1st Hunt with Sand Shark

[Terry Soloman]

I appreciate all the replies. Hopefully will post some good finds as soon as this front passes by. Good Luck and HH to everyone.

p.s.
Hey Terry, you sold me on this machine and it's a good one. How about a Tesoro t-shirt?

If I actually worked for Tesoro - which I do not, I would send you one!

 

[imalookin2]

Got yourself a good PI. Use it wisely.....

You do have a good machine. Some might not like me saying this but I liked it better than the Dual Field. I had the 8" coil and it swung easy and great in the water. The DF coil is too large for water hunting in the Atlantic. It's headphone volume is louder also. I had trouble hearing whisper targets with the DF.

The real problem with either if them is what I said. Use an Excal, GT or CZ21 and you do not dig that trash so it is left behind. On some beaches you get hundreds of iron nulls on every hunt. You will dig some cool stuff the VLF machines pass over but at a cost. Stay deep in the water and you will do better.

 

[Awendaw]

You do have a good machine. Some might not like me saying this but I liked it better than the Dual Field. I had the 8" coil and it swung easy and great in the water. The DF coil is too large for water hunting in the Atlantic. It's headphone volume is louder also. I had trouble hearing whisper targets with the DF.

The real problem with either if them is what I said. Use an Excal, GT or CZ21 and you do not dig that trash so it is left behind. On some beaches you get hundreds of iron nulls on every hunt. You will dig some cool stuff the VLF machines pass over but at a cost. Stay deep in the water and you will do better.

I see your point but the beaches here are not too bad on iron. Had a cz21 and did pass over some iron signals which was nice. The beach conditions now it doesn't matter. Very, very few targets.

 

[Hotrod Tom]

You do have a good machine. Some might not like me saying this but I liked it better than the Dual Field. I had the 8" coil and it swung easy and great in the water. The DF coil is too large for water hunting in the Atlantic. It's headphone volume is louder also. I had trouble hearing whisper targets with the DF.

The real problem with either if them is what I said. Use an Excal, GT or CZ21 and you do not dig that trash so it is left behind. On some beaches you get hundreds of iron nulls on every hunt. You will dig some cool stuff the VLF machines pass over but at a cost. Stay deep in the water and you will do better.

OH NOOOO!!!!! You have an opinion!!! Nobody can get mad at your opinion. We just get annoyed when we get reprimanded like were in 3rd grade. I know better than all of you even though iv'e only been water hunting for a year rants!! I for one don't care anymore and have lost interest in this forum because of these exact posts.

 

[Awendaw]

 

[CanSlaw]

With the beach sanded in and a 25 mph south wind I didn't dig many targets. Waves beat me to death and paying for it now. Now for the Shark. Did not get any of the tone changes when wave would come in like the Sea Hunter did. The SS is deep. Dug a couple pull tabs at well over 12". Much better balance than the SH. Hope to get some more time on it this coming week. So far I'm impressed. Maybe Terry isn't that full of it

The Sea Hunter is heavy without a doubt. The only way it is comfortable to hunt with is hip mounted and then a short straight shaft. However the SH is also built like a tank and can take a lot of abuse.

I will look forward to some direct comparison in depth. What you are saying with the SH hearing wave action..it sounds like it may be more sensitive. I never hunt the wave area with a PI, too much trash, strictly deep water.

 

[Awendaw]

I'll definitely give you a depth comparison. Got a few hunts planned over the holiday weekend. Hopefully the surf will calm down a little.

 

[flphil]

Awendaw,
I use the SS and have been very successful on the gulf side of FL. I get extreme depth by hunting slow listening to small repeatable changes in the threshold sound which are often targets out of the range of any VLF detector.
(my opinion no haters please). I hunt parallel to the beach looking for lanes with heavy targets (coins, fish weights, gold etc). HH, phil

 

[rfjuice]

Rugged? No Way!!

You got any updated pics where they started using screws during assembly instead of hot glue?

Please Terry update us on this situation.

Hot glue just isn't....rugged. If the temp dips below ~45deg F. then it becomes brittle. If the temps rise above 100Deg F, it becomes slightly elastic allowing parts to move.

