White's Spectrum XLT

I use my Spectrum XLT in dry sand searches, fresh water beaches, parks, schoolyards, etc. It has now been moved to "backup" detector status but I still really enjoy using the machine. My wife bought me the 5.3 inch coil one year and it really works well picking out good targets from the trash - I highly recommend XLT users to get the small coil as an accessory. I typically use a modified relic program, I turn off the icons and just go by the VDI numbers.

White's Beachhunter ID

When I needed a water detector that could cancel out all those pesky bobby pins and bottlecaps I decided on a Beachhunter ID. I have found more gold with this detector than all my other ones combined (up to now anyways). This is a great machine, although it probably won't go as deep as some other brands top of the line models it is has done great by me. It uses three tones to distinguish between iron, gold and silver. Along with the tones there is a visual ID system (three colored LEDs) that allows you to still get an ID on item even when searching in all metal mode - this is a powerful feature. I use this detector primarily for water hunting.

12/28/04: The more I use my Beachhunter ID for regular beach hunting the more I am impressed by it. I use this machine along with my Elite and CZ-70 for beach hunting on a pretty regular basis and I can't say I make more or better finds with either the Elite or the CZ. I know that comment may ruffle some feathers out there but it's the truth. The Beachhunter has a couple unadvertised (or at least under-advertised) pluses that I think attribute to this. First, a lot of people have complained that the coil isn't weighted so the coil floats when water detecting - this is true, but, when you are beach hunting out of the water the lightness of the rod and coil when hip mounted is a huge plus that shouldn't be discounted. A light coil means hunting longer with less fatigue with better coil control. Second, the LED ID's work even when in All-Metal mode so you get the best of both worlds, the extra depth from All-Metal, with the built in VCO, plus a quick glance at the LED will give you a dig/no dig answer. Finally, I get really good depth with the beachhunter on the beaches I hunt here in Southwest Florida, with the sensitivity set right.

Click here to read the Beachhunter ID review at Lost Treasure Magazine.

White's Surfmaster P.I. (Pulse Induction) - Sold

I used my White's PI for water hunting and diving. I also used it when I wanted to get extra depth in the wet salt sand. **Note: I recently sold my SurfMaster to a hunting partner of mine, he will be putting it to good use.

Click here to read the Surfmaster PI review at Lost Treasure Magazine.

Tesoro Cutlass uMax - Sold

I originally purchased this Tesoro Cutlass as a backup detector to keep in my truck at all times. I wanted a low cost yet powerful detector and that is exactly what I got, extremely easy to use and great discrimination. Although this is a great detector, it is time to sell. This detector is in excellent shape, it comes with the brown standard coil as well as a 9x8 spoked coil and a pair of unused headphones. Send me an e-mail for details, I will ship only to continental USA. Asking $200 for all items plus shipping. Original purchase price was $239 plus $100 for additional coil.

Click here to read the Tesoro Cutlass review at Lost Treasure Magazine.

Fisher 1220-X - Gave away as gift

I have owned and used this detector since 1987. For the money ($225 at the time) it has been an excellent machine. **Note: I recently gave this machine to my brother, he loves it! In my humble opinion this an excellent choice for the beginning treasure hunter. The equivalent machine today is the Fisher 1225-X.

White's Coinmaster TR

My first detector - photo from early 80's.

This machine was my first real detector, it was a good little machine that started me down the path. I found a lot of coins and some jewelry, in fact I still have a couple of the rings that I found with it.