Automax Precision v2
Approximate price: $140
Number of Reviews: 29
on 3 pages.
Very happy after modification
Lou Parson in Louisiana -I bought the Automax v4 a few weeks ago. I feel it was an excellent purchase for the money. I looked at the reviews and agree with most, that the electronics were good but the design was not as good as it could be. I made these modifications to it and now I'm very happy with it. First I cut the handle off and relocated the vibrator. I then removed the middle of the pointer shortening it 1/3. I used a small piece of styrofoam to hold the coil in the tip off the pointer as it rattled. I then epoxied the remaining sections of the pointer together and filled the hole where the handle was removed. Now it's only 11 inches. Very happy with it.
Nov 06, 2011
1 Yes
4 No
Overpriced noisemaker
Monte in Midwest,U.S -
Got one as gift, it is unstable and requires constant tuning, reacts strongly to mineralized ground.
Kansas soil is mostly neutral never oer seldom
require GB of detector, but the pinpointer still reacts..
don't bother wasting time, recycle the box, and trash the PP, on second thought why waste
valuable dump site space, just hang it on the wall.
Mont
Aug 02, 2011
2 Yes
0 No
Piece of Chinese Junk
Jimmy D in Kansas City, Mo USA -Like others I got this awkward piece free from Kellyco. Don't need something to sit and adjust and readjust and then have to be careful with while I'm out enjoying detecting so after careful consideration purchased a Garrett Pinpointer to replace this aggravating piece of junk.
May 24, 2011
6 Yes
0 No
V4 Lasted all of four months:
Russ in northern PA -
My V4 was a free gift from Kellyco (minus shipping costs), fortunately I didn't pay their retail price of $89.95... Almost from the very beginning I started having issues with the V4 and was always needing to fiddle with the sensitivity to get it to work properly. It was easy to see that it was very cheaply made and wasn't going to hold up over the long run and sure enough the first time I got caught out in a light shower, it quit on me for good.
Anyhow I didn't even bother returning it to Kellyco, but bought a Garret Pro-pointer online for $109.00 and it is still going strong over a year and a half later... If you want to baby your V4, then it will probably be okay for use as a lite-duty pinpointer (if a free gift), but I "use" my Pro-pointer and don't have time to baby it!
Just for the record Harbor Freight sells one which is very similar in size, shape and features to the V4 for $16.99 which gives you a truer idea of its actual worth.
Feb 28, 2011
6 Yes
0 No
Frankenstein Pin Pointer
FJ Rogers in Rocky Mountains Logan, Utah -The Automax Precision V4 is a good unit, and I am sure if used properly it would stand the test of time. Mine came as a gift with the probe broken. Being kind of cheap I decided to fix it with epoxy and a 3/4 in pvc pipe. It looks as about as the dirt it explores, however it functions perfectly. I use it to pinpoint at the local lake beaches and I have had wonderful luck recovering items that my detector has indicated. I have even found a small piece of gold earring that my detector had missed but the V4 picked up. Happy Hunting.
Feb 23, 2011
0 Yes
0 No
3 Years and Still Going Strong!
Chris in Simi Valley, CA -
I thought it was time that I updated my original review.
Why is it that some people dislike and/or manage to destroy this fine instrument? Let me point out a few things concerning the Automax V4 that may help:
1. It's not a pogo stick, so don't jump on it.
2. It's not a walking stick or a cane, so don't lean on it.
3. It's not to be used for pole vaulting, nor is it to be stepped on.
4. It's not a toy, so keep it away from the kids.
5. It's not a crow bar, don't use it to pry your finds out of the hole. You have digging tools for that purpose.
6. Its long probe was designed for scanning deep holes with ease as well as keeping it's control box out of water-filled holes.
7. Be gentle sliding its 3-position switch, it's made of sturdy plastic, not tempered steel.
8. The probe can be immersed in water all the way up to within an inch or so of the control box, but the control box cannot be immersed.
9. The Automax V4 is of the blunt-nose variety of pinpointers. Don't jam it into the soil trying to reach your find, blunt-nose pinpointers are designed only to TOUCH the walls and bottoms of holes as well as sift through loose soil.
If you absolutely must pierce the soil to locate your find, then use the proper type of pinpointer for the job such as Intex System's Cache Probe CP 250. I own one for just such purposes.
http://www.intexsystemscorp.com/
The Automax V4 is very sensitive, it'll detect shards of foil if you set it correctly. Turn the control knob until the unit alerts, then turn it back slightly and you're all set. Recheck the adjustment for every hole.
You also have the choice of an audible or vibrating alert. I prefer the vibration because it alerts only me and not everybody in the vicinity.
The handle, control knob, control box, belt clip and probe are all sturdy and should remain so if the above recomendations are adhered to.
Unlike my Vibraprobe 560, which crapped-out on me after 3 months, my Automax V4 goes on. I got the Automax free when I purchased my first detector. When I purchased the second detector, they gave me yet another free Automax - which I haven't had need to use because I have taken such good care of the first one!
Take care of your Automax V4 too, and it'll serve you long and well.
HH
Jul 25, 2010
7 Yes
1 No
Ill try this one.
Rob in Boise, ID -I havent bought one yet but if you look on ebay there as cheap as $22.
Sep 22, 2009
2 Yes
5 No
Very flimsy and arkward to handle
Alton Schexnayder in Knoxville, Tn USA -
Got the pinpointer free with a MD purchased from Kellyco. It works fine and is very sensitive. However the case is very flimsy and the probe is easily broken if pushed too hard on the ground. Its size, while great for getting deep in the hole, makes it very hard to carry. The clip doesn't work too well for attaching to the belt and it doesn't fit well in the coin pouch.
Nov 20, 2008
11 Yes
0 No
Expected better design!
Ronjinsan in Cape Town -The Automax pinpointer has impressive electronics but the casing could have been better designed by a 6 year old! The probe part of it is nice and long and has good sensitivity on both tip and sides. The body and handle could have been sensibly condensed to at least half of their width, which would have made this a 5 star pinpointer. If that was the case they could then have supplied a clip to attach it to the shaft of your metal detector for ease of carrying!
All in all its a good pointer with a bad body. Never fails to pick up even the smallest bits of metal but then when I want to put it away or on my belt its just a pain!
Nov 06, 2008
6 Yes
0 No
Good pinpointer but big and the clip is bad.
litlewolf2 in MN USA -The good points: This pinpointer is big and durable in the way that you can jab it through the dirt fairly vigorously. It has vibrate and audio modes and good sensitivity adjustment.
The bad points: It's BIG so it's not something you can really stick your pocket or your detecting apron/pouch. The clip is poorly constructed which is almost the only way you can carry this thing around is to slide the clip onto your belt or pocket. One screw placed on the clip has fallen out. The clip is also bent so it doesn't grasp that well after half of a season.
I don't think the positives compensate enough for the downfalls. But if you can deal with the size and the shoddy clip it's a good pinpointer.
Jun 14, 2008
4 Yes
0 No
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