I thought buying a cheap metal detector for my trip to Cornwall was a good idea

Wasted about 80 pounds on a flimsy one from a tourist shop that just beeped at every piece of modern trash. A local guy at the pub in St. Ives told me I'd have better luck just walking the beaches after a storm. Anyone know a decent but not crazy expensive brand for a beginner?

4 comments

4 Comments

the_jana24d ago

That's exactly what happened to me with my first detector. Bought some cheap thing from a market stall because I thought "hey, it's just a starter" and it literally fell apart on the third day. The coil wire just snapped right off while I was walking on the beach. Ended up borrowing a friend's Garrett ACE for a weekend and it was like night and day difference, suddenly found actual old coins and even a Victorian button. The local guy in Cornwall knows what he's talking about, those tourist shop detectors are basically toys with beepers glued on.

corablack2mo ago

Ugh, that's a classic tourist trap move. The local guy gave you solid advice, honestly. But if you're set on getting a real detector, you need to answer this first: are you actually going to stick with this hobby, or was this just for the one trip? Because dropping a few hundred on a decent starter machine is pointless if it's just going to gather dust.

michaeld482mo ago

Sometimes the best way to start a hobby is to just jump in with the right gear. If you get a cheap toy, you'll just get frustrated and quit for sure. A real detector makes it fun from the start, and you can always sell it later if you change your mind. That initial investment can be the push someone needs to actually get out there regularly.

aaron3052mo ago

Totally get what @michaeld48 is saying, used to think you had to start cheap but getting decent gear right away makes a huge difference.