Tesoro Disc thumbing questions. To thumb or not?

[Habanero]

Unfortunately I don't have a Tesoro in my hands let alone several different models to test this so I thought I would ask here. For those of you that consider yourself "thumbers" as I coin the term, of the current and recently discontinued lineup of Tesoros, which is the easiest or most natural for you to thumb the discrimination knob to check your targets? I would think the Compadre would be the easiest because of it's single dial and location on the faceplate as was my experience. What about the Outlaw, Vaquero and others; do you use your thumb for find it easier to stick your finger up there to roll that knob?

Also, to thumb or not? I am looking for an idea of how many disc knob turners we have here versus those that set a certain discriminate level and dig every good sounding signal based on their set it and forget it setting. Which do you do, how does it work for you and why do you do it the way that you do?


As this is my Tesoro food for thought post before I shut down and head to bed, I will be eagerly checking your replies tomorrow! My experiences so far with Tesoro and how I used them are:

Each outing I am after jewelry and coins for hunting reference. Often found myself discouraged with trash so some cherry picking ensued by dialing up discrimination.

1st detector ever: Silver umax. Tried thumbing but eventually would set a certain level then cruise for coins; did not really know squat about what I was doing as I was so new.
Cortes: set low discrimination, relied on a hit then would babysit the screen to tell me to dig or not.
Compadre: Just did not see much use as I had a DFX as well so cant really say what I did except fart around with it in the yard some. Wish I had hung onto now as I am missing my little 7" coil Compadre.
Deleon: Again, relied on the screen to decide to dig or not after setting fairly low discrimination.
Tiger shark: my water unit that I really miss selling now. Would hunt in disc mode set at either 2 or 3 and dig all good "quacks". I miss this one most of all.
Current machine: AT Pro. Really like it so far but relying on a screen again to tell me to dig or not and is my current water machine; the jack of all trades but master of none. Works okay but prefer to have another Tiger Shark as my water machine.

 

[BarberBill]

I've found all the models I've used to be easy to thumb. The advantage to thumbing ( as far as I'm concerned) is the fact that you can detect with low or no discrimination so that you get a response from pretty much any kind of target, then thumb the disc knob to see if/or where the target drops out. If the signal is still present in the silver coin range always dig. If it drops out at the nickel to foil range then it might be gold jewelry or trash. Up to the user to decide to dig or walk on. That's why those that dig it all generally find more gold jewelry. With practice and lots of hours with the detectors I've gotten to know the subtle changes in the tone and thumbing the disc. I can do a pretty fair job of knowing whether the target is likely to be a good one or trash. Also, hunting with very much discrimination preset you may walk over good targets and never know. So count me as a "thumber"
BB

 

[BluesCruise]

I hunt with my Bandido II

 

[REVIER]

I have a Compadre and a Vaq and I am a huge thumber on every target.
I think the Compadre is a little more precise on the disc knob, but the Vaq is very close especially with a concentric coil vs. a DD.

I don't do it the way all the Tesoro manuals say and thumb up till the target fades.
I go past the fade out point and then turn back down and get way more info when I listen to how the target "comes in".
Way, way more accurate in my opinion.
I will not do this any other way.

I wrote about it in more depth in a reply on this thread...
http://www.findmall.com/read.php?17,1887333,1887367#msg-1887367

 

[tabman]

I'm not a 'thumber', I'm a digger once I decide on where to set the discrimination at a particular site. I set the discrimination low until I know what I'm up against.

A good target next to some trash can be anywhere on the dial when you thumb.

That's also why VDI detectors are not all that reliable.

tabman

 

[JHM]

I usually set the disc to knock out iron and thumb the shallow targets. U can tell deep targets by raising the coil. I dig anything deep if it registers above iron. Anything I can pick up a foot off the ground and pinpoints big is a can. Just curious. Why do U prefer the tiger shark over the AT Pro? Send me a PM if you would prefer.

 

[SkiWhiz]

There are days that I am all thumbs and days that I am not. I normally set my disc. to knock out a small nail and dig every repeatable target.

 

[hatpin]

Thumbing gives me a lot of info. I dig every good sounding target , no matter where it disc out.

 

[Idxpro]

I find being right handed the disc knob would have been better off being on the left side of the faceplate for using my thumb. Your thumb ends up on the left side so it would have been much easier than reaching over to the right side of the face plate.

 

[slingshot]

Being after gold so much I don't thumb with my Compadre. If I DID thumb, I used this method several years ago and it's my favorite-making the detector essentially a notch detector.
Thumb the discrimination until you find the spot where MOST tabs break up considerably. BE CAREFUL! The newer tabs are in the NICKEL area of rejection-don't use these. Carefully mark this spot on the dial.
Now hunt at either foil reject or just below nickel reject. When you receive a signal, rotate the knob to this marked spot and:
(1 if the signal goes silent, it's in the nickel zone
(2 if the signal breaks up-tab zone
(3 and if it still gives a signal, it's in the coins zone.