Surely they can do better. It'd be easy to do and improve the "ruggedness" of the machine. I've been thinking of getting a water machine but PCBs being held in place with hot glue(hot melt whatever you call it) just does not cut it for me. Drop it on a chilly day and it'll sound like a baby rattle when you swing it.

 

[itsaring!]

Awendaw,
I use the SS and have been very successful on the gulf side of FL. I get extreme depth by hunting slow listening to small repeatable changes in the threshold sound which are often targets out of the range of any VLF detector.
(my opinion no haters please). I hunt parallel to the beach looking for lanes with heavy targets (coins, fish weights, gold etc). HH, phil

Don't miss my Dualfield post later.

 

[Terry Soloman]

Please Terry update us on this situation.

Hot glue just isn't....rugged. If the temp dips below ~45deg F. then it becomes brittle. If the temps rise above 100Deg F, it becomes slightly elastic allowing parts to move.

Surely they can do better. It'd be easy to do and improve the "ruggedness" of the machine. I've been thinking of getting a water machine but PCBs being held in place with hot glue(hot melt whatever you call it) just does not cut it for me. Drop it on a chilly day and it'll sound like a baby rattle when you swing it.

I really suggest you stop making assumptions, and call the factory if you have technical questions about how and why Tesoro manufactures machines the way they do. As the ONLY Company that stands behind their machines for LIFE, I would say their design and manufacture procedures speak for themselves but, if you need more info, call Vince Gifford, and ask him.

There are about five members that like to stir up mud when it comes to Tesoro machines, all of who most likely know little or nothing about what techniques, screws, or adhesives are used by Tesoro. If “Hot Glue” was truly used - and was as inferior as these pretenders suggest, it seems to me there would be a lot of upset Sand Shark owners having to return their machines for repair. We ALL know that is NOT the case.

Before I joined this forum, Whites Dealers used to tell new members that the Sand Shark could not find gold, that it was just a cheap “starter machine.” There was no one here to call them out on the misinformation they were spreading to sell their more expensive machines that they make better commissions on. That doesn’t happen anymore, and they are very unhappy about it.

Make the call, and get the facts.

 

[itsaring!]

I really suggest you stop making assumptions, and call the factory if you have technical questions about how and why Tesoro manufactures machines the way they do. As the ONLY Company that stands behind their machines for LIFE, I would say their design and manufacture procedures speak for themselves but, if you need more info, call Vince Gifford, and ask him.

There are about five members that like to stir up mud when it comes to Tesoro machines, all of who most likely know little or nothing about what techniques, screws, or adhesives are used by Tesoro. If “Hot Glue” was truly used - and was as inferior as these pretenders suggest, it seems to me there would be a lot of upset Sand Shark owners having to return their machines for repair. We ALL know that is NOT the case.

Before I joined this forum, Whites Dealers used to tell new members that the Sand Shark could not find gold, that it was just a cheap “starter machine.” There was no one here to call them out on the misinformation they were spreading to sell their more expensive machines that they make better commissions on. That doesn’t happen anymore, and they are very unhappy about it.

Make the call, and get the facts.

Since you got connections and say Tesoro isn't having financial problems. Why does that big box store have sale prices listed? I thought Tesoro prided themselves with a set price so there was an equal playing field? As far as hot glue. Even a dumass knows to rush something to make it cheap you use glue instead of screws. It's quicker. Booyah!

 

[Crumble]

Before I joined this forum, Whites Dealers used to tell new members that the Sand Shark could not find gold, that it was just a cheap “starter machine.” There was no one here to call them out on the misinformation they were spreading to sell their more expensive machines that they make better commissions on. That doesn’t happen anymore, and they are very unhappy about it.

Make the call, and get the facts.

Why is it so hard for you to accept the Sand Shark for what it is... a low priced starter PI with decent performance and a great warranty, and there is nothing wrong with that. Anyone that has used the Sand Shark will agree that it is a decent PI, especially for the price.

