About Wizards

Wizard Industries, Inc. was formed in 1999 by Billy and Julie Carmen following Billy's development of handheld metal detectors designed especially for woodworkers to detect buried metal when using reclaimed and other types of wood. The Lumber Wizard and the Little Wizard are widely know in the woodworking industy and are available from most woodworking retailers across the USA, Canada, and Australia.

Tuning Your Little Wizard Metal Detector

Wizard 5 Metal Detector Troubleshooting Guide

Lumber Wizard 5: Proper Battery Power & Practice Tips

Protect Your Planer Blades with Detection Lumber Wizard and Little Wizard

A Lumber Wizard 5 Review Video

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​Laser-guided metal detectors, such as the Lumber Wizard 5, offer enhanced precision and targeting capabilities compared to traditional detectors. Here's a concise comparison:​

Laser Guidance and Targeting Accuracy

The Lumber Wizard 5 features a laser line indicator that projects a red line onto the surface when metal is detected, allowing users to pinpoint the exact location without guesswork. Traditional detectors often rely solely on audio cues, requiring users to sweep back and forth to triangulate the target. ​

Detection Depth and Sensitivity

The Lumber Wizard 5 can detect larger metal pieces at depths up to 5–6 inches and is sensitive enough to find small objects like staples about 3/8 inch below the surface. In contrast, basic handheld detectors, such as the Little Wizard II, have a shallower effective depth, often around 0.5 to 1.5 inches for nails. ​

Reduction of False Positives

Advanced detectors like the Lumber Wizard 5 are engineered to minimize false positives through improved electronics and a precision detection pattern, reducing unnecessary alerts from irrelevant metal or noise. Traditional detectors, especially older or lower-cost models, are more prone to false positives due to broader detection fields and less refined filtering. ​

Advantages in Critical Applications

In woodworking, precise detection of hidden metal is crucial to prevent damage to tools and ensure safety. The Lumber Wizard 5 allows craftsmen to scan boards quickly, covering a 6-inch wide path per pass, and immediately mark the exact spot to extract any metal. ​woodworkingmetaldetectors.com

Technological Innovations Enhancing Effectiveness

Modern laser-guided detectors incorporate several innovations that boost precision and usability:​


: The Lumber Wizard 5 automatically tunes itself to the environment each time it’s powered up, ensuring optimal sensitivity and stability without manual adjustments. ​wizind.com


: Enhanced coil geometry and signal processing provide a more focused detection field, allowing the detector to distinguish small metal objects from background metal. ​


: Features such as audio tones, visual LEDs, and vibration alerts offer flexibility, enabling users to choose the mode that suits their environment, ensuring alerts are noticed even in noisy settings. ​

In summary, laser-guided metal detectors like the Lumber Wizard 5 provide superior precision, depth detection, and reduced false positives compared to traditional detectors, making them invaluable tools in applications where accuracy is critical.