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Post by cachemaster on Oct 5, 2013 20:19:33 GMT -5
Hey guys! After ordering a Bounty Hunter pinpointer online last week at The Source, it finally arrived today. To be quite honest, I am quite disappointed with its performance. It seems only capable of detecting the metal target when it is no greater distance than an inch away. It was my expectation that the pinpointer would help me narrow the location of the target BEFORE I began to dig. In this way a 'plug' with a smaller diameter would need to be excavated. However, it seems that this is being overly optimistic - except in cases when the target is less than an inch below the surface. Is this level of performance typical of most pinpointers? Or, is this because I bought a low-budget device? Should I return this pinpointer? (Admittedly, I don't want to spend too much money on one of these.) What are your thoughts and experiences with pinpointers? Thanks! - CacheMaster P.S. - I just noticed that there is a section on the forum for technical questions. Perhaps I should have started this new thread there...
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Post by Digger D on Oct 6, 2013 0:55:16 GMT -5
Hi CacheMaster. Pinpointers only have a range of a couple inches at best. The idea is to move the pinpointer around the target area until you hear the beep. Then you know you are within an inch or so of the target. I have heard only so so reviews of the Bounty Hunter / Fisher / Technetics brands (I think they are all the same maker). With pinpointers you really do get only what you spend. I have the Garrett Propointer and I would never want to detect without it. This one has proximity indication by vibrating faster and faster and with the beep tones getting faster as you approach the target until you get a solid tone. However the price difference is a little more than double the cost of the BH pinpointer. AS far as the range on yours goes, it sounds about right. Use the pinpointer to detect the "spot" the target is in once you have pinpointed the location with your regular detector. If you are in grass it's always best to cut a decent sized (8" square) plug on 90 degree angles (straight down) to a depth of about 6" to preserve the root ball of the grass. Flip the plug over and use the pinpointer to scan the plug and the hole. I think you will find it works best that way. If you don't find it right away, use your regular detector to scan the plug and the hole to determine where it is, and then use the pinpointer as you remove material.
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Post by cachemaster on Oct 6, 2013 18:43:35 GMT -5
Hi CacheMaster. Pinpointers only have a range of a couple inches at best. The idea is to move the pinpointer around the target area until you hear the beep. Then you know you are within an inch or so of the target. I have heard only so so reviews of the Bounty Hunter / Fisher / Technetics brands (I think they are all the same maker). With pinpointers you really do get only what you spend. I have the Garrett Propointer and I would never want to detect without it. This one has proximity indication by vibrating faster and faster and with the beep tones getting faster as you approach the target until you get a solid tone. However the price difference is a little more than double the cost of the BH pinpointer. AS far as the range on yours goes, it sounds about right. Use the pinpointer to detect the "spot" the target is in once you have pinpointed the location with your regular detector. If you are in grass it's always best to cut a decent sized (8" square) plug on 90 degree angles (straight down) to a depth of about 6" to preserve the root ball of the grass. Flip the plug over and use the pinpointer to scan the plug and the hole. I think you will find it works best that way. If you don't find it right away, use your regular detector to scan the plug and the hole to determine where it is, and then use the pinpointer as you remove material. Thanks, Digger D. That helps a lot! Perhaps I'll keep this BH pinpointer for the time being and decide in the future if I need to upgrade. As well, thanks for the clarification regarding a 'square' as opposed to a 'circular' shaped plug. This is a detail that I had missed when watching the video which you provided. One of the techniques that I use with my regular detector is to sweep back in forth in various directions once the general vicinity of the target has been located. This crisscross pattern seems to help me narrow in a little better before digging in grassy areas. Perhaps this is what everyone does - though I discovered it by trial and error. You mentioned something else that intrigued me. The last time that I was MDing, after excavating the plug, I began to remove material in search of the target. By the time the target was located, the remaining clump of dirt and grass was only about 2 inches think. This probably meant that I was impinging upon the root system of the grass and making the overall remediation less stable. Is there any technique commonly used to avoid excessive thinning of the excavated clump of dirt and grass? - CacheMaster
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Post by cachemaster on Oct 6, 2013 22:07:20 GMT -5
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Post by Digger D on Oct 7, 2013 4:47:25 GMT -5
If you use the pinpointer on the plug you shouldn't have to remove too much material. And the criss cross pattern is normal I find pressing the pinpointer harder against the plug sometimes helps me locate a target that is a bit deeper.
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Post by Digger D on Oct 7, 2013 4:48:01 GMT -5
I have never dealt with this service. If it's legit it's a huge deal. I googled the company and got a lot of bad reviews. I would be wary. Remember the Garrett Propointer comes out of the U.S. not China, so how would they get them so cheap to sell them at that price? I checked ebay and nothing like those prices there. I shop ebay a lot and they are most competitive typically (and legit for the most part out of China).
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Post by rick on Oct 7, 2013 7:02:11 GMT -5
I would return it. You should start getting a signal 3 or 4 inches away...Ya, garrets is the most bang for your buck. As for plugs digger is right about a big plug, but you can also get away with a smaller one if you only cut a U shape or use the prod and pry method. Lota ways to skin a cat...
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Post by Kalpoon on Oct 7, 2013 9:46:57 GMT -5
Keep away from anything ALI Express, Global, Export etc...known scams
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Post by cachemaster on Oct 7, 2013 16:52:51 GMT -5
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Post by DEALERD4D on Nov 3, 2013 17:14:38 GMT -5
Hi Cachemaster Looks like there's definately a scam going on watch this YouTube clip at about 1min 50secs.
D4D
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bob
Junior Member
Posts: 8
Metal Dector: Garret AT Pro, Whites IDX Pro
Years Detecting: 37
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Post by bob on Apr 6, 2015 21:43:24 GMT -5
Coating your pinpointer: Got this from You Tube
I however used undercoating on mine. Should help protect it.
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