Does anyone have any experience using a hand held metal detector to find nails in logs? Do the cheap hand held wands work very well?
I've never used a hand held, but I can tell you that the very best metal detector in the world is a brand new blade! 🤣
I have 2 Fisher M scopes [coin finders]. Can't be without them. These metal detectors have 'discrimination'. So in saw logs you set for the most power to find anything metallic and pin point it, then you select different metals and if the find is not iron or steel it will tell you. Knowledge of where the logs grew and how high up the metal was found and with this method you can tell bullets for instance, from nails or worse. With copper, lead and aluminum you just saw right through.
I use the Garrett hand held, like they use in the airport. It will find hardware on the surface of the logs and on large butt logs we will scan as it will pick upmetal 2-3" down. The problem is the mill eventually interfers.
Quote from: Stephen1 on May 04, 2022, 09:42:20 PM
I use the Garrett hand held, like they use in the airport. It will find hardware on the surface of the logs and on large butt logs we will scan as it will pick upmetal 2-3" down. The problem is the mill eventually interfers.
This x2.
Would you care to elaborate please? This is new to me... is the detector mounted on the mill?
I think he means that the mill sets off the detector if the log is on the mill.
I spent $85 on one from Amazon and it never worked that good. I don't remember, but it seems like it was a Garrett.
I got a Garret off a bid site (Amazon returns) for cheap - like $30. Works great, but yeah, it will "see" the log bunks under a log when on the mill.
I have a 20 year old Minelab Explorer, I scan the logs away from the mill. Big metal objects will give a false signal if you are to close.
I have used the cheap ones from Harbor Freight and have been impressed. I left the first one in the rain and it killed it, bought a second and it has been just as good. I would guess it can read up to 3-4 deep. Nothing is foolproof, and logs will surprise you.
Quote from: Cornerstone on May 04, 2022, 10:51:01 PM
Would you care to elaborate please? This is new to me... is the detector mounted on the mill?
No it is a hand held unit. I usually will scan logs away from the mill and get rid of most surface metal. The hidden metal is the cost of sawing urban logs. I also try to use used blades on butt logs as the best metal detector is a brand new blade! :D
"the mill is the best metal detector" means the saw will find metal [too late]. Just a saying and very true. My Fisher's will find a nail down to 8" so your good with a 16" log checking all around. After that??
I have a garret and the problem I have with it is remembering to use it. ;D It has not yet found metal, but neither has the saw blade. For me, most of the logs I get have been marked with obvious metal when felled and I either remove it then or trim the log.
I do not have a habit of scanning every log, in fact I only scan a few here and there. I have to work harder at thinking about that BEFORE the get rolled near the mill. I know the Garret won't work if you don't use it. :D I also know scanning a log already on the mill is tough to do and mostly a waste of time.
Good luck with whatever you try. I got my garret at HF and I think it was under $30..
I have been using the Garrett for over two years, very reliable. It looks like the HF model, but unlike my experience with the HF ones, the Garrett works.
Garrett here as well. It gets used all the time as all we saw are urban logs. We'll do a scan before it goes on the mill, then a quick swipe in between cuts. Eventually it does pick up the mill as an artifact, but overall we've had great success in saving blades with our process.
I have a lumber wizard that I will get out if there is suspect metal, with ordinary nails it detects down at most 2 inches. It is good for telling if metal has been cleared in the area, after hitting it, and possibly if there are other nails nearby. It is also super useful when resawing beams, because metal in those is always at the surface. If time is of any value, and there is no metal suspected, scanning a log with a wand is not worthwhile.
If I ever get another wand it would be the Garrett one.
I used to use the Fisher 1212-X until they stopped making it. Was great bang for the bucks. Now just use the cheap one from Harbor Freight and it works amazingly well. Yes, my backup is a new blade.