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A Research Table turns the Metal Detector into a blueprint for 30 scrap.
What one batch takes.
Rope
Metal Fragments
High Quality Metal
Rope
Metal Fragments
High Quality Metal
Copy it, then hold Shift and click Paste (JSON) in the conveyor, in game.
[
{
"TargetCategory": null,
"MaxAmountInOutput": 2,
"BufferAmount": 0,
"MinAmountInInput": 0,
"IsBlueprint": false,
"TargetItemName": "rope"
},
{
"TargetCategory": null,
"MaxAmountInOutput": 200,
"BufferAmount": 0,
"MinAmountInInput": 0,
"IsBlueprint": false,
"TargetItemName": "metal.fragments"
},
{
"TargetCategory": null,
"MaxAmountInOutput": 5,
"BufferAmount": 0,
"MinAmountInInput": 0,
"IsBlueprint": false,
"TargetItemName": "metal.refined"
}
]
Workbench Level 1, 15s, yields 1
Faster at a higher workbench: 7.5s at Workbench Level 2, 3.75s at Workbench Level 3.
Researching the blueprint costs 30 scrap at a Research Table.
Crates, barrels and NPCs that drop the Metal Detector, most likely first
| From | Chance | Amount |
|---|---|---|
 Cannon Crate | 11% | 1 |
 Sunken Chest | 1.1% | 1 |
 Normal Crate | 0.44% | 1 |
 Wagon Normal Crate | 0.44% | 1 |
Scientist | 0.16% | 1 |
Tunnel Dweller and Underwater Dweller | 0.16% | 1 |
Chance is for one container opened or one NPC killed. Amount is how many it holds when it holds any.
What the Metal Detector gives back in each recycler
| Recycler | Efficiency | You get |
|---|---|---|
| Red recycler | 75% | 3 + 75% High Quality Metal, 150 Metal Fragments, 1 + 50% Rope |
| Green recycler (powered) | 60% | 3 High Quality Metal, 120 Metal Fragments, 1 + 20% Rope |
| Green recycler | 50% | 2 + 50% High Quality Metal, 100 Metal Fragments, 1 Rope |
| Yellow recycler | 40% | 2 High Quality Metal, 80 Metal Fragments, 80% Rope |
The Metal Detector breaks down into High Quality Metal, Metal Fragments and Rope.
A recycler takes one at a time.
Figures are for one item in perfect condition. Each recycler’s name opens its full table at this item. “3 + 75%” means 3 every time and a 75% chance of one more, and a percentage alone is the chance of getting one.
In Rust, Metal Detector is a tool in the Tools category (item ID #1168856825, console shortname metal.detector). In active play, it follows standard server rules for tool gear across procedural maps. Inventory storage holds a single unit per slot, and uncollected ground drops despawn after 20 minutes.
Detects metal objects which may otherwise be hidden. When the light flashes, or you hear a beep, aim to search for items. Increase the bar until a flag appears. Dig at the flag with a melee item to reveal what it is. Different areas yield different rewards.
Crafting Metal Detector in Rust takes 15 seconds at a Workbench Level 1 once the 30 scrap blueprint node is unlocked, with all ballistics, crafting, and durability values read from the Rust game files. Shredding a spare copy at a green recycler recovers base materials at fifty percent yield (vs forty percent at safe-zone yellow units). Equipped and stored units carry no durability wear bar.
When choosing between Metal Detector and related tools in Rust, prioritize researching a looted or traded copy at a Research Table (30 scrap) whenever you want to skip the 150-scrap tech tree path and save 120 scrap, or unlock the tech tree branch when your group also needs the prerequisite blueprints.
| Item | Category | Stack Limit | Craft / Source | Tech Tree / Research | Green Recycler Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metal Detector | Tools | 1 per slot | Workbench Level 1 | 30 node / 150 path | Not recyclable |
| Handmade Fishing Rod | Tools | 1 per slot | Crafted by hand | 10 scrap (Table) | Not recyclable |
| Birthday Cake | Tools | 1 per slot | World loot / gather | No blueprint | Not recyclable |
| Building Plan | Construction | 1 per slot | Crafted by hand | 10 scrap (Table) | Not recyclable |
Compare Metal Detector with closely related tool sheets in the Rust item catalog:
To compare Metal Detector against every item in its inventory category, browse All 36 items in Tools, or plan prerequisite scrap paths on the The Engineering Workbench tech tree, tile by tile.
The Metal Detector is crafted at a Workbench Level 1 from 2 Rope, 200 Metal Fragments and 5 High Quality Metal, once the blueprint is learned in Rust. Non-craftable components like Rope must be looted from monument crates or recycled gear before queuing the craft at your bench.
The Metal Detector drops from 6 container and NPC loot tables in Rust, led by Cannon Crate (11% chance), Sunken Chest (1.1% chance), and Normal Crate (0.44% chance). Each listed probability reflects a single container opened or NPC killed, and found copies can be repaired or researched at base.
The Metal Detector recycles in Rust at an unpowered green recycler into 2 High Quality Metal plus a 50% chance of one more, 100 Metal Fragments and 1 Rope. Radtown green recyclers return higher base material efficiency than safe-zone yellow recyclers, which trade lower output for peacekeeper turret protection.
The Metal Detector takes 15 seconds to craft, down to 3.75 seconds at Workbench Level 3 in Rust. It belongs to the Tools category under numeric ID 1168856825 across 36 tools, stacking to 1 unit per slot, with F1 console command inventory.giveid 1168856825 1.
Blueprint progression for Metal Detector at Engineering Workbench in Rust charges 30 scrap on the target node and 150 cumulative scrap along the prerequisite branch, while direct blueprint study at a Research Table charges 30 scrap. It belongs to the Tools category under numeric ID 1168856825 across 36 tools.
Dropped on the ground in Rust, the Metal Detector despawns after 20 minutes by default. Picking it back up into a player inventory or storing it inside a base container immediately resets that ground despawn timer, which the server scales by item rarity tier.
The Metal Detector has 32-bit signed item ID 1168856825 and shortname metal.detector in Rust. Server plugins, custom loot tables, Vending Machine listings, and automated Industrial Conveyor filter strings reference these two identifiers under the Tools category (stack limit 1 unit per slot).
Server administrators in Rust spawn the Metal Detector in the F1 developer console by typing inventory.give metal.detector 1 or inventory.giveid 1168856825 1 for a single unit. Both console spawn commands require administrator or moderator privileges on the server, while regular players can bind a quick-craft shortcut key instead.