It's when you start spreading around your "The Sand Shark will find anything the Infinium/Duel Field/TDI will find, at half the price" nonsense, that people start to correct your ignorance/lies.

An ACE 250 can find gold as well, so according to your logic there is no reason to buy a Gold Bug 2/LoboST/GMT/Etc.

When it comes to Gold, every inch more, or gram less, is huge.

 

[SeabeeRon]

Awendaw,
I use the SS and have been very successful on the gulf side of FL. I get extreme depth by hunting slow listening to small repeatable changes in the threshold sound which are often targets out of the range of any VLF detector.
(my opinion no haters please). I hunt parallel to the beach looking for lanes with heavy targets (coins, fish weights, gold etc). HH, phil

This is great advise regardless of which machine you swing!

 

[canwedigit]

As with all detectors, swing slowly. This is not about how much area you can cover. It is about how much area you can cover effectively and efficiently. The SS will soon pay for itself and the scoop. Go slowly.

 

[Terry Soloman]

Where's the Administrator now?

Why is it so hard for you to accept the Sand Shark for what it is... a low priced starter PI with decent performance and a great warranty, and there is nothing wrong with that. Anyone that has used the Sand Shark will agree that it is a decent PI, especially for the price.

It's when you start spreading around your "The Sand Shark will find anything the Infinium/Duel Field/TDI will find, at half the price" nonsense, that people start to correct your ignorance/lies.

An ACE 250 can find gold as well, so according to your logic there is no reason to buy a Gold Bug 2/LoboST/GMT/Etc.

When it comes to Gold, every inch more, or gram less, is huge.

Is it because "Crumble is part of Craig's little hit group that it is OK for him to call me "ignorant," and a "Liar?"

If I tried that who here thinks I would not get a scolding and have my post "fixed?"

Oh, and "Crumble," the Sand Shark WILL find anything the Infinium/Duel Field/TDI will find - at half the price!

 

[Cfmct]

I really suggest you stop making assumptions, and call the factory if you have technical questions about how and why Tesoro manufactures machines the way they do. As the ONLY Company that stands behind their machines for LIFE, I would say their design and manufacture procedures speak for themselves but, if you need more info, call Vince Gifford, and ask him.

There are about five members that like to stir up mud when it comes to Tesoro machines, all of who most likely know little or nothing about what techniques, screws, or adhesives are used by Tesoro. If “Hot Glue” was truly used - and was as inferior as these pretenders suggest, it seems to me there would be a lot of upset Sand Shark owners having to return their machines for repair. We ALL know that is NOT the case.

Before I joined this forum, Whites Dealers used to tell new members that the Sand Shark could not find gold, that it was just a cheap “starter machine.” There was no one here to call them out on the misinformation they were spreading to sell their more expensive machines that they make better commissions on. That doesn’t happen anymore, and they are very unhappy about it.

Make the call, and get the facts.

Its funny how more experienced beach hunters who own both machines say the DF is deeper... sell a million I don't care.. more gold for me

 

[Terry Soloman]

Not funny, not even accurate. Just your opinion.

 

[PI JOE]

This is where the PI comes in...

I see your point but the beaches here are not too bad on iron.

Same here. Here on the L.I. Sounds, The low tide line can be any where from 25' to 150' from the high tide line on any giving beach....a lot less trash. Not knowing your beach conditions, This is why I said use it wisely.

 

[CanSlaw]

It's really a shame what has happened in the last couple of years on the forums. A few years back we NEVER had detector or scoop wars. Everybody shared equipment ideas and tried to benefit from others experiences. Now we have a few people that are going to cram "their" detectors or scoops down your throat no matter what your beach conditions or physical limitations are. Those doing the loudest "opinion" shouting, have some of least amount of water hunting experience. What a shame, I sure miss the "good old days" of metal detecting and forum discussions.

A few months back I posted what I thought was a great fiberglass scoop handle conversion that was shared by another forum member to me. I just posted pictures of the finished product and the extended length which is GREAT for deep water hunting I was attacked like I had a contagious disease because I was not using "their" choice of scoop. I don't dare share equipment ideas anymore, let people hunt with what they want.