Guides
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Can You Use a Metal Detector on the Beach? Rules & Best Times to Go (2026)
Use this guide to check jurisdiction, read tides, and choose salt-stable gear before you detect on dry sand, wet sand, or shallow surf.
High-Frequency & VLF Metal Detectors for Gold Explained (2026)
Learn how VLF frequency, ground balance, coils, and audio shape gold detection. Compare 7 high-frequency detectors from 18 to 81 kHz, including Minelab, Fisher, XP, and Garrett.
Metal Detector Manuals: Where to Find Instructions for Every Brand (2026)
Find official PDF manuals for Garrett, Minelab, Nokta, XP, Fisher, Bounty Hunter, Teknetics, and White's — plus support contacts and pairing fixes.
How Deep Can a Metal Detector Go? Depth Explained by Soil Type (2026)
Real metal detector depth by soil type: dry sand, clay, wet salt, mineralized ground. Honest depth tables, detector tiers, and myths debunked.
How to Find a Lost Ring with a Metal Detector: Best Tools (2026)
Step-by-step guide and the best metal detectors for finding a lost gold ring in sand, surf, or lawn. VDI chart, settings, pinpointers, and recovery tools.
Metal Detectors for Tungsten & Platinum: Do They Actually Work? (2026)
Metal detectors do find tungsten carbide and platinum jewelry — if you don't discriminate them out. See real VDI numbers, frequency tips, and the best machines.
Metal Detector Discrimination & Target ID Explained (2026)
Learn how metal detector discrimination, target ID, notch, and iron bias work — with real settings for Garrett, Minelab, XP, and Nokta machines.
Metal Detector Repair: Common Issues & When to Fix vs Replace
Learn how to diagnose metal detector failures and decide whether to fix, replace a part, or buy new. Symptom triage, warranty guide, and shoppable part picks.
How to Find Lost Keys with a Metal Detector (2026)
Lost your keys outside? Learn the fastest way to find them with a metal detector — retrace, rake, grid, then recover with the right pinpointer or detector.
The History of the Metal Detector: From Invention to Today
Trace the real history of the metal detector from Trouvé's 1874 probe to Bell, Fisher, Kosacki, VLF, PI, and modern multi-frequency machines.
Metal Detecting Clubs: How to Find One Near You
Find a metal detecting club near you with this step-by-step guide. Learn where to search, what dues and meetings look like, and the gear you'll need.
Do You Need a License to Metal Detect? Laws & Permits Explained
No nation-wide metal-detecting license exists in the US—permits rule by land. Covers NPS, forests, BLM, beaches, FL/NY/CA/TX rules, penalties, and permits.