new hobby...need advice.

[Anonymous]

I've decided to buy a Tesoro Eldorado as my first detector and I would like some suggestions on the tools I'll need to make the hobby enjoyable. Thanks for your help. <img src="/metal/html/smile.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt="">

 

[Anonymous]

Here is a good site to look at for someone new to the hobby. www.bfwolf.com/tnewbe.html It has some good links and advice although some may be a little outdated. Be sure to visit the Official Tesoro Home page and view the videos on how to ground balance and discriminate. Good luck and HH.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the link, rednight. I know it sounds simple to someone who's been there...but I'm not sure what other tools to buy. Is an electronic probe necessary? Are harnesses useful or are they more likely to get in the way? Does the Eldorado have everything I need to successfully search for coins, artifacts and minerals, or will I need to buy an additional coil?
I expect to spend a good deal of time with the learning curve on ground balancing and search techniques but I look forward to many hours of 'pulling tabs' from the ground. <img src="/metal/html/smile.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt="">

 

[Anonymous]

Well the short list all starts with "invest a few dollars and get";
(1) A good set of headphones. The ones made specificaly for metal detectors are the best. Detector Pro has a very nice line of headphones, expect to pay $75.00-$100.00 for a good set. Calrads are good to get started, $30.00-$40.00, and can be used as a backup when you can afford a better pair.
(2) A good digging tool. OTC garden diggers are a start but just will not hold up. I use a Treasure Wise 3 in 1 digger, a wilcox 102, and a Predator #58 Little Eagle. Check out a few dealers and see what they have to offer. A shovel is not a must unless you are digging deep through hard soil and roots. Expect to pay $20.00-$35.00 for a good digging tool.
(3) A coin probe. A long thin screwdriver rounded off will do this just fine. I have brazed a little knob of brass on the end of mine to keep from scratching targets. Helps to pinpoint and judge depth.
(4) A pinpointer is optional. I have two, a whites 120mm and a Vibra Probe 560. They really help when digging in mud to find your target. Most have a range of 1"-2" and let you know when you are close. A good new/used Whites can be had for $50.00-$75.00 on ebay.
(5) The standard 9"x8" coil on the Eldorado is a very good coil. Your machine is tuned to it. Smaller coils are very useful for sorting through very trashy areas. Larger coils may increase depth a little and a clean sweep coil will help you cover more ground quickly. The Tesoro website has a good description of what the coils can do.
(6) Never needed to use a harness on a Tesoro. They are light enough that weight is not a problem. A treasure pouch is handy to keep your finds in. A good sturdy nail pouch will get you started.
(7) If you hunt in the country a Plat Book is very useful for locating landowners. They can be had from the local Farm Bureau for $10.00-$20.00. Always ask permission before hunting sites.
And the list goes on and on. A good set of headphones, digger, probe, pouch, and maps will get you started. Read the forums and do a little homework on coils, probes, and headphones to see what will best suit your needs. Your Eldo is a great machine and will serve you well, take time to learn it and try different settings. Best of luck and HH!

 

[Anonymous]

Patrick covered most of them, but if you're going to be hunting a lot in the woods or farm fields, a folding field shovel (also called camp shovel, entrenching tool, etc.) is exceptionally helpful. That's because stuff can get pretty deep, especially in farm fields where things get churned down by farm machinery. And in the woods there are tons of roots that a field shovel will slice right thru -- so digging with a hand digger alone can take 5-10 times longer, not to mention make your hands start aching pretty quickly. But fields and woods are really the *only* acceptable places for those -- never use one in a park, schoolyard, or on someone's lawn because it just tends to freak people out.
Don't mess with hand diggers from the lawn and garden store or the freebie ones when you buy a detector. By and large, they hold up for crap (they bend, they break), and they're pretty useless for anything other than loose, sandy soil if they don't have a good point and a serrated edge.
My digging tools are made by Lesche. I've been abusing the living crap out of them for 6 years now after spending my first season messing with the inferior ones, and they're still good as new.
I wholeheartedly suggest an electronic handheld probe. The first time you spend 10-15 minutes chasing around the teensy-tiny slug from a .22 in a heap of dirt without one, you'll never leave home without it. I've got an old Tinytec that still works great, but the beeping gets annoying and you won't hear the beeping if you wear muff headphones, so go with one of the vibrating ones. Vibraprobe makes a dandy new one for under $100 from many dealers out there, and it'd be money well spent.
I also use Walkman-style headphones (Koss PortaPro, $45) instead of the muffs because they're a ton lighter and cooler than muffs, and you hear every signal just as well with them. They have their own set of drawbacks, namely the fairly short spaghetti-thin cord, which means you have to be lots more careful in the woods or when setting your detector down), but they're excellent for the beach or open spaces.
Those are the things that have made this hobby more enjoyable for me personally. Try a bunch of different stuff and find what works best for you.
Scott

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks to both rednight and Scott...I really appreciate the advice. I ordered the Eldorado, two additional coils with covers [used 7" & 4" that Ron's had on sale for $40 ea.], Koss headphones, a trowel [probably will replace this with the Predator, we'll see] and an apron [my wife has been trying to tie one of those on me for years].
I work along utility rights of way, and am always talking to landowners...I certainly appreciate the advice about getting permission. Hope to learn a great deal from this forum.
Thanks again for your help.
Patrick

 

[Anonymous]

Those rights of way are perhaps THE most trash-filled spots to hunt and not exactly among my favorites given the other places that are still open to hunt for me in my neighborhood, but you're completely right -- hunting those parkways between the street and sidewalk is one of the more fun ways to meet people who think you work for the gas company <img src="/metal/html/wink.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt="">
I must admit that I'm a bit jaded these days in believing Lesche has perhaps the best recovery tools out there (and from my personal experience, Pam is a total peach, IMO), but all in all, if you didn't get stuck with some aluminum piece of junk for a hand digger, you'll be more than OK <img src="/metal/html/wink.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt="">
Scott

 

[Anonymous]

This subject has been pretty well covered.
Since Thursday will mark 1 full year of my useing the Eldorado,I have to say you made some good choices. The 7" coil is one dynamite coil for use on the Eldorado. I have to admit I am not well suited to useing the 4" coil, though some report remarkable results. My favorite coinshooting coil is the Cleansweep.
If you have questions, you may certainly email me, though there are many who know more than I.

 

[Anonymous]

I wish I could take credit for brilliant insight in choosing the Eldorado, but honestly, the truly smart thing I did was study this forum before I bought! The information here is well worth the price of admission! <img src="/metal/html/grin.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt=":grin">
I did make two additions to my 'arsenal': a Vibra Probe and a Lesche digging tool. I work in utility right of way acquisition...a mouthful...but basically it boils down to 'landman', and I've been around a lot of old sites, talking to the landowners. I can't wait to work with this gear!
Thanks guys for all your help.
Patrick

 

[Anonymous]

Sounds like you are good to go Patrick. Don't forget to pack a new set of batteries for your Eldo and Probe. Have fun and lets see some pictures of the "good stuff".