 

[Habanero]

I have a Compadre and a Vaq and I am a huge thumber on every target.
I think the Compadre is a little more precise on the disc knob, but the Vaq is very close especially with a concentric coil vs. a DD.

I don't do it the way all the Tesoro manuals say and thumb up till the target fades.
I go past the fade out point and then turn back down and get way more info when I listen to how the target "comes in".
Way, way more accurate in my opinion.
I will not do this any other way.

I wrote about it in more depth in a reply on this thread...
http://www.findmall.com/read.php?17,1887333,1887367#msg-1887367

That's a great read Revier! I'm itching to try that when I can get my hands on another Tesoro unit, soon hopefully. I'd also like to hear what users of some of the other models of Tesoro have to say by trying your technique, thanks for those tips!

I usually set the disc to knock out iron and thumb the shallow targets. U can tell deep targets by raising the coil. I dig anything deep if it registers above iron. Anything I can pick up a foot off the ground and pinpoints big is a can. Just curious. Why do U prefer the tiger shark over the AT Pro? Send me a PM if you would prefer.

I just feel the Tiger Shark is simply a much better water machine than the AT Pro; more of a professional unit versus the weekend warrior AT Pro. Also, one of my sites, a local lake, will make the AT Pro go bonkers with falsing and chatter making all but the most shallow targets imposible to tell apart from chatter and an actual target. I did not have this issue with the Tiger Shark in the same lake. The Tiger is also easier to swing underwater, stays down better as you wade deeper runs more more quietly and smoothly. All in my honest opinion.

I'm not a 'thumber', I'm a digger once I decide on where to set the discrimination at a particular site. I set the discrimination low until I know what I'm up against.

A good target next to some trash can be anywhere on the dial when you thumb.

That's also why VDI detectors are not all that reliable.

tabman

I'm looking at another Tesoro unit just for this reason as I'm really leaning heavily on the AT Pro VDI readings. Yes, I have made some decent finds with it and for times I don't have even an hour to hunt, it is nice to be a lot more selective of my targets by using this crutch. I do, however, wonder what I am passing over every time I am out and I've really grown over reliant on the screen to tell me to dig or not. I know it's fine for many hunters but I'm wanting to wean myself away from it.

I find being right handed the disc knob would have been better off being on the left side of the faceplate for using my thumb. Your thumb ends up on the left side so it would have been much easier than reaching over to the right side of the face plate.

This is also what I found in my rememberance of the Compadre I had as well; seems just the right spot. I wonder why the Compadre has it in that location yet the others have it mostly on the opposite side??

Being after gold so much I don't thumb with my Compadre. If I DID thumb, I used this method several years ago and it's my favorite-making the detector essentially a notch detector.
Thumb the discrimination until you find the spot where MOST tabs break up considerably. BE CAREFUL! The newer tabs are in the NICKEL area of rejection-don't use these. Carefully mark this spot on the dial.
Now hunt at either foil reject or just below nickel reject. When you receive a signal, rotate the knob to this marked spot and:
(1 if the signal goes silent, it's in the nickel zone
(2 if the signal breaks up-tab zone
(3 and if it still gives a signal, it's in the coins zone.

I mostly find the newer figure 8 tabs. Which tabs are your referring to, the larger figure 8 tabs or the older style ring/pull tabs? Also, if you are after gold and based on your steps above, would you still dig the tab zone targets that broke up or just leave them as that is where you had set your mark for that particular piece of trash? Thanks.

I've found all the models I've used to be easy to thumb. The advantage to thumbing ( as far as I'm concerned) is the fact that you can detect with low or no discrimination so that you get a response from pretty much any kind of target, then thumb the disc knob to see if/or where the target drops out. If the signal is still present in the silver coin range always dig. If it drops out at the nickel to foil range then it might be gold jewelry or trash. Up to the user to decide to dig or walk on. That's why those that dig it all generally find more gold jewelry. With practice and lots of hours with the detectors I've gotten to know the subtle changes in the tone and thumbing the disc. I can do a pretty fair job of knowing whether the target is likely to be a good one or trash. Also, hunting with very much discrimination preset you may walk over good targets and never know. So count me as a "thumber"
BB

Good advice, thank you! I definitely chase all the coin signals I get; even most of the zinc signals as some are still good enough to spend or it could be a large ring. I'm thinking the quality of the site, the likeliness of it holding jewelry and the amount and type of trash has a lot to do with deciding to thumb your targets or dig it all. I'm sure there are a few that look at it like no matter the amount of trash, they are gonna dig it all above their setting. Like you said, knowing the target will likely be good or trash, seems to be a consistent statement among the more long term Tesoro users; talk about knowing your machine and the wealth of knowledge and experience user can glean from that single beep!


