Awesome Te'jon tip!!

[pencil5757]

Some of you might know this already but I just got my Tejon and was trying to learn it in my test garden. This will be very helpful to people having a hard time telling the difference in the sounds.
I had it set up with the tone at 3 a clock witch was recommended to me and I like if you listen you can tell the suddel differences in the tone but while your still in the pinpoint if you thumb the tone knob to VCO the difference is dramatic pull-tab is a LOT different than coins and iron and screw caps even more so they'll blow you're ears off.
Hope this helps even a rookie can tell the difference!
HHing
Pencil5757

 

[Michigan Badger]

Yes, the T is a great machine.

The number one reason why some sell these due to frustration is they don't know how to ground balance the Tejon.

Many try to balance them over metal. That won't work.

I start in all-metal mode (pull back the trigger) and find a clean spot. Sometimes this isn't possible, so........the stock coil must come off and a small coil goes on.

The small coil can usually get between the metal pieces in the ground so you can ground balance.

But some sites are so bad you have to walk a long ways to find an open spot.

The biggest issue with the Tejon is getting a proper ground balance. Once you have that she'll run smooth and hit hard on deep goodies.

 

[tvr]

I run VCO pretty much all the time for added information. Screw caps about 6 inches deep sound similar to quarters at half that depth ... but it is an added piece of information. Generally in pinpoint running VCO the frequency gets lower as the target gets deeper, unless it is real big, but can size it in pinpoint to figure that out too.

VCO does make it a very interesting conversation with the Tejon ... I just try not to talk too loud if anyone else is in the vicinity.
tvr

 

[JHM]

I've noticed the GB is very critical with the tejon. Not done right and depth will drop off a lot. Also I put it in pinpoint and check it often. Sometimes it can change within 100 feet.

 

[Michigan Badger]

I've noticed the GB is very critical with the tejon. Not done right and depth will drop off a lot. Also I put it in pinpoint and check it often. Sometimes it can change within 100 feet.

You're right.

I talked a guy on T.net (who uses only the Explorer) into buying a Tejon. He got it and soon sold it. To this day he blames me for misleading him.

I've compared the Explorer to the Tejon so I know both machines well.

His problem was he never understood that the ground balance must be done right and on a regular basis.

All factory preset GB Tesoro machines with stock coils average 5 inches on dimes and 6-7 inches on quarters. However, in soils that match the factory preset ground balance settings one might gain an inch or 2 over these depths.

Due to ground balance in the discrimination mode (Cortes only balances in all-metal) the V and Tejon can average 8 inches on dimes and 9 inches depth on quarters, LCs, etc. However, in very mild soils one might gain and inch or two over these depths. This is the difference between factory preset and manual ground balance.

All the Explorers, Fishers, and PI units I've owned--none got better depth than the Tejon.

The stories you hear of VLF machines getting 12+ on silver dimes (or any coins for that matter) are absolute wishful dreamland myths.

Badger

 

[pencil5757]

I agree on my Te'jon 8" on a silver dime is it in dis. in my test garden, but my deepest dime is at a measured 10 1/2" and in all metal it will read it, its a weak signal of course but strong anough that I can raise the coil and hear it at 11"

 

[therover]

That's the cool thing about the Tejon. When you are hunting, you can just pull the trigger back and bob the coil to re-check the GB. If it's off a tad, just adjust and keep on hunting.

The T with the small coil is dynamite. I have to try using the VCO mode more. I can hear lots of subtle differences with the small coil and a higher pitched frequency. You can hear that little grainy 'ZIP' sound at the end of the target that almost always signifies trash.

Those deep coins and targets always have that more mellow sound. Although I did hit a gold plated ring at about 6 inches that sounded really loud....but not grainy. Still had the sharp sound to it....just loud.

I agree that you have to use the Tejon and learn it's 'language'.

JC

 

[Michigan Badger]

I agree on my Te'jon 8" on a silver dime is it in dis. in my test garden, but my deepest dime is at a measured 10 1/2" and in all metal it will read it, its a weak signal of course but strong anough that I can raise the coil and hear it at 11"

 

[Michigan Badger]

discrimination 1 on FOIL and I set 2 just so it completely takes out gold rings (most gold rings are very close).

When I hunt a very trashy site where there may be rings I check all solid signals in discrimination 2. If the signal drops out like it did on my test rings, I dig it.

A few things will check the same like that metal used on pencil erasers. But generally it works great.

But again the key to this trick is to set discrimination 2 dead-on where it just totally knocks out gold. On my Tejon this is about 1/4 inch up from FOIL on 2. I think maybe my knob 2 isn't exactly calibrated right but that makes no difference.

What a thrill it is to be hunting along and have a nice smooth solid signal totally drop out on 2.

Badger

 

[BarberBill]

I have to agree with Badger on his comments on the factory preset machines, my experience on most of the ground in my area bears out what he's written. However, He failed to mention that in more heavily mineralized ground, the loss of depth can be quite dramatic compared to a manual ground balance machine or one with true auto ground tracking, assuming they are running close to what they should be. That said, I've had good enough results with my preset machines that I'd still recommend them to people that typically just coin shoot in parks, fair grounds and similar areas as long as the ground is at all reasonable. I enjoy and use them often for quick runs at tot lots, several parks in my area and other spots that have decent ground and have made many good finds with them. I do have several machines with manual ground balance and one that is true auto that I go to if the ground is a problem. Also, I'm thinking anyone that's really into this hobby and wants the most flexibility, if they are only going to have one machine, it should have some sort of ground balance control whether manual or auto. My two cents.
HH
BB

 

[Michigan Badger]

