Thanks for all the help with my Sand Shark--What's up with Tesoro?

[Anonymous]

Thanks to all for your helpful answers about the coils for the Sand Shark.
I've been engaged in correspondence with Tesoro about a small sniping coil: one small enough to get into tight spots, which is exactly what one needs to nugget hunt either on land or under water, but the last email I got back from them said they didn't have a small coil, and they would not make one for me.
I've also had posts from others talking about their stonewalling on selling parts, ie cable connectors.
They also told me that their other coils won't work with my machine. All of this has me very disappointed as the Sand Shark is a beautiful little machine, but I need a coil that is more sensitive.
It's no secret that Pulse machines kick butt in highly mineralized soil/bedrock, and those are the exact conditions I hunt in--screaming hot mineralization.
I would loved to have found a way to adapt my Sand Shark to use a small, sensitive coil, but it looks like I've run into a dead end, and I guess it's such a small request, that Tesoro doesn't care to address it, even though I volunteered to field test the coil for them, and I do know how to find nuggets.
Oh well, quite disappointed.
Maybe I'll just have to buy a competitors brand. And for those of you that are unsure, there are ample posts from nugget hunters, on gold forums, that have found small gold with PI's equipped with sensitive coils.
Lanny in AB

 

[Anonymous]

It is not the coil that has so much to do with sensitivity on a PI, it is the Pulse Delay uSec that does. The SS is probably around 18+ and is not all that sensitive to smaller gold. A machine like Eric's GoldQuest runs at 10 uSec. The White's Pro around 15uSec.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Don,
So, are you saying my machine can not be made sensitive enough because of the processor? Or whatever it is that's sending out the pulse rate?
If that's the case, I'll just have to buy a different machine I guess.
Are you saying the the GoldQuest or the White's Pro are more sensitive to small nugget gold?
That's my main concern here--smaller pieces of gold. I don't look for chains or coins with it--I only use it to detect nuggets and crevice gold.
Thanks again,
Lanny in AB

 

[Anonymous]

Yes, everything you said is correct. The IC processor would have to be changed and that changes design perimeters and Tesoro won't do it. If you want to find small gold pieces then you want Eric Fosters Goldquest. Go to main page here at forum and at top click on Surfscanners, they are US dealer, Bill(Mr Bill here) is great guy, he will help you. Good Luck!

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Don,
I've been buzzing around the Internet reading up on pulse machines, and guess what? Eric Foster has tons of good stuff posted! Of course, you already knew that.
I'm beginning to see that the outfit I have probably won't allow me to utilize it in the way I want. I'll check out the site.
Thanks again,
Lanny in AB

 

[Anonymous]

Personally, I wish Tesoro would be a little more flexible with people who want to experiment with their machines. But, in their defense, it opens up a bag of worms with supporting those people, and the endless questions and problems that follow. Eric has been kind enough to work with experimenters, and I suspect it's cost him a bit of time to do so.
Regarding pulse delay, I liked Reg's suggestion of changing the crystal frequency. It will also raise the audio frequency a bit, but that should be OK. I'll take a look at my SS, to see it can handle a higher frequency.
- Carl

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Carl,
I understand Tesoro's reluctance--to a point. I don't understand it to a degree either. I'm a strong supporter of their machine, but I want it to do more, and I think it probably has the capabilities. I mean, I and tweak my car and trucks and ATV's to get them to do what I want them to do, so I wish they'd be a bit more forthcoming.
You're a bit ahead of me on changing the crystal though--that's rather out of my league as I have no idea what to do. Is it a complex procedure, or could I get a good electronics person to do it for me, and what would I replace it with?
Just curious,
Lanny in AB

 

[Anonymous]

Based on your questions, I would probably recommend against it. What Reg and Carl are suggesting is ok for someone who is experienced at this. It would also be ok if they had already found out what will and will not work and be able to instruct you. Increasing the clock frequency may render the detector inoperable. The processor is designed to run, and is guaranteed to run at the frequency of the crystal used by Tesoro. They can usually be pushed but how much, who knows. It can also become unstable and unreliable if you get it too high. Also, I haven't looked inside but it could be using a resonator or clock oscillator instead of a crystal. You would need to look at what kind of device is being used to clock the processor. Look at what the frequency is. Then you'll need to buy the same in higher frequencies to see what the processor can handle and to measure the shorter pulse delay by the increase in clock speed.
Good luck,
FJ

 

[Anonymous]

