Airtested recently purchased used Sand Shark

[Scaupus]

So i did air-checks with the Sand Shark I picked up recently on craigslist with its 3 coils. 2 large coils seem very noisy, so much so I think they would be hard to use, but one, the smallest, which is 8", seems fine. Does Tesoro still honor lifetime guarantee, and does it cover coils?

Anyway, I airtested coins and gold rings - I didn't have a ruler, just eyeballing. Interestingly, the coils all seemed about average on coins (6-8"), but were able to pick up 3 out of the 4 gold rings at a much greater distance. Even the 8" coil and a tiny 14k ring created a definite tone at about 10-12". But one average sized 14k ring seemed almost invisible to all 3 coils. None of the coils could pick up that ring at more than 2-3 inches! And it is not a small ring, it has a lions head that is at least 1/2" high. Another ring is a very large, heavy mans ring, weighing almost 8dwt, and it seemed to be picked up at the same distance as the small lady's rings.

Is this strange for this machine?

 

[Hank68]

I don't believe in air test at all, best way to prove the machine is to hunt with it .

 

[tvr]

2 large coils seem very noisy

Does not sound normal. Sand Shark is a pretty quiet hunting detector. Is there any chance you have an interference source nearby that the larger coil may be picking up better than the small coil? Also make sure the connector is on tight (hand tight, no pliers). I did have one of the 10.5 inch coils that I damaged and it then acted badly (stepped hard on trying to stay on my feet when a wave surprised me). After the damage, it would hunt fine over wet sand as long as the sand was not touched. In the water or if set on the sand it howled, not just noisy, a continuous howl. Get it out of the water or lift off the sand and it sounded just fine. I bought a used coil to replace the damaged one and all has been fine since.

Does Tesoro still honor lifetime guarantee, and does it cover coils?

Life time warranty is officially to the original owner only. They do support their products as long as it has not been obviously abused or modified. Best to call them and talk.

But one average sized 14k ring seemed almost invisible to all 3 coils

Solid ring or a ring with a lot of pattern to it? And has it been re-sized? It it has been re-sized and there is crack through the repair point a ring may not act like a ring. Some ornate patterns may act like a lot of very little loops and not one big one. If it is a standard and solid band, and there is not a lot of interference where you are testing, then it does not sound quite right.

If you are not too far from where you will be hunting with it, I'd say try some hunting. If you are a long way from a hunt site or don;t get to go water hunting too often. call the factory and talk to them. It may be worthwhile to just have it all checked out.

Good luck.
tvr

 

[Scaupus]

TVR,

As a matter of fact, the band on that ring is broken. It also has a large, complex pattern on the front side. Thanks for that info.

The previous owner probably did not use the small coil much, if at all. I'll probably just use that one for the time being, get familiar with the machine using that one. Then I'll see about the other two.

 

[tvr]

As a matter of fact, the band on that ring is broken.

That can make a huge difference in the response you get with the detector. Sounds like you are good to go.

8 inch coil is a good one. Hope to see you posting some treasures you find with it.
tvr

 

[mike5853]

The Sand shark is a P.I. - Pulse Induction - detector, although air test have their place, I can tell you from experience that air testing a PI detector is not going to really tell you anything. PI detectors should really only be tested in real world conditions. I watched a video where a guy was trying to test his PI Detector on the beach with coins and jewelry sitting on the surface of the sand, and to be honest, he seemed confused and it made the detector look worthless. Take it to beach and give it a go. PI detectors are, as a rule, deep and not influenced for the most part by mineralization. Give Tesoro a call and see what they say about getting the coil reapired. Great MD I'm sure you'll be happy with it.

 

[Digger 45]

Air test on my SS with a 10.5 coil with a quarter is about 10 to 12" but i have pulled out quarters as deep as 16" in wet sand. Don't put too much thought in air test nothing is a real as digging undisturbed ground, even planted coins come up different than normally dropped and settled coins.

I believe that the warrantee is for original owners, but Tesoro can help with any problems you may have.