Good light weight MD?

[tincan302]

I'm 78yrs old and been MD 35years .I need a lite wt MD Ive had Sovereigns Safari 705 Whites PI.All lite MDs dont do it Presently have M6 MXT and ACE 350 I have arthritis and want a MD thats lite and has auto ground bal. Any suggestion would be appreciated tincan302 Treasure coast Fl.

 

[oldknifemaker]

Hey I'm 78 also and fortunately I don't have arthritis. Get yourself a Tesoro Compadre. Light weight at 2.2 lbs and easy on the wallet. You will definitely be pleased with this little machine. HH

 

[mrwilburino]

Fisher, Teknetics, Tesoro......... Plenty of good choices there.

 

[sprchng]

xterra 705 or Deus

 

[fowlercharles]

Hi tincan302, Don't know if it's relevant but I spent 29 mo. on "Tin Can" DD746. I also, along with you and oldknifemaker am 78, and have enough Arthritis and other ailments to have gone to Tesoro for a lighter machine long ago. I've been digging since 69. Tesoro was the very first to come out with a machine lighter than all the rest, and I would have probably had to have given up detecting had it not been so. Oldknifemaker told you right on about the Compadre! I especially like it because most of the time I "Sling" it over my shoulder as a spare and use it with the 5.75 coil when I happen to walk in on a really trashy spot while using one my other Tesoros'. Oh yeah, Its light, as are most all the other T's and they get the job done while keeping the fun in detecting!. HH, Charlie

 

[wvrick]

If you want a top machine I'd say Deus, in the mid to lower price a CZ3D or Xterra.

 

[GeorgeinSC]

I am still a Young dude at 74 1/2. I swing a Sovereign GT and an Excalibur II. I recently bought myself one of those harnesses that takes a lot of the weight off your arm and distributes it across your back. Depending on how hot the day is and how many targets I find I can still dig for 6 to 8 hours. Of the Ritis Brothers Arthur is the worst. I have had to have the joint at the base of left thumb removed because of arthritis. Trying to delay surgery on right hand as long as possible.

 

[tincan302]

Thanx people, My back is the problem. Sov. on my hip is great but I get tangled in wires.Most Tesoros dont like wet sand.Same with f2,3,4 & Aces Has anybody used Tech G4? BIll tincan302

 

[Phillip_in_NM]

Makro Racer has all you need.

 

[oldknifemaker]

Tincan, like you I have a bad back that limits my activities. Herniated disc to be exact. It's a bother. I used my Vaquero at the beach in the wet sand with no problems. Machines are like people, even though we are all made the same we are not created equal.

 

[Jeff (or)]

Makro Racer has all you need.

I agree.

 

[PSS1963]

I notice you list the MXT among your machines . . . I've had to split mine into two parts because of tendinitis in my swinging arm. Attached the rod/grip and extra cable salvaged from an old White's hip mount kit (late 80's but you might still be able to get one) and I hold the control box in my left hand and swing with the right. No good for water hunting, of course, but it might allow you to keep using your MXT for land hunts. You can check out the thread "Frankenstein MXT rig" in the MXT users forum where I posted a pic of it. Weight of the swinging portion (6" coil, rods, grip and cable) is only 2 pounds 2 ounces.

-pete

 

[JEF]

Another good light machine is the Whites MX5. I have the 5.3 eclipse coil on mine. It gets good depth, and just seems to find stuff. I also have the Whites VX3 and MXT All Pro. I'm 70 years old, and when my back and arm start hurting, I get out the MX5. It is a very underrated machine, and it is very reasonably priced. I have used the MX5 at our metal detecting club hunts with other members who were using much more expensive machines, and never felt like I was out-hunted by them.

 

[slingshot]

I would look into something like the Swingy Thingy, since most detectors that have all the features you need are at least 4 lbs. I took a strap off a computer bag and a bungy cord and came up with my own emergency strap. The bungy cord can be lightweight to allow some stretch when you sweep. It was a delight to use-just had to move it sideways when recovering targets. The strap goes over your right shoulder with the other end going around your left waist and the two ends fit into your bungee after securing it to the detector. you can be ingenious as to how you want to do it and come up with some good results.

 

[mtdoramike]

Minelab X70, any of the Fisher F series machines like the F19, F70, F75 would be quite a bit lighter than your old machines.

 

[JoeL0]

Tesoro Cibola

 

[slingshot]

The standard joke around my friends is you can tell you're getting old when the Compadre wears you out!

 

[Hardrock65]

The xterra I sold was probably my lightest machine but I think the Tesoro compadre is lighter.