Best detecting pick?

[The geezer]

Hello.Some suggestions and thoughts would be good about buying a new pick. I started with a small Walco and then a medium size Cc pick which works fine. I am thinking of going bigger (900-1000 mm) and am wondering if I should just buy a longer pick handle . Some of the ground has been pretty tough going and maybe a longer pick would help my back or would it just be a pain in the arse to carry around?

 

[XLOOX]

I know it looks a bit out of proportion but I put a 950mm light pelican style handle on a Gold Digger small head pick and I love it. At 1650g all up it is still light enough to use one handed and once you decide to get serious & go 2 handed then it shifts lots of dirt without you having to bend over much. Long enough to use as a walking stick, crutch or comfortable seat for yer bum (hint: use blunt end ).

It is my 5th pick in 35years so its not like I dont give them a fair go.

Previous one (middle) was just the standard Gold Digger Small head 600mm (1150g) which is also good. I like a simple curved triangle head as it is better for scraping sideways when you only want to skim flat the top layer on a larger area to get your coil lower.

A real 900mm pick with a matching head is about 2400g, which is zero fun to carry and must be used 2 handed unless you work out .

The far right pick is my crevicing pick. 700mm handle 1250g. Deadly but specialised.

They all look a bit shiny as 2 years ago they got a coat of West Systems 206 epoxy, which really soaks into the wood & strengthens it. It is smooth but non slippery finish.

Also a bit of 1 1/2" stainless tube squished a bit in the vice makes a perfect sleeve to keep rocks away and strengthen the handle-head joint.

And of course the tape is so that I dont lose the damn thing yet again.

But ultimately each to their own - you will end up with drawn picks at 20 paces if you challenge someone elses choice..

 

[davsgold]

Hello.Some suggestions and thoughts would be good about buying a new pick. I started with a small Walco and then a medium size Cc pick which works fine. I am thinking of going bigger (900-1000 mm) and am wondering if I should just buy a longer pick handle . Some of the ground has been pretty tough going and maybe a longer pick would help my back or would it just be a pain in the arse to carry around?

some of the detector shops stock my Gold Digger Picks, like the Newcastle shop Aussie Detectorist, and Nenad Phase Technical in SA, and Finders Keepers Gold in Kalgoorlie WA

a picture of the three sizes 600mm handle 700mm handle and 900mm handle

 

[lazypat]

I know it looks a bit out of proportion but I put a 950mm light pelican style handle on a Gold Digger small head pick and I love it. At 1650g all up it is still light enough to use one handed and once you decide to get serious & go 2 handed then it shifts lots of dirt without you having to bend over much. Long enough to use as a walking stick, crutch or comfortable seat for yer bum (hint: use blunt end ).

It is my 5th pick in 35years so its not like I dont give them a fair go.

Previous one (middle) was just the standard Gold Digger Small head 600mm (1150g) which is also good. I like a simple curved triangle head as it is better for scraping sideways when you only want to skim flat the top layer on a larger area to get your coil lower.

A real 900mm pick with a matching head is about 2400g, which is zero fun to carry and must be used 2 handed unless you work out .

The far right pick is my crevicing pick. 700mm handle 1250g. Deadly but specialised.

They all look a bit shiny as 2 years ago they got a coat of West Systems 206 epoxy, which really soaks into the wood & strengthens it. It is smooth but non slippery finish.

Also a bit of 1 1/2" stainless tube squished a bit in the vice makes a perfect sleeve to keep rocks away and strengthen the handle-head joint.

And of course the tape is so that I dont lose the damn thing yet again.

But ultimately each to their own - you will end up with drawn picks at 20 paces if you challenge someone elses choice..

View attachment 13499

I

Hello.Some suggestions and thoughts would be good about buying a new pick. I started with a small Walco and then a medium size Cc pick which works fine. I am thinking of going bigger (900-1000 mm) and am wondering if I should just buy a longer pick handle . Some of the ground has been pretty tough going and maybe a longer pick would help my back or would it just be a pain in the arse to carry around?

The trouble is with the long handel pick is if you carry it in your harness the handel if your under 6ft tall has a tendency to drag on the ground unless you carry it on your shoulder,

 

[sand surfer]

I know what you mean lazypat ,with myself having ducks disease , even with the DD leather angled pick holder there is some problems so i cut the handle down to 750mm ,seems to work well for me

 

[XLOOX]

Yeah always over the shoulder - keeps the head well away from the coil. with the small head it is actually very comfortable. full size head on a 900 pick is like wearing an extra GPX5000 with an 18 coil

 

[kev205]

This is the one I have been using, constructed from a plough shear, a bit of tube from a trampoline and a fibreglass maddock hand with the fat end cut off. I drilled the handle end and forced a rare earth magnet into it. Being from a plough shear it holds an edge very well when you have to cut that bit of scrub from just above the target. Is very light, can use it one handed but goes well two handed when you need to get "dinkum"