Could you suggest a cheap metal detector for a four year old?

JohnN

JohnN

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Hi,

No idea if such a thing exists or even if he'd use it much, but he does love finding things, especially coins and I thought it might make a little fun thing for him to play with so don't want to spend a fortune.
Obviously I'd want something that actually woks though :)

Cheers
 
Asked a mate at work who's a detectorist and he sent this link

prob a bit pricy I suspect though.
 
Cheers Keith - please send my thanks, it is a bit pricey, but at least with a specific model I can look for a second hand one :)
 
Thanks again - the ELC one doesn't rate well (and I'd be warned off the National Geographic one which I suspect is similar), but that one you suggested Suz looks like it could be the one, even a couple of cheap refurbs :)
 
May I suggest that you spend enough to get a 'real' detector rather than a toy as your child will soon get bored/disgruntled if it doesn't detect?
 
Isn't that last link a real one? I do know what you mean though.
 
try looking at viking detectors ,they are the cheap end of the proper market and actually work ,as opposed to the rubbish chinese ones mentioned so far or another good cheap british company is c-scope .

unfortunately like photography it can be a very expensive hobby once it grips you ,i used to spend upwards of £1000 a machine and upgraded usually once or twice a year to keep ahead of technology advances

this is probably the most honest firm in the business and they will at least give you proper advise .although i do agree a 4 year old is a bit on the young side to start ,might be better for dad to buy one and let him help by digging .also remember your limited to where you can detect there is no such thing as public land ,even if you think it is .and a substantial find could cause you more grief than happiness .been there wore the T shirt etc .

http://regton.com/xp.htm
 
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lol, I thought it might be - once the word real was used it reminded me of poeple talking about cameras and the need to get a "real" one, not that point and click rubbish :)

I'll have a look into those two and once I've recovered from the cost ;) I'll have a chat with my wife - it seems he interested, but again hes four with the attention span of a gnat!
 
Go careful.. a couple of years ago a local dad got his seven year old a metal detector and decided to take him to a local common a couple of days after Christmas to practice. That it's a designated National Nature Reserve wasn't the biggest problem, that it was a former practice bombing range was.. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-20872004
 
That's a bit unfortunate, thankfully I've not seen too many shells land in my local woods ☺
 
Just to say I live in Sneinton - we have had one bomb and a hand grenade found in the last 6 months or so - never say never :)
 
Bleedin 'ell - actually I was being a bit flippant and I shouldn't have been, he is quite keen though so I'll have to find out the best methods to dig safely.
 
Research where to dig first..
  • Make sure you're digging legally (landowners permission, make sure it's not a NNR or SSSI, etc.)
  • Check the history (old maps and aerial photos online, local heritage records) so you know what might be there
  • Join a club?

You could just bury a few coins around the garden, at the age of four the excitement will be finding anything - it doesn't have to be a Saxon hoard!
 
a saxon horde is nicer though ,t.shirt ,book etc :whistle::whistle:
 
I was thinking granny could accidentally lose her 'engagement ring' or such like
 
ChasG said:
I was thinking granny could accidentally lose her 'engagement ring' or such like
Click to expand...
some of the top of the range whites machines can be taught to only find gold rings ,or pound coins etc etc ,trouble is if there aren't any about you might miss a few nice hammered coins .best to search in all metal with a bit of iron discrimination ..not a bad hobby it funded a few holidays to greece and turkey for us couple of times a year for a good few years .
 
He'd be happy with a few 2p's - that said all the conflicting info plus warning of imminent death (joking BTW) is a bit of a put off.
 
Nottingham was heavily bombed in WW2 - 4 houses were destroyed on my street alone
 
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