How to make metal detector
Whether you enjoy using a metal detector just for fun or in seeking your underground fortune, you probably either own one already or plan on soon making a purchase. The trouble is mainly finding one that performs to your standards. If you are looking for a way to own a metal detector at low cost or the one you have isn't performing as you wish it would, perhaps making your own would provide a good solution. The prospect of doing this might scare off some less technologically inclined people, but with the information provided by this article you can learn to build your own metal detector that is not only as good as those available in stores, but your homemade job will cost you a fraction of commercial versions.
The Science Behind Metal Detectors
As complicated as most people presume metal detectors to be, in truth they are relatively simple and operate on principles that are easy to understand. Better yet, when you build your own metal detector, you will be able to modify it to fit your own needs. Regardless of how simple or complicated the metal detector you use is, all such devices operate along certain concepts:
- Contact is established. As the head of your metal detector is moved across the ground, when it comes into contact with a metal object, the tone generated by the speaker changes to let you know that you have found something.
- Size matters. The sensitivity of your metal detector depends on the size of the search coil.
- There are several types of metal detectors, very low frequency, pulse induction, and beat frequency oscillation types. Very low frequency (VLF) are the most common type and can be used to find virtually any kind of metal below the surface. The pulse induction (PI) type are less frequently used but can be used to find metal that is deeper buried. Beat-frequency oscillation (BFO) metal detectors can find metals that are within the range of their pulse. All of these detectors are good for what they do, but they are, in many ways, the same and are easy to build.
- The control box is, for the most part, your metal detector. The shaft can be a broomstick. The head is also a part that is easily made.
How to Make Metal Detector
There are many electronic devices that operate along similar principles. For a metal detector, these includes a phone, a calculator, and a radio.
- A phone. Your iPhone or android gadget is built with magnetic sensors inside of it that, using an app built specifically for it, can make it into a metal detector. You need to get the app from your service provider, and once you do, you can watch the magnetic field level fluctuate as you move closer to or farther from the metal object.
- A calculator. All you need is a simple calculator and an AM radio and a few other items that are simple to get. You will also need a broomstick or a length of PVC pipe to make the shaft. You will also need some tape.
First, turn the radio's tuning band to its highest band. Make sure that your radio is not tuned to a station and make sure that you can hear a clear and steady static tone. Put your calculator and the radio back to back until you get a dull tone. This might take a few minutes to do to get the configuration right. This might also involve moving the devices at different angles and distances apart to achieve the tone.
Next, as best as you can, tape the devices together using the same configuration. This will form the search head or the coil of your metal detector. Attach a broomstick or some other pole as a handle. Simply put a spoon or some other metal object on the ground to test it. As the head of your device gets closer to the spoon, the beeping will get louder.
A radio. It is also possible to make metal detector from a radio alone, but it's not as accurate as the method above. In either case, you have a field that you can use. The missing item, in this case is the coil, which you can make from the instructions below.