I recently got a Goldquest to go with my SD 2200d, XT 18000 and Lobo. I got it primarily to work a large, square mile, area that has a lot of small nuggets in highly mineralized soil. Since I got it I have sold my Lobo. In this area the Goldquest performs better then the other three. I run it with the SAT and Reject at min for maximum sensitivity. It does not have ground balance so it requires a slow sweep with a steady hand, read keep the coil the same distance from the ground at all times, and full concentration on the signal. The threshold warbles a bit and I get some false signals that are easy to eliminate. The area has lots of hot rocks and hot spots that make the 18000 and Lobo much harder to use then the GoldQuest. The 2200d is quieter but it dosn't find nearly as many, especially the smaller, nuggets, and wears this old man out too quick.
Enjoy Hunting
Jim Madar

 

[Anonymous]

Jim,
Are you using the waterproof model, or the one that's splash-proof? How hot is the ground you're working? I mean, were there parts of your ground where your two VLF's wouldn't run?
I've got some terrible ground I work that produces nice nuggets, but VLF's won't run on that ground at all--way too hot.
I'd also like to know please, what you consider to be small nuggets? Are you talking .5 gram, smaller than .5 gram? If so, that would be very interesting. I'm very curious just how small the small gold is that you're recovering.
Also, what type of coil/size of coil?
Thanks,
Lanny in AB

 

[Anonymous]

FJ,
Thanks for the specifics. Tweaking my detector is way out of my range of experience. I know how to swing it, and how to find nuggets with it, and that's about it.
I really just wanted to be able to detect smaller gold with it if that's possible. I detect a lot of crevices, above and below the water, and I know there's smaller gold in those crevices, because when I find a nugget, and clean out the accompanying material, there's chunky gold in those crevices, but the pieces are too small for the detector to see them, and so that makes me wonder how many crevices, with coarse gold in them, I'm going by.
Anyway,
Thanks again for the help,
Lanny in AB

 

[Anonymous]

I'm glad it's working out for you well <IMG SRC="/forums/images/smile.gif" BORDER=0 ALT=""> <IMG SRC="/forums/images/smile.gif" BORDER=0 ALT="">
Have a nice day.
Mr. Bill

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Jim,
Glad to see you like the GQ. I think the more you use it and experiment with it, the more you will like the way it performs.
You might try varying the SAT some and see how it helps. I have found that setting this control at about midway sharpens the signal from small nuggets as well as reduce the negative effects of the ground, without losing much, if any, depth when testing of buried gold nuggets. Actually, I have found I am more consistent in hearing marginal signals of buried objects with the faster SAT. I found such experimenting to be more valuable than simple air tests.
One more little item, a simple suspension system that uses a bungee cord can even help on the GQ. Although the coil is light already, a simple lightweight bungee setup makes the coil and shaft assembly so light that it can be used all day with no fatigue normally associated with swinging a coil. The key is the use of smaller bungee material like 3/16" diam bungee.
This smaller size works extremely well to suspend the coil yet doesn't hinder the movement of the coil. Where it really helps is when you try to hunt the sides of a wash or a hill.
I hope this helps.
Reg

 

[Anonymous]

It is a standard GQ. Splash proof w/ 11" coil.
VLF's with Auto balance don't work on this ground. I also have a White's Spectrum and it would not work. I had a Whites 6000 Pro Di. Before I sold it I tried it there and it would not work either.
In manual balance the Lobo would work but it had to be continually adjusted and hot rocks seemed to be everywhere. Even though the GQ must be worked slow and careful it is still much eaisier to work and faster then manual balance VLFs..
I use my reloading scale to weigh my gold so I use grains instead of grams. Most of the nuggets are 5 to 25 grains and they are in the top 6" of the red stuff.
I don't think any of them, including the 2200, get under the red stuff.
Enjoy Hunting
Jim Madar

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Reg
I experimented with test nuggets I buried in the patch. I would lose my smaller nuggets, 5 and 10 grains, when I turned the SAT up enough to make a difference.
Thanks for the bungee thought. I use two with the 2200. I balance it betweeen the one that comes with it and a bigger one that goes around the ground stand and hooks to both sides of my suspenders. After the 2200 the GQ feels so light I haven't felt the need for a bungee yet.:>)
Enjoy Hunting
Jim Madar

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Bill,
It has been good!! Was going to go out next week but it looks like snow is going to stop me. I will be on the East coast for most of April. Hopefully, in May, I will be able to do and post, a better comparison between the 2200 and the GQ.
Enjoy Hunting
Jim Madar

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks again Jim,
I appreciate the specifics. It sounds like quite a machine, and it's definitely much more sensitive than my Sand Shark, and it sounds like the standard coil is a winner.
Thanks again,
Lanny in AB