Looking for a decent pin pointer project

[mario]

Hi guys,

I'm looking for a decent pin pointer to add to my arsenal. I'm currently using a plastic scoop the size of a shovel to find my targets.

I would like to make a pin pointer with the following (preferred, but not required) characteristics:
*Pi
*Performs decent in mineralized ground
*2-4 inch depth
*decent sensitivity

bonuses:
*vibrates

I found the schematics for the Falcon MD on this site but was disappointed because it does react to black sand. Oh yeah, I'm going to be mainly using this pin pointer for gold prospecting.

All suggestions are welcomed.

Thanks!

[homefire]

That's what the Falcon was built for! LOL!

[mikebg]

Mario, I think your arsenal need a different search head for better pinpointing with your conventional metal detector. Note that pinpointers are not used at humanitarian demining (low metal content UXO).

If your metal detector is imperfect in pinpointing, you need two decent pinpointers:
Scoopscan - to scan the soil in your plastic scoop for targets and
Shovelscan - to scan the soil in your plastic shovel for gold sand (when your scoop can not detain the gold sand and small nuggets). Trademarks SCOOPSCAN and SHOVELSCAN are not registered.

Recently I reinvented the MULTIFIELD search head. Unlike the DUAL FIELD search head, which makes two fields because contains only two windings, the MULTIFIELD is more decent in pinpointing because it is simply a flat spiral (each turn makes its own field with different diameter).

However the flat spiral is not used in mine detectors. They use oOo or DOD loop configuration in search head , because it makes excellent pinpointing. It is sensitive and for small nuggets.

[mario]

Hi Mike,

I can pin point within a 2 inch radius, which is not terribly bad. I'm happy with the performance of my current coil.

I just need a pin pointer for recovering purposes. Once sat down, these detectors are cumbersome to maneuver when using a scoop. I found a few commercial products from Whites and Garrett, but those pin pointers use vlf. The obvious choice would be pistol probe, but I'm not so sure... just thought I would try a project first..

[bernte_one]

maybe this

Pulsdetektor boeses tier 1 or 2 search for bt1 or bt2.pdf

[mario]

Thank you bernte_one,

That looks like a nice little detector. I found more info here at geotech:http://www.geotech1.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17897

It looks easy to build, and shouldn't be that difficult to convert into a pin pointer.

Any other suggestions?

[bernte_one]

i have build one but only programmed tiny is missing
it could be a perfect pointer (handheld dimesion)
with a connecter plug you can use a stick coil or a little planar (etched on pcb)