Yes, a metal detector can find tungsten, but like most things in metal detecting, the full answer depends on a few key factors. Tungsten is a dense, heavy metal commonly used in jewelry, especially in the form of a tungsten wedding ring or tungsten carbide ring, and in industrial parts like electrodes, tools, and weights.
Because of its strength and durability, it’s often chosen for items meant to last, wedding bands, family keepsakes, and fine industrial tools. But here’s the twist: tungsten has unique properties that make it a little harder to detect than more common metals like silver, nickel, or gold. Our team at Garrett will break down what makes tungsten different, and how that affects your ability to find it with a modern metal detector.
Key Takeaways
- Tungsten is detectable by most metal detectors available at Garrett.
- Tungsten carbide rings often mimic junk metals, producing mid-range or weak signals that can be misread or overlooked.
- Lower frequency detectors (5–10 kHz) work best for finding dense, low-conductive metals like tungsten in soil or sand.
- Digging all targets is critical, as tungsten can sound similar to aluminum, lead, or iron on many detectors.
- A pinpointer like the Garrett Pro-Pointer AT can dramatically speed up recovery once you’ve narrowed down the target zone.
- Garrett’s Vortex Series of metal detectors are highly effective for tungsten, offering strong depth, waterproofing, and ideal frequency tuning for tough recoveries.
Understanding Tungsten’s Properties
What Is Tungsten?
Tungsten is a chemical element with one of the highest melting points of any metal. It’s extremely hard, very dense, and highly resistant to wear and scratch damage. Tungsten’s weight often surprises people. Pick up a tungsten ring or tungsten carbide wedding ring and it feels heavy, more so than a gold ring of the same size.
That’s part of the appeal for people who like the solid, rugged feel. It’s also why dropping one into dirt, poolside, or near rocks can be frustrating.
But keep in mind: many items labeled as tungsten, like your friend’s wedding ring or your own lost band, are actually made from tungsten carbide, a compound combining tungsten with carbon. That changes how it behaves with a detector.
Is Tungsten Magnetic or Conductive?
Tungsten itself is not magnetic, but that doesn’t mean it’s invisible to a metal detector. Garrett’s metal detectors are designed to detect both ferrous and non-ferrous metals using electromagnetic signals. That’s why a lost tungsten ring can still be detected near the edge of a lawn, along a beach, or even on a mountain trail, as long as your detector is properly set up.
However, tungsten is electrically conductive, just not nearly as much as metals like silver or gold. That reduced conductivity means a weaker signal, but it’s still enough to register a hit on most metal detectors if the object is close enough and large enough.
Tungsten carbide is also conductive, though the specific alloy mix and hardness can slightly affect the tone or target ID your detector produces.
Why These Properties Matter for Metal Detecting
When you’re metal detecting, your machine sends out an electromagnetic field. If it hits something conductive, like a tungsten wedding ring, it generates a return signal that the detector can hear and interpret. This is what produces that familiar tone or beep when you pass over a target.
Conductivity, magnetism, object size, and shape all affect how strong that signal is. Because tungsten and tungsten carbide aren’t very conductive and not magnetic at all, they stand out less than pure gold will to metal detectors. That makes recovery harder, especially if you’re throwing your detector into a notch discrimination mode that filters out mid-range metals.
But here’s the good news: tungsten’s density works in your favor. A large, solid tungsten carbide ring worn on a finger and dropped near a pool or public event space can still give a decent hit, especially with a good VLF or multi-frequency machine.
How Metal Detectors Work With Tungsten
The Role of Electromagnetic Fields
All metal detectors use electromagnetic fields to scan the search area. These fields cause tiny electrical currents (called eddy currents) in conductive materials like metal. The currents then produce their own magnetic fields, which the detector senses and responds to with a tone, number ID, or both.
Tungsten and tungsten carbide do respond to this system, just not loudly. You may hear a soft, faint hit rather than a loud, sharp tone like you’d get from a silver or gold target. The signal might also blend in with aluminum or iron, especially if your machine’s discrimination isn’t set properly.
Signal Strength from Tungsten Objects
Signal strength from a tungsten ring depends on several things: size, shape, depth, and even the angle it’s resting at. A large wedding band gives a better signal than a small broken piece. Flat items tend to reflect signals better than jagged or curved ones.
Expect the ID to jump around a little. On some detectors, tungsten might read similarly to iron or steel, especially if you’re detecting in moist soil, after bad weather, or near mineralized dirt. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible to find, you just need to listen for the more subtle tones and avoid notching out targets that could be your ring.