Looks pretty good so far with thumbers a little ahead of the diggers group. I really appreciate the tips on distinguishing trash targets as well; lots of good knowledge being shared in the thread from this great little Tesoro community, keep them coming!!

 

[SpiritRelic]

In over thirty years i have never twisted on a disc control.Set it high dig,set low dig,those are my only settings.Work on getting another tiger shark.Do like i did.I put my Sand Shark on layaway and payed monthly.Then you will have two all purpose land and water machines that you like.I have got rid of quite a few detectors that i wish i would not have.Hot pepper,take your time,get you a shark back.I am hooked on my shark.See,i just like to stay on the salt bank,so i need speed,well,i am hip mounting my shark for speed.That's right,Anderson carbon fiber shaft with hip mount and then i will be right. :-D

 

[Topdecker]

Since you get less depth with increased discrim, there is a chance that a deeper, really good target could fall out due to it being so deep.

So,no, I stopped thumbing once I learned that.

Top

 

[Habanero]

Two more for the diggers group with SpiritRelic and Topdecker. Maybe I should have figured out how to start a poll on this one? Spirit, I'm looking to get another Tiger Shark; it just may not happen this season. I would feel a little more inclined to do so sooner if I had a Tesoro land unit in the stable as the at pro could possibly go in order to finance the Shark giving me great coverage on both land and water. Fill us in how the hip mount and straight shaft project goes. I never got to hip mount mine when I had it but I can see the benefits of it on the land vs use in water. Might even work great in the water too, can't say til I try it.

 

[slingshot]

Habanero,, I'm referring to the older tabs. Like I said- GOLD kinda ruined my "thumbing" days. Nowadays, I'm around the lowest possible iron reject and listen to the size and sounds the objects make. And, as Topdecker pointed out, my Compadre goes pretty dang deep at these lower settings.

 

[hardrockminer]

Habanero.

Thumbing just gives you more information on targets & I like the disc. knob on the lower right with a special made knob.

[attachment 262563 TesoroKnobMOD0031.JPG]

Digging all targets is the best method to get GOLD !

HaRM

 

[Habanero]

Whoa! Now that is a knob! I suppose with that bad boy on there then the disc knob on the right side is much easier to reach.

 

[Topdecker]

Wow! That is a big knob, I bet you list to the right when swinging it

Top

 

[Rainyday101]

Habenero, get that Tiger Shark! I just got one and used it for the first time and all I can say is SWEET! Found my first ring! I love the quack and when it quacks, its there. I like hunting in all metal fast mode and silent search with disc. If you purchase one from Miller MDZ he has a payment plan available so you could get that Tiger Shark now! He has been great to deal with for me and has great pricing. I can't wait to hip mount the Tiger and try it on land once. I have the 10 inch coil so seperation on targets won't be the greatest, but I still want to try it. The Tiger swings soooo smooth in the water with that thin coil. This is the best purchase I have ever made, and I have only used it for about 3 hours.

I do thumb my Silver uMax all the time to check targets. Sometimes in trashy areas though I set the disc. higher and just cherry pick. I still get fooled by bottle caps though. If Budweiser bottle caps ever become of any value I will be a rich man!

 

[Habanero]

Habenero, get that Tiger Shark! I just got one and used it for the first time and all I can say is SWEET! Found my first ring! I love the quack and when it quacks, its there. I like hunting in all metal fast mode and silent search with disc. If you purchase one from Miller MDZ he has a payment plan available so you could get that Tiger Shark now! He has been great to deal with for me and has great pricing. I can't wait to hip mount the Tiger and try it on land once. I have the 10 inch coil so seperation on targets won't be the greatest, but I still want to try it. The Tiger swings soooo smooth in the water with that thin coil. This is the best purchase I have ever made, and I have only used it for about 3 hours.

I do thumb my Silver uMax all the time to check targets. Sometimes in trashy areas though I set the disc. higher and just cherry pick. I still get fooled by bottle caps though. If Budweiser bottle caps ever become of any value I will be a rich man!

I may look them up but I just hate owing money and payments, but it's tempting! Be sure to post your thoughts land hunting with your Tiger Shark, would like to get your feedback. I tried it a little bit here and there but was always on the lake shore and the water just invited me in away from land. Bottle caps fooled me to begin with but with a disc setting of 2-3 I could tell they were bc's by the tone of the Tiger shark breaking up, spitting/sputtering or just not that telltale quack that you want to hear. The Silver umax though, I can't tell you much about bc's on those b/c I don't really remember that far back when I had one and the specifics of that particular type of target. May want to investigate the post made by Revier that he linked to in this same thread. It may apply to helping with the bc's as well.