I have to agree with Badger on his comments on the factory preset machines, my experience on most of the ground in my area bears out what he's written. However, He failed to mention that in more heavily mineralized ground, the loss of depth can be quite dramatic compared to a manual ground balance machine or one with true auto ground tracking, assuming they are running close to what they should be. That said, I've had good enough results with my preset machines that I'd still recommend them to people that typically just coin shoot in parks, fair grounds and similar areas as long as the ground is at all reasonable. I enjoy and use them often for quick runs at tot lots, several parks in my area and other spots that have decent ground and have made many good finds with them. I do have several machines with manual ground balance and one that is true auto that I go to if the ground is a problem. Also, I'm thinking anyone that's really into this hobby and wants the most flexibility, if they are only going to have one machine, it should have some sort of ground balance control whether manual or auto. My two cents.
HH
BB

has too many limitations unless one lives in a near perfect soil location but how often does that happen?

I didn't want to mention this being a Tesoro lover but the preset GB limitation was the main reason I sold my DeLeon and Silvers.

All presets are factory set for average national soil conditions. Sort of like setting a Nautilus IIb on GB 65 and leaving it there.

But I've learned with the Naughty and Tejon that even in so-called mild soil locations ground balance can make a BIG difference.

Old house sites can have loads of iron rust spread throughout the soil due to old buried trash that long ago turned mostly back to soil. This condition can have much the same affect as natural soil minerization. It's places like this that scream for ground balance and a small coil.

I think Tesoro made the presets mostly because ground balancing intimidates a lot of people.

I've said this for years, if one put a GB control and same type/size of coil on all the Tesoro models, they'd all get the same depth (give or take an inch).

The Chinese put automatic ground balance into their cheap machines. The GC1023 that sells for about $60 gets excellent depth and has a great auto GB. I use this machine myself as a backup. Any coins or ring 6 inches under the coil is hit hard with this "toy" machine. Think of it...only $60 retail!!!! (from an online dealer).

Badger

 

[BarberBill]

I didn't want to mention this being a Tesoro lover but the preset GB limitation was the main reason I sold my DeLeon and Silvers.

Badger, I fully understand your reasoning. That's a major part of the reason I own an Eldorado, a MXT and a Tiger Shark - although the shark is primarily for water, it does have the manual ground balance. Too bad Tesoro didn't give access to the pot to tweak the settings in the field like I've seen on some preset Whites machines. All things considered, I suspect that there are many folks out there that happily make some finds from time to time that don't know and don't care about presets, ground balance, frequency etc. etc. using the simpler machines. That's good for those of us that are fanatics as they will miss many of the better finds. LOL
HH
BB

 

[pencil5757]

I've got a 5.75 cons. coil coming next week looking forward to it!

 

[Michigan Badger]

I've got a 5.75 cons. coil coming next week looking forward to it!

 

[Michigan Badger]

I didn't want to mention this being a Tesoro lover but the preset GB limitation was the main reason I sold my DeLeon and Silvers.

Badger, I fully understand your reasoning. That's a major part of the reason I own an Eldorado, a MXT and a Tiger Shark - although the shark is primarily for water, it does have the manual ground balance. Too bad Tesoro didn't give access to the pot to tweak the settings in the field like I've seen on some preset Whites machines. All things considered, I suspect that there are many folks out there that happily make some finds from time to time that don't know and don't care about presets, ground balance, frequency etc. etc. using the simpler machines. That's good for those of us that are fanatics as they will miss many of the better finds. LOL
HH
BB

out myself. I used to argue in favor of factory set ground balance. The thing that changed my mind wasn't any argument from any other forum member--it was when I bought the Tejon. I just love that machine! It's so easy to ground balance and runs smooth as silk.

I've read lots of great stuff about the Eldorado. I need to get one some day becuase it's one of the few Tesoros I haven't owned.

I see where some guy rigged a ground balance on the Cibola. He claims it's super deep now.

Man, I'd sure like to get a Cortes with true discrimination mode ground balance. As it's stands now it's no deeper than the Cibola and Deleon. Too bad. I guess at the time they designed it they didn't know how to make an automatic ground balance system so to win over people who hate manual ground balance they made it preset. That would be my guess. Who knows?

But people do make great finds with these presets. Like you wrote, they just leave the oldest and best stuff for us.

Badger

 

[tvr]

Badger,
I will have to try that ring setting. I think I have enough of a sample of rings to try it out. I have usually set the second disc so that the square pull tabs start to crackle. The nickles are knocked out cleanly at that setting on the second disc. and I do end up digging all the erasure ends from the pencils.
tvr

 

[BarberBill]

Pencil5757 - You're going to love that 5.75 concentric in tight or trashy places. The one I have gives a fair bit better depth than I expected from a smaller coil as well. You will have to practice swinging a little slower as you'll swing past the targets and lose the response more quickly than with larger coils. Have fun.
BB

 

[pencil5757]

I have smaller coils for my other units and agree you have to go a little slower but I've done so much of it I don't even notice it anymore. BUT I'm used to the smaller coils loosing a lot of depth and almost everybody says on the Te'jon you only loose a inch of depth now that is AWESOME I can't wait I understand why so many people leave it on all the time.
HHing Pencil5757

 

[Michigan Badger]

everybody says on the Te'jon you only loose a inch of depth

WOW! Now I know I have to get one.

I wondered why so many have written such positive things about the 5.75 concentric.

Years ago I learned with the Nautilus IIb that using the 6 inch concentric coil could really help but it seemed to me there was a lot of loss in depth with it.

Back in the old days they used to say you can judge the maximum depth by the width of the coil (6" dia. = 6" depth, etc.).

Badger