Perhaps you have recently lost your wedding ring (really dumb), or maybe you’re simply on the hunt for a tungsten ring. Either way, a hobby metal detector can help you out since tungsten has metallic properties! The question is…
…How do I find a tungsten ring with my metal detector?
If you want to use a metal detector to find a tungsten ring, it’s important to begin your search in a favorable location such as the beach or a park. Adjust the sensitivity and discrimination settings of your metal detector to suit the properties of tungsten. Increase the sensitivity level and set the discrimination to ignore ferrous metals. Utilizing a pinpointer can assist in precisely pinpointing the location of the ring once you have detected its presence.
With a bit of luck (and a lot of patience) you will be able to find your lost tungsten ring back. Or you will find a completely different tungsten ring of course😉. In this blog I will tell you step by step (and in detail) how to find a tungsten ring. Good Luck!
What is a good metal detector to find a tungsten ring?
Let’s cut straight to the chase and address the type of metal detector that is suitable for detecting a tungsten ring. After all, if you use the wrong metal detector you won’t be able to find a tungsten ring at all!
If you want to find a tungsten ring with a metal detector you will need a VLF metal detector that is able to distinguish tungsten from other metal objects. Additionally, it is recommended to use a machine that has an adjustable sensitivity level. If you live in an area with a mineralized bottom, your metal detector also needs a ground balance function.
In order to distinguish the tungsten ring from other metal objects like iron, copper and stainless steel you can use the discrimination function. This allows you to ignore certain metal objects that you don’t want to find. This basically means that you can set up the metal detector in a way that it only reacts to tungsten.
Since a tungsten ring is a small object you will also need to use a high sensitivity level. By using a high sensitivity level, your metal detector will reach great detection depths. Furthermore, it is more sensitive to little objects.
If you live in an area with a lot of ground mineralization, you will need a metal detector that also features a ground balance function. This function let the metal detector adjust to the soil conditions which means that you won’t get phantom signals anymore.
Examples of good metal detectors that you can use
As you have seen, the metal detector needs to have the following features;
- A discrimination function
- A sensitivity function
- A ground balance function (in case you live in an area with a lot of ground mineralization)
In my opinion, you don’t really need an expensive metal detector because there are some really good cheap metal detectors out there. These metal detectors easily enable you to find a lost tungsten ring! Some good metal detectors that you can use can be seen below;
The Bounty Hunter
- Discrimination function
- Sensitivity function
- Extremely Cheap
DR Ötek Detector
- Discrimination function
- Sensitivity function
- Extremely Cheap
Let’s take a look at all the steps that you need to take in order to find a tungsten ring!
Choose the right location to find a tungsten ring with a metal detector
If you are hunting for a completely unknown tungsten ring, you should go to a promising location to increase your chances of finding one.
In general, you should metal detect at places where many people gather or have gathered. At these places you have to highest chance of finding lost stuff like a tungsten ring. However, you are not allowed to search everywhere because you need permission to go metal detecting (with the exception of your own property).
Some really good places where you can find a lost tungsten ring are the beach, in a river or lake, close to hiking trails, in a park, in the grass, in a garden, close to a parking spot and in the roadside. If want to know more good locations, you should take a quick look at my other blog!
Fine-tune your metal detector settings to find a tungsten ring
Alright… once you have fixed the right metal detector and the right spot to go metal detecting, it is time to set up your metal detector settings.
This is definitely one of the most important steps in order to succeed finding a tungsten ring. Let’s start with the discrimination function of the metal detector.
1. Setting up the discrimination function
The first step that you want to do is to ignore other metals than tungsten. A tungsten ring is a highly-conductive target that is non-ferrous (which means that it doesn’t contain iron). It has almost the same metallic properties as copper and silver.
This means that you should ignore ferrous metals like iron, cast iron, wrought iron, stainless steel and carbon steel. You can do this by going to the discrimination function and choose to only find the ‘’non-ferrous’’ metals. In the picture below, you can see a representative display of a metal detector.
2. Choosing the right sensitivity level
After you have correctly set up the discrimination function, you should set up the sensitivity function. As mentioned earlier, a tungsten ring is quite a small target which means that you should use a high sensitivity level.
The pitfall here is that the most detectorists often use a too high sensitivity level. This leads to false positives (in other words; phantom signals). Therefore, you should increase the sensitivity level until the detector starts to produce inconsistent and false beeps.
From this sensitivity level (with many phantom signals), you should decrease the sensitivity level a little bit until you don’t receive phantom signals anymore. After you have done this, you are using the correct sensitivity level!
3. Ground balance the metal detector
The last step, which is not for everyone, is to ground balance your metal detector. This basically means that you let your metal detector adjust to the soil conditions. This could be very useful if you have to detect in mineralized bottoms.
The most metal detectors have an automatic ground balance function. This means that if you press the ground balance button, it will automatically set up the ground balance function on your metal detector.
If you want to do it manually, you should press the accept/reject button and pump your metal detector’s coil up and down until the ground balance number on the display starts to stabilize. In my other blog, you can read more about properly ground balancing your metal detector.
Use the correct swinging technique
Now that you have set up the metal detector you can finally start to search for a tungsten ring! To increase your chances of actually picking up a tungsten ring it is really important to use the correct swinging technique.
This basically means that you should keep your metal detector’s coil as close as possible to the surface (always horizontal to the surface!) without touching the bottom surface. Slowly swing from the left to the right and vice versa.
Make sure that you don’t walk to fast in a forward direction, otherwise you might miss your target. Furthermore, it could be useful to use a swinging harness to avoid tired arms and shoulders.
Using a pinpointer to locate the ring once you have detected it
Finally! Your metal detector starts to beep! This is an amazing and an incredibly exciting feeling. This means that you can start to dig in order to find the tungsten ring.
Sometimes, it can be really hard to find the tungsten ring since this is quite a small target. A tool that you can use to find the object a little bit faster is a pinpointer. This looks like a little rod and it is actually the small version of a metal detector. In my other blog, you can read how you should use the pinpointer.
Patience is the key to success
It is really important to realize that metal detecting is a hobby that relies on luck, chance, and a lot of patience. So don’t give up right away if you don’t immediately stumble upon a tungsten ring. Persistence and hard work often pay off in the end!
Frequently Asked Questions
Tungsten is a non-ferrous and highly conductive metal. These types of metal often trigger a loud, clear, consistent and high beep on the metal detector.
Yes, you can also find a tungsten ring without using a pinpointer (only using your metal detector). A pinpointer is only a tool to make it easier for you to find a tungsten ring. If you are not willing to pay money for this, it is not a problem.
Yes, you can also find a tungsten ring without using the ground balance function of the metal detector. This function is only needed when you search in areas with a lot of trash or ground mineralization. You will often find ground mineralization in old bottoms and volcanic bottoms.