Noah (FL)

3 hours ago, kac said:

Do you remember the part number on the original? I could fish around and ask some suppliers if they have or know where to get those. I have seen 5 and 10 turn pots too but thinking our thumbs would get tired trying to gb them 🙂

Not sure on part number but it’s a 3-3/4 turn Cermet 100K?? I believe.  Mouser was out of stock when I last looked.   The 10 turn is great for GB as it’s a much finer adjustment but they are a TIGHT fit in those uMax housings. 

The blue 3 3/4turn pots that Tesoro used for GB are usually the only option for that size and sometimes can be hard to get a hold of.  It might even be possible that Tesoro was the only ones ordering enough to keep them in production???   Last year I tried to find a couple for a Compadre experiment and ended up finding one on eBay. 

Reading that makes want to buy a DaveJ designed detector!!!  

12 hours ago, geof_junk said:

I remember a few years ago on another forum suggested a spiral coil using a printed circuit board.

 

 

 

Tesoro used a printed spiral for the Sand Shark PI coils. 

Unfortunately it takes a little more than minimal skills with the iron.   I’ve got a handful of ruined Tesoros that I picked up for parts from folks who barbecued the PCBs trying to repair or mod them.  The traces on the uMax boards with surface mount components are tiny and require a delicate touch with an iron that isn’t too hot.  
 

6 hours ago, Steve Herschbach said:

You got that right! 

Whilst processing power was being disputed.......my detecting pal found another 18k whooper with a fat emerald yesterday with his Tesoro Compadre!!!!!🤔🤔🤔 Hasn’t had it valued yet but it’s a tad over 16grams.   Not sure what that converts to in mHz????

You have to noise cancel for each “program”.  
It’s not a “global” setting.  Definitely an annoying quirk but there must be a reason they have it like that????

14 hours ago, JohnnyRox said:

with the narrow (-9 - 40) VDI?  

Could Minelab update the Nox with a full range VDI?  Couldn't that possibly help with discrimination of bottle caps?

To me the ID number span has no effect regardless  of -9-40 or -100-100.  Maybe if you are strictly hunting old coins but I predominately am hunting jewelry and gold can be almost anywhere in the non ferous range and even dipping into ferous with regards to tiny chains and earrings.   
Asto bottlecaps, that has been debated to no end already but in my experience with the EQX if you use 50 tones, keep the Iron Bias at 0, and have the horseshoe engaged( i.e. “all metal”/iron tone on) the machine makes them an obviously erratic signal indicative of trash. Every once in a while one will give a solid signal in the nickel to zinc range but that is going to happen with any machine wearing  a DD coil, just the nature of the beast. If you want to eliminate bottle caps 100% you need a detector wearing a concentric coil.  

2 hours ago, Steve Herschbach said:

I’m a big Nokta/Makro fan, one of the first, but they have a long way to go to match the power of the Minelab dealer network.

Especially when  the Vanquish will be on the shelves in Cabelas, Bass Pro, and other “outdoor” shops along side of Garrett and various FirstTexas products.  The vast majority of beginner machines seem to be sold in these settings rather than a “metal detector” shop.  The internet and Amazon are probably changing some of those figures but when you account for the various $100 models available from FirstTexas in the big box stores it’s definitely an uphill battle for NokMak to get a big market share.  

2 hours ago, Steve Herschbach said:

Bells and whistles are nice but almost all comparison posts and videos ask only one question.... “how deep does it go?”

Ahhhh.......the fabled panacea of “extreme” depth from the newest machine.  😂😂😂

F44 may be “recycled” tech but is still a very capable machine.  My buddies girlfriend uses one and when we all hunt together it keeps up with other machines him and I use that are supposed to have much more “horsepower”.  Just reaffirms the reality of VLF tech being maxed out long ago and knowing your machine is far more important than how new it is!!

17 hours ago, kac said:

After talking to SwitchCraft it seems it was either a custom connector or now discontinued part. So guess making a coil that would work on my Tejon is out of the question. Will still pursue the project but probably hardwire a custom coil to one of the Lobo boards and make it water resistant.

Check the part number from mouser I posted above.  It seems that one of those would do it but not 100%

On 11/11/2019 at 5:04 PM, Steve Herschbach said:

The isolated ring results are not answering the question, the has to be a comparison to other detectors involved.

I meant to convey multiple detector readings in my post but I guess I didn’t get that in there.  That being said the gold I’ve found with the EQX and gold previously found with other machines all register in the same areas of conductivity when compared between an EQX, a MakroMK , and a Tesoro.  The only high IDs I’ve experienced with the EQX involved multiple targets in the hole.  In the couple instances that happened it seemed to be higher ID one direction vs the other but was pretty apparent that there may be multiple targets.  It would be interesting to know what combination of ground mineralization or GB setting that have him experiencing the high IDs. 

If they hit the $300 mark and it is compatible with previous aftermarket coils for the platform I’ll definitely grab one.  My friend that got me into the hobby has a G2 that he let me borrow a few times and it’s a great machine.  I’m always trolling for a good price on a used G2 F19 or GB variant but they always seem to hold on to that $350-$400 range.  

If you liked the Equinox and don’t need the gold modes, just get a 600.  They have a deal that comes with a free 6” coil

That’s why First Texas isn’t worrying about hyping/promoting new machines like the Manta.  They make the bulk of their sales in the big box stores.  They always have a market for their older housings.  I believe these share housings with the old F-2/4/5 detectors.  Pretty solid marketing/manufacturing plan being able to move older models/housings from the top  tier brands down to the entry level big box store brands. 

Arduino for blog cred😂😂😂😂😂😂

Thanks for sharing!!

Go to mouser.com and search either SL-404MX of SL-404FX.    One is male the other is female.  Can’t remember which way the delta coils are wired.  

Probably made by Switchcraft, same as 5 pin.  You may be able to source one from mouser.com

Good one Phrunt!!  Forgot about Svens page. 
 

Always have to pay close attention when opening up uMax Tesoros.  The wire they used is rather stiff and easy to break if bent too far at the solder points.  I’ve modded a few Compadres and I almost always have to resolder something when I open them up.  

Just enter “ cibola circuit board” or something similar into your web browser.   Here’s a link to one of the first ones that popped up.  
 

https://images.app.goo.gl/XFRPG9mto7CZS4249

8 hours ago, Tag1260 said:

Thanks but the only thing I see is the 8 ft cable version and I don't know how to shorten it. Also, there's a widescan on there too.

No need to shorten it.  Just takes more wraps around shaft

1 hour ago, Tag1260 said:

Thanks. I'll have to give one a shot. At least they seem to be obtainable.  Been looking for a 5.75" but even the places that say they have them don't.

Was just checking Tesoro coils on eBay and I believe I saw a 5.75 concentric for the Vaquero 

Tesoro discrimination just works best with a concentric coil. Not sure why that is but it just is. I always struggle with steel bottle caps when I use my cleansweep.  Usually to get them to discriminate out witha DD coil you will be well into foil zone and will be passing little gold jewelry.  For trashy park hunting it’s just a trade off of wanting extra coverage vs not digging caps??????

49 minutes ago, GB_Amateur said:

I was out hunting today, nearing the end of the session.  A young man (mid-20's?) approached and said 'hello' so I pulled off my headphones and returuned the greeting.  He stated that thanks to a high school teacher who was a detectorist he was interested in adding the hobby, and asked for some advice on getting started.  I inquired about his goals and what he was willing to invest.  His response was that he wasn't sure what kind of detecting he would do, but he had about $200 to get started.  The answer was easy -- get a Simplex.

 

Are there any in the states yet???