very impressed with it, as it has produced one of my highest finds rate that I can remember.

These are the targets I found.
In one of the clods I thought I had a large hammered and was quite excited about it. However it turned out to be a Bull/Cow ID tag.
Think this is an ancient ring as it seems to have a join mark on it
However I found a silver donkey which was part of a charm bracelet. How it got in the middle of the field is beyond me.

Metal Detector findsMetal Detector Finds

Garrett Ace 400i findsGarrett Ace 400i findsSecond Outing- Different Location.

Firstly the freshly ploughed land was a nightmare to walk on- Each had been ploughed to a height of over 12 inches and was hard going, then afterwards to some pasture and the weather was fair/sunny at times and also a little chilly.

Had a real sense of excitement where I dug up a clod of earth and found a ring of gold that was visible.  Carefully peeling away the mud revealed the actual item, a screw bottle top. Oh well, the feeling was good while it lasted.

Found four bullets- two complete and undamaged and two that had hit some kind of target. Each one identified by the markings around the base.

An 1891 Victorian penny, A blank coin of some description and a 2011 one pence piece coming up as iron. The rest of the items were experimental digs to try out the capabilities of the Ace 400i.
Had a signal and digging down to around 24” found the biggest piece of lead I have ever dug up and it weighs 3.58Kg.
It was not bad despite other club members had not found much.

Metal detector findsGarrett Metal Detector Finds

Went out again with the Garret Ace 400i.  Was on top of a hill and the wind was cold at 08.30 am but the sun was shining and the views were spectacular and not far from me were 5 Leverets and it was a delight watching them play together. The ground was baked hard and very flinty and finds were difficult to extract.

The result of the day is below. It was a coke free site and was a delight to detect on. Found some bullets and even a live blank.

A pendant was found and it is gold/coperish in colour but it has  a lot of crud on it and is difficult to remove.

Plenty of buttons especially a large pewter one and some small items.

I was very happy with the Garret Ace 400i performance as ground conditions allowed me to have it on maximum sensitivity and it did not false once, and due to the Iron Audio tone I dug less iron than before.

Metal Detector Finds

Overall the Garrett Ace 400i is a great all-rounder finding very small and large items of various descriptions, I have been out for approx 23 hours and it has a battery life of 3 bars remaining and not once have I found the detector heavy. It is an easy to set up and go, well balanced machine and has been a pleasure to use. The big clear VDI display is readable, clear and identifies metals well. The iron Audio feature has helped identify iron, allowing me to walk on.

With a different larger coil I believe this could be a deep seeking exciting machine.

Only one bad point and this is my own personal opinion. The depth meter is in cm.  Being old fashioned I prefer it being in inches- but cannot please everyone.”