Hints and Tips #1: Finding nails in re-used wood

Bet that has saved you many a blade, Dave. I didn’t realize they were so inexpensive.

-- God bless, Candy

Candy, It does when you use it. During that stair tread shelf project, I thought I had removed all the staples and nails. Didn’t bother with the detector because ‘I knew what I was doing’. I cut one end off and discovered an 8 penny nail shank, nicely polished in the wood. The bright side is that it didn’t seem to wreck my blade, nor did it fling out and hit me. I dug it out and carried on.

-- Ni faru ion el ligno!

I too use a metal detector, but, as you say, they aren’t perfect, so I have a backup.
After I have finished with the instrument and extracted all the metal it finds I go over the wood again with a rare earth magnet. Not a wimpy one, but one taken from a discarded hard drive.
When passing over any metal it will let you know with a tug on your hand. if the metal is heavier than a staple it will stick to the wood firmly.
I also use it to locate wall studs. Believe me, it will find metal under sheet rock.

Don

-- No trees were damaged in posting this message, but thousands of electrons were seriously inconvenienced.

What brand is your detector? Seems like something I should put on the wish list for those that wish to buy something for Christmas for … me.

Thanks for the magnet idea too Don.

-- Chance Four "Not Just a Second Chance"

nomercadies, The only markings on my metal detector are ‘metal detector md-300’ If you google that and choose ‘shopping’ they will pop up, or you can just go to eBay. It’s definitely low end, but mine works.

-- Ni faru ion el ligno!

Found it. Thank you.

-- Chance Four "Not Just a Second Chance"