Every metal detector is different. This essentially means that not every machine will be able to pick up every metal that you might come across while hunting. However, there are some metals that will be more commonly picked up by your detector.
But, can aluminum set off a metal detector? The short answer is yes, but there are several factors that come into play when determining how well a metal detector can detect an aluminum target. Things like aluminum piece’s shape, orientation, size, and soil conditions, just to mention a few.
But why is aluminum detected by your machine and what other metals should you be on the lookout for? Let’s dive in, shall we?
Types of Detectable Metals
It is crucial to know what sort of metals you might be coming across in your hunt so that you can start to differentiate between them. That way you’ll know what you’re hovering over and can decide whether it is worth your time or should be passed over. They have varying frequencies so they shouldn’t be too hard to identify.
Ferrous metals
This type is easy to identify as it has iron in its composition. This means that ferrous metals are easily attracted to a magnet and are highly conductive.
They also have a high carbon content, which makes them vulnerable to rust when exposed to air and moisture. You’ll commonly find ferrous metals in items made using either cast iron or carbon steel.
Non-ferrous metals
On the other hand, non-ferrous types are metals that do not contain iron in their composition. Instead, they include copper, aluminum, nickel, lead, titanium, and zinc, plus precious metals such as silver and gold. Since they don’t have iron, they are highly resistant to rust and are not attracted to a magnet.
However, some non-ferrous metals, such as copper, aluminum, and gold, are highly conductive. Which is why aluminum can be detected using a metal detector.
Stainless steel
This is made up of a combination of chromium, nickel, and iron content in varying amounts. These metals are less conductive and barely attracted to a magnet. The fact that they have little conductivity makes it difficult to detect them, so you aren’t as likely to find things made from this.
How Well Does Aluminum Conduct Electricity?
Aluminum is one of the non-ferrous metals used when making most household items such as utensils, and foils, as well as industrial products like rockets, pistons, and planes. It’s widely used because it is lightweight, highly conductive, strong, and less costly to obtain.
Pure aluminum has an electrical conductivity of about 37 million siemens per meter, which is honestly pretty high. However, aluminum alloys can be less conductive than that if they are diluted. Due to its high conductivity though, aluminum is easily picked up by your common metal detector.
What Metal Detector Settings Should You Use for Aluminum?
To pick up aluminum targets using a metal detector, there are a few settings you need to adjust for the best results. Nearly all metal detectors come with a multitude of customization features that allow you up to five different settings, which you can use to find various types of metals.
One way to tune your detector towards aluminum specifically is by adjusting the sensor’s settings to increase its sensitivity. Some detectors also allow you to set the type of metal you want to find.
However, if your machine doesn’t have this customization features or you don’t know how to tune the settings, you can set the detector to search for relics using the modes.
Also, it’s important to know that changing your detector’s settings to pick up only non-ferrous metals can possibly make you lose out on other valuable items such as coins and jewelry, as nearly every object has an aluminum compound.
The environmental conditions, as well as the aluminum’s shape and form, may also affect how well you’re able to detect aluminum targets using a metal detector.
Should You Get A Special Metal Detector For Aluminum?
With so many different types of metal detectors out there, finding the right one to use for locating aluminum targets can be pretty challenging.
While you may use a quality all-round metal detector with advanced customization features, handheld airport metal detectors are the best when it comes to detecting aluminum targets.
This is because handheld models feature higher detection rates for non-ferrous metals and are compact enough to use both outdoors and indoors.
Conclusion
If your hunt is truly geared towards finding aluminum, there are many ways to go about that. Just make sure you have your equipment attuned correctly, and that you know where to look and what else you might run across. It isn’t nearly as difficult as it might seem, and you are likely to come out of your next journey with plenty to show for it. Happy hunting!