Tips for Successfully Finding Tungsten
Finding tungsten with a metal detector is absolutely possible, but it’s not always easy. Tungsten has some unique qualities that make it behave differently than metals like gold, silver, or steel, so let’s walk through what works, what doesn’t, and what to look out for in the search area.
Adjust Your Detector’s Settings
Lower Sensitivity in Trash-Heavy Areas
If you’re metal detecting in a place full of trash signals, like a public park, beach, or trail, start by lowering your sensitivity settings. High sensitivity can overwhelm your machine with too many tones and make it nearly impossible to hear the faint signal from a tungsten ring.
Most metal detectors do better with lower sensitivity when the ground is noisy, especially around bottle caps, iron, and other junk alloys.
Use Lower Frequencies for Better Detection
Most metal detectors operate at specific frequency ranges, and that frequency choice matters when you’re searching for tungsten. Higher frequencies, around 20 kHz or above, are better suited for detecting lower-conductive metals like tungsten, lead, and small gold.
A tungsten carbide ring or wedding band may produce a faint tone or an unexpected ID number, especially compared to high-conductivity metals like silver, which is why machines with higher single frequencies or a well-balanced multi-frequency mode offer a clear advantage when hunting tungsten.
Higher frequencies are more responsive to lower-conductive metals like tungsten, even when you’re searching in damp dirt, sand near a pool, or along a mountain edge where a lost wedding ring may have settled. Before you start your hunt, it’s smart to test a tungsten ring with your detector so you can learn its tone and target ID, which often sound different than more conductive metals like silver.
Dig All Targets
Tungsten Can Be Misidentified as Junk
Here’s one big problem: tungsten often fools your machine. Because it’s low-conductive, a small tungsten carbide ring might sound like aluminum, lead, or iron. Many modern detectors will give you a mid-tone or even a low, trashy signal. That’s why digging every target is so important, if you rely too much on discrimination, you could end up throwing away your best chance at recovery.
We’ve seen cases where someone dropped a tungsten wedding ring near a public post or bench, and their friend searched for hours using the wrong settings and missed it because they didn’t dig mid-range tones.
Garrett Vortex VX9: Best-In-Class for Detecting Tungsten
When you need serious depth and precision to find lost tungsten items, especially in challenging terrain, the Garrett Vortex VX9 delivers. Its 20 kHz higher frequency does very well on low conductivity targets like gold and Tungsten. The Vortex’s Multi-Frequency selection is another excellent choice for blending frequencies to help identify challenging targets.
With advanced iron discrimination, you can confidently filter out junk targets that might mimic tungsten signals. Fully waterproof up to 16 feet, it’s perfect for beach hunts, wet grass, or shallow water searches. Add in features like high-resolution ground balance, Digital Target ID, and wireless audio, and the Vortex VX9 becomes your go-to detector for tungsten recovery.
Use a Pinpointer for Precision
Helpful for Small or Shallow Finds
Once your metal detector gives you a signal, a handheld pinpointer helps you narrow it down. This is especially useful when you’re trying to find small tungsten items like a wedding band or earring that’s just under the surface. Whether you’re on the beach or digging in packed dirt, a pinpointer saves time and helps you recover more quickly.
We’ve had users report finding a tungsten ring they thought was gone for good, only to locate it inches from where they’d started, right at the edge of the dig hole, thanks to their pinpointer.
Pinpoint Tungsten with the Garrett Pro-Pointer AT
When it comes to finding dense metals like tungsten in tough terrain, our Garrett Pro-Pointer AT is up to the task. This rugged, waterproof handheld pinpointer offers 360° side-scan detection and a patented scraping blade to help you zero in on small metal targets, even in soil, gravel, or water.
With its 11.5 kHz operating frequency and adjustable sensitivity, it’s capable of detecting high-density metals like tungsten with precision. The bright orange design ensures visibility, while the LED light and audio/vibration alerts make it easy to use in low light or noisy environments.
Recap: Can a Metal Detector Find Tungsten?
So, will a metal detector find tungsten? Yes, but only if you know how to work with its quirks. Tungsten rings and carbide parts don’t sound like gold or silver, and they often blend in with junk tones. That’s what makes finding them a challenge.
Use higher frequencies, use careful amounts of discrimination, and be prepared to dig even some questionable signals that are just above the iron range. A pinpointer can make all the difference, especially when you’re tired, frustrated, or trying to find a ring your friend dropped at night during a wedding party. But don’t worry, it can be found, you just need to know what to listen for.Stay patient, keep testing, and remember: most metal detectors are capable of finding tungsten with the right approach. If you need help picking out the right metal detector or have any questions, just contact our team at Garrett and we will be happy to walk you through the best metal detector options.
