HF Cen-tech metal detector

[maxparot]

HF has their version of the lumber wizard on sale for $25.
I grabbed 1 with a 15% off coupon to give a try.

It uses a 9V battery or can use a rechargable. (NiCd can be charged in the wand with charger (not included)) A soft case is included

The charger port doubles as an earphone jack.

Hidden under the rubber handle grip is a sensitivity adjustment if needed to turn it down (it comes set to high)

There is a button to desensitize

Using it is simple turn on and pass it over the lumber if it beeps there is metal.

Bottom line is it works and doesn't cost what a lumber wizard does. At the price the first time it saves you a set of blades it has paid for itself.

[sweensdv]

I have one of these and it works very well for the type of stuff I do. One downside is that it doesn't scan as deeply as the more expensive models. When I first got mine, I did some testing with it(playing around) and 1" deep was about the max depth of scan I could get out of it. For me that's not a problem at all but for others it could be. Actually, if you scan both sides of a piece of stock it will easily do a 2" thick board. It's branded a CenTec like their calipers are and I'd rate the quality on a par with the calipers which I consider a HF gem.

[Lee4847]

Thanks, I am on my way out to get one. Last batch of Hickory I milled had a nice chunck of barbed wire in it. I saw it just as I was about to put it in the planner...made me check the rest of the boards real close!!

[maxparot]

One downside is that it doesn't scan as deeply as the more expensive models. When I first got mine, I did some testing with it(playing around) and 1" deep was about the max depth of scan I could get out of it.

Did you try to adjust the sensitivity?
It has an adjustment under the rubber grip in the handle.
I know it is supposed to be set to high from the factory but you never know.
I found mine to be capable to about 2 inches.

Also I'd tend to use a 9V alkaline battery since a rechargable of it's form factor is only 8.4V it may not deliver optimum performance.

[sweensdv]

Actually, I thought I was doing pretty good getting it to read 1" deep. They advertise it as only being able to read 13/16" deep. I'm not sure I know what you're referring to when you talk about an adjustment feature under the rubber grip. Did you take your apart to find this or are you talking about the sensitivity button that when you push it in decreases the sensitivity by 50% until you let go of the button?

As I said in my other post, I can scan a 2" board but to do so I have to scan one side down to a 1" depth then flip the board and scan the other side for the second inch.

[maxparot]

In the instructions that came with mine they tell of the adjustment of sensitivity. It is supposed to be done by removing the rubber grip under the grip you'll find 2 holes 1 is the sensitivity adjustment (screwdriver needed) the other is factory setting.

The results may depend on the amount and type of metal as well as the density of the wood.

[atgcpaul]

HF has their version of the lumber wizard on sale for $25.
I grabbed 1 with a 15% off coupon to give a try.

Bought one of these today for $25 on sale. No coupon but still a deal. So far
it seems like a real winner since I sometimes buy reclaimed wood for projects.

[Jeffrey Schronce]

Thanks for the review! It's great to see a good write up on a find like this.