tesoro sand shark question.

[spellman]

How good is the sand shark compared to other pi machines? Is it as deep and is the audio good. I have never used a pi machine but am thinking about getting one to find the deeply burried goodies at the beach. Just wanted to know if the sand shark would fit that bill. Don't care that I'll have to dig everything some times thats wha you have to do to get the good finds.

 

[jtindover]

I have almost a full year on the Sand Shark. I have had most of my success in the water with it. It will be your machine of choice in the water and wet sand. I haven't had any depth issues. The only issues people seem to have is it will hit on anything! I have pulled out 4 scoops deep sterling earring back, small iron, metal. It can be frustrating sometimes because it can be very deep on small stuff. I want to add a vlf machine for dry sand and dirt digging to upgrade my F2 next. No way I would water hunt without my PI. I have used the xcalibur and the GT a few times and still think I prefer the PI in the water. The Sand Shark will work fine in the dry sand however all the trash will break your back! The headphones are omfortable and you have the choice between VCO or Normal modes. I started in VCO and found it easier than Normal mode. However I have been hunting in normal mode lately just to mix it up. I don't think one mode is any better than the other it just boils down to preference.

 

[CladDog]

Spellman, the only PI detector I preferred over the Sand Shark was the Detectorpro Pulse because it was lightweight and had a reputation for sensitivty to smaller gold, but Detectorpro has stopped making them. I do not know if thye will start production again, ever.

The Sand Shark is now my preferred unit for someone buying new. I only recommend you hip or chest mount it to cut down on the weight and then you can swing it all day. It is simple to use and has an exterior volume control which is a valuable asset. I prefered the 8" coil as it is easier to pinpoint with and still gets obnoxious depth.

There are a couple of PI's I don't like but I prefer not to discuss them on open forums anymore. Too many wars of words result.

 

[rjsupersonic]

The Sand Shark is excellent, I have used it for a couple of years on Washington, Oregon and California beaches. I will keep the Sand Shark for a long time.

 

[tvr]

I have a Sand Shark and a Head Hunter Pulse. Sand Shark gets very good depth. The HH Pulse is a little deeper and it also eats batteries and is a little particular about types of batteries.

Sand Shark gets very good life out of inexpensive batteries. Sand Shark balances very well making long hunts enjoyable. Sand Shark headphones are one of my favorites. I think it has good audio expression that helps you not dig some targets based on size and a classic double blip along one axis but not the other. Sand Shark is very easy to set up and performs well. The 10.5 inch coil is the one I hunt with most of the time; but it does get caught by fast moving water and gets flipped up. I've got an older Sand Shark that lets me change coils. The new ones are hard wired. If you plan on doing a lot of hunting in the ankle to knee deep ocean areas where the waves wash over the coil with some velocity, I'd recommend the 8 inch coil.
tvr

 

[hardrockminer]

How good is the sand shark compared to other pi machines?

The Sand Shark is a salt water machine well designed for its purpose & price................Minelab PI machines will get deeper but are'nt water proof & are extremely expensive......noting I want to dunk in the surf.

For its (SS) price its a great machine.

HaRM

 

[Sven]

If you never used a PI, that's great for the rest of us who have one. Just mean those that don't use them leave the deeper goodies for us that do.
Competition is pretty stiff at the beaches as it is. They are a bit different to use, some like them, some don't. Some can't understand them. From the choices out there in the lower affordable price range, you can't go wrong with the Sand Shark. Wanted a PI a lot better performance on small gold
than what is offered in that price range without paying $1000 or more, so I built my own with 4 coils, both land and water units. Just about use it everywhere now and leave the VLF's at home.

Get a Sand Shark for a good PI experience.

For those with coils flipping upwards, you can build your own support out of plexiglass that will prevent it. Use a heat gun to soften up the plexi so it's just bendable. You must hold it into position until it cools. See picture.

 

[TigerNed]

Sven, cool fix for the coil issue. I used to fill a piece of womans stocking with sand from the area I was hunting and tied it on my coil and swing pole joint...LOL Funny yes, but it works....hahahhaa

 

[tvr]

For those with coils flipping upwards, you can build your own support out of plexiglass that will prevent it.

Sure will hold it. That is a nice looking solution you have. And there can be a trade off. When I'm in the water I hunt with the coil closer to my feet than I do over the wet sand. The two conditions require different coil positions with respect to the pole so the coil is flat to the surface. I keep the adjustable coil position and live with the occasional flipping. I tend to wander between the water and wet sand on many beach hunts and that is my compromise of choice; as is using the bigger coil where the 8 inch coil really does not flip up even in very rapid water movement. I make sure to carry extra nylon bolts and nuts as I have broken them while snugging them up on the beach and it can be a long walk back to the car.
tvr