Metal Detector For Reusing Wood

[Cypherian]

Hey,


I have been reading reviews till my eyes cross can anyone give me an accurate review on a hand held metal detector for finding hardware in old wood?

I and a buddy will be taking down an old barn on his property with lots of oak and such in it but neither of us wants to destroy our planers etc. I figure find a quality metal detector run it over the stuff before machining the wood and storing it.

CYpher

 

[TheVintonZoo]

Cypher,

Were I you, I would look at a Garrett. They make metal detectors you might find in the hands of a security guard. Which, in my mind, would be perfect for your application.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

I've been looking and reading reviews as well. In my woodworking magazines it seems like most metal detectors only go to an inch deep. I would think that they could have better technology in them. Interested in what others have to say.

 

[G_P]

Cypher,

Were I you, I would look at a Garrett. They make metal detectors you might find in the hands of a security guard. Which, in my mind, would be perfect for your application.

Yup. The Garrett wands are what I've seen used by the people who will come to your property with a portable sawmill.

Not cheap, but neither are planer knives and good saw blades.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000VUHZ0W/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[ilovevocs]

A little off topic but If you knew someone with an infrared thermography camera you could locate everything very quickly. If you were close to me I would lend you hand.

 

[DawgPaw]

Hey there. I spent four years working at a sawmill that specialized in reclaimed lumber. I spent many, many, many hours in the denailing shed. We used those exact same metal detectors that are in the link above. They got a TON of use and no problems. I wouldn't worry about the specs or even reviews. What you are doing is pretty simple, and after hundreds of thousands of board feet I can say that they work well. I know they say one inch, but I never had a problem with them not reading deep enough. Even in huge beams out of old cotton mill.

Send me a message if you want some tips. I'll give you the simple list of very effective tools and techniques that we learned the hard way over several years. Also I feel really bad for you working in oak. We dealt mostly with antique heart pine the first 3 years, and then we started getting oak timbers out of Ohio. They were tough!

 

[Cypherian]

Hey,

Thanks for the info and tips , we use garret at work also but damn are they pricey . I had hoped there was one made for wood working that was not so pricey. I guess it is bite the bullet and get one :{ But as was said planer knives are not cheap nor are saw blades / chains yes I said chains some of the beams are 8"x8" . I did suggest some RDX but he felt his neighbors might not be happy with that so it is going to be piece by piece.

Dawgpaw perhaps share your tips here might help some others in the future ?

The plan .... building is 20' x 25' 2 story . The idea Is brace ground to ceiling then second story to roof line as needed, perhaps diagonally cross all 4 sides with cable come-along's or prop externally the sides . It was built post and beam / peg / wedge style and some lags and such so we are not exactly sure what might move as we go so figure better safe then sorry. Then start at the top remove roof shingles, remove the asphalt shingle siding we checked it is not asbestos so we dodged that bullet. If an area is rotted just chain saw or sawzall instead of screwing around with a pry bar etc. It is all old oak near about 50 plus years .

I know from working on the other barn next to it even the strapping they used was oak and hard as hell a few years ago so I do not imagine this ones wood is going to be any softer lol.

Cypher

 

[LordPsychon]

There is an alternative that comes to mind. Some of the more expensive stud detectors ($60 or so) are designed to seek out metal studs and many of these penetrate down at least 1 1/2". Still if you can afford it, Garrett is the way to go.

 

[srmofo]

There is an alternative that comes to mind. Some of the more expensive stud detectors ($60 or so) are designed to seek out metal studs and many of these penetrate down at least 1 1/2". Still if you can afford it, Garrett is the way to go.

I bought one of those expensive stud detectors and it couldnt even reliably find the studs, I certainly wouldnt trust it to find a lonely nail buried in lumber

 

[Jarhead0408]

Here's a Garrett for $74.99 including shipping:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GARRETT-SUP...137?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c99d1d701

If you're patient you can find them for much cheaper though.

I bought one last year off of eBay for $45 plus a little bit for shipping. Works very well.