here's a request you don't hear very often...

[ironglow]

  i want a cheap (new or used) detector that is a bear for finding ferrous metal..any suggestions ?
 
   Explanation;
   I have a Troy Shadow x2 which has served my THing needs very well for about 10 years...I don't TH very much.
  My job in retirement though, is administrator for a local cemetery. In this job I must locate and mark out new graves, going by ceramic cylinders about 2.5 x 8 inches, buried vertically. These are often times overgrown and very difficult to locate. I have been driving pieces of steel such as bolts etc  in beside these markers when I locate them, figuring to pick them up with my Troy Shadow, but now I find (after talking with Troy himself) that the Troy X2, was built to "tune out" ferrous material..although the X3 can tune it in if desired.
   So, I want a little cheapie that just loves the ferrous stuff and is not a "battery hog'. How about the bottom of the line Bounty Hunter for kiddies ?

[SHOOTALL]

try a shop that sells survey equipment they have a cheap box on a stick looking one for locating steel pins . It beeps when over the rod or near. I have used one for locating clean outs

[ironglow]

  would the Tesoro "Compadre" be good for detecting the iron & steel..as well as the non-ferrous metals?

[mechanic]

The cheaper Bounty Hunters do well with iron and steel.....too good sometimes.  You should be able to locate steel rods to a good depth.  The surveyors use a magnetic locator, that will detect steel pins to 18" or more, but because of what they are, some are very expensive.  For cheap, the BH will do the job.

[ironglow]

 thanks Guys, I know what to keep a sharp eye out for now.

[pastorp]

We were searching for my grandfathers grave in a old cemetery in Florida a couple years ago. The platt showed us where it should be but nothing there. We knew it had a headstone but just could not locate it. Fineally the attendant brought out a thin steel rod and punched several holes until he located something solid under 6-8" of dirt & st augestine grass. In the southeast that grass grows thick and covers everything in a short time.
Bet a medal decetor would a found that bronze headstone quicker than we did.

Regards,

[ironglow]

Yep! A metal detector would have found it pronto..

[jon f]

Why not use bits of lead instead of steel. Just a thought.

[ironglow]

I don't have that much access to lead...besides the cost difference.