Whether you’re a beginner or a more experienced metal-detecting enthusiast, you might wonder at some point if a pin-pointer is necessary for you to make the most of your outings.
The question to ask is do you need a pinpointer for metal detecting? Pinpointers can be separate devices or come attached to your metal detector, and they have one main job: to help you better locate items you may want to dig up afterward.
They are simple devices that work extremely well, but before you decide if they are necessary or not, it’s good to know a little bit about them.
What Is a Pinpointer?
Before you answer the question, do you need a pinpointer for metal detecting, you have to first know what the device is and why it is used in the first place.
Pin-pointers work because they relate the sound’s volume or frequency to the strength of the signal that the pin-pointer is receiving from a particular object. This is how they are able to tell you that a certain object has been detected.
The Two Types of Pinpointer
Let’s take a look at the two types of pin-pointers before we go any further.
● Handheld pinpointers are lightweight and easy to maneuver. You simply hold the device in your hand and point it toward the ground until it makes the sound you are waiting for.
Most handheld pinpointers are eight to nine inches long and weigh around seven or eight ounces, so it is easy to use them regardless of the terrain or what you are looking for.
In fact, you can think of a handheld pinpointer as a miniature metal detector because that is essentially how it works.
● A pinpointer is a part of your metal detector that is built into the detector to help you detect items much better. It essentially allows the metal detector to work quicker and more efficiently.
These types of metal detectors can be a little more expensive than those that have no built-in pinpointer, but if you’re serious about metal detecting, it’s worth the extra cost to get it.
Naturally, there are going to be pros and cons for each of these options. While a handheld pointer is easier to use than a regular metal detector, it is usually used only when a metal detector has already detected an object and when you need to get a more precise location of the object.
On the other hand, metal detectors with built-in pinpointers are easy to use and are especially useful for beginners because they provide an easier and faster way to find hidden treasure.
Still, these metal detectors can be a bit more cumbersome than those without built-in pinpointers, and sometimes, they have such large detection areas that it can be more of a challenge to know exactly where to dig.
So, the choice of a handheld versus a built-in pinpointer is really up to you because all metal-detecting enthusiasts have their own preferences when it comes to these two options.
But once you learn the pros and cons of each option, you should be able to decide which one is best for you.
More Considerations
For many people, when they ask the question do you need a pinpointer for metal detecting, the handheld pinpointer works best because it can use its metal detector to locate an object, then you can use the handheld device to get an exact location.
For this reason, there tends to be less digging involved because the pinpointer tells you exactly where to dig.
It is also a very lightweight device and is usually able to detect objects that are buried fairly deep within the ground. Most are bright orange in color to make them easier to see when you’re using it underwater, and yes, they are waterproof as well.
The good thing about handheld pinpointers is that you can change the sensitivity level just like you can with a standard metal detector, and they usually offer a one-touch operation that makes them super-easy to use.
Some will vibrate as well as sound an alarm whenever it detects something, and many come with a digging device so that you can immediately start to find the object you just found out is there.
In fact, when using one of these handheld devices along with a high-quality metal detector, finding all types of treasures is a piece of cake. Do you need a pinpointer for metal detecting? The answer is probably yes.
Which Type of Pinpointer Is Better?
Many metal-detecting enthusiasts find that having a regular metal detector along with a separate pinpointer is the best combination.
This is because when you use a metal detector with a built-in pinpointer, it often doesn’t work as well as a handheld pinpointer.
In other words, it doesn’t hone in on the object as precisely or as closely as a handheld pinpointer does.
In addition, if you’re working in tight, closed-in spaces, you simply won’t be able to fit a regular-sized metal detector within that space. With a handheld pinpointer, this is never a problem.
If you have a metal detector with a large search coil, it is even more important to use a handheld pinpointer because large search coils can sometimes damage the object. This is never a problem with a handheld pinpointer.
That being said, many enthusiasts simply prefer a metal detector with a built-in pinpointer because they’re carrying fewer items with them as they go about seeking hidden treasures.
For sure, if you are going to be metal-detecting for hours on end, you may want to carry fewer items and therefore, the built-in pinpointers are your best bet. It’s also an idea to invest in a quality, made-for-the-job, backpack to keep all your items safe.
The bottom line is, that pinpointers are an extra “perk” when you’re metal-detecting because they make it easier to find exactly where the treasures are located.
Metal-detecting without a pinpointer means it will likely take you a little bit longer to locate an object than it would otherwise.
Simply put, pinpointers – regardless of the type you choose – allow you to spend more time treasure-hunting and less time digging because it is much faster and easier to find the exact location of the object buried in the ground.
Final Thoughts
So I hope this answers your question of do you need a pinpointer for metal detecting, so the next thing to consider is the price.
Pinpointers come in a wide range of prices, starting at less than $100 and going up to around $200 or more.
As long as you find a reputable brand, you won’t necessarily be spending a lot of money on it. Check out what we consider to be the best of the bunch HERE.
Just make sure you check things such as whether it’s waterproof and the depth it is able to locate objects before you decide which one to purchase, and the rest is simple.
