Thinking about getting my first tesoro

[ronhob]

I am debating which model I would get to be strictly used with the clean sweep 3x18 for quick coin retrieval in large areas. I used to have a Bigfoot coil on a DFX I owned, and I loved it for that. I am leaning towards getting the outlaw with 3 coils, and adding the clean sweep coil to it. I think I could also find good use of the small concentric and possibly the larger DD. If not, I could always sell the coils I don't prefer using. Once again, I have plenty of other machines that I can choose from for older sites, so I am mainly thinking of searching larger areas quickly to get max. coinage and coverage. Anyone have this set-up? Pro's Con's?
Does the clean sweep swing nicely, or does it get to feeling like a brick on the end of a stick on the tesoro's ? Thanks for any help.

 

[Fletch88]

I use the Cleansweep on my Silver microMax on sports fields or large areas I'm only looking for modern jewelry or fresh drops. I have used it on my Bandido microMax but found the Silver is all you need for the CS coil. No pinpoint necessary and the Silver is great machine with its stock 8" donut coil!
As far as weight is concerned I bought the CS this spring and it is very lightweight and easy to swing. I have heard the older ones were a bit heavier, but don't know first hand. I usually extend my lower rod almost all the way out to cover more ground quickly. It is a deadly combo for the first 4-5" of topsoil on clad and jewelry.

Good luck,
Walt

 

[amberjack]

I use it on both silver and outlaw best to have a GB just so you know what's going on with the coil granted its a bit of B to balance but better than not I would say but having said that I think the less sensitivity and better disc on the silver has its advantages also.

get both

AJ

 

[kaolinwasher]

silver umax with that coil its incredible . I loved it and it gets good depth , and Tesoro made that coil good , its nice and light if you want some more improvement Get a ground balance installed on the silver it makes a big difference, the silver is one of the best made tesoroes out on the market even with its hand tied behind its back ( having no GB ) it kicks but . now I am not talking that its a depth monster just average depth but it likes gold and silver I liked to run that clean sweep at 1 gain and just get the meat & potatoes of finds. that way i was not diving to much junk .

 

[Bleaver]

I have the 5 Pin Clean Sweep that I use on my Silver Sabre uMax.
If you should get one this is how I set it up. Install it in reverse on the rod. This seems wrong at first but it balances a lot better. Also, it is very easy to pinpoint with. Once you get a signal just swing slowly while pulling the coil back to you. Where the signal disappears off the front of the coil is the location of the target.

 

[TN Mike]

I've been using a Bandido II MicroMax with the CS almost exclusively since June of this year. My finds have paid for the detector and coil in little over a month.

As far as how it swings.. It sucks in tall grass of any sort so if your going to be doing park hunting you'll be ok so long as the grounds keepers keep the grass down.

Balance.. I think its a bit off but I'm convinced the rod on my Bandido II mm is just to short in the cuff for me..

Weight.. I used to use a Whites MXT and it weighed a metric crap ton compared to the Tesoro with any coil on it.. I would use the MXT for 4-6 hours and be dead tired in the arm and shoulder. I really liked the Whites rod though. The Tesoro, I have swung day after day for up to 6-12 hours with little fatigue. The MXT is suppose to weight 4.3 pounds but that has to be without batteries.. It takes 8 AA's... roughly half a pound in batteries. Point being, the Bandido II mm is 2.2 pounds with a 1 ounce 9v, so 2.3 pounds. Half the weight. I doubt you'll be disappointed.


I have found you can get some masking in super trashy areas with the CS. Best to start on the outside rim of the area and move slowly. Its separation will overwhelm you. Best to back the sense down like kaolin said and just cut through the top inch or two with your disc high enough to see the clad. Then lower disc and increase sense and repeat from the outer rim.

Started out using the 8" coil that came with the detector and my finds were decent.. Went back over areas with the CS and it was almost like I had never been there with the 8".. Was amazed to think I had missed so much.

As stated before.. I doubt you'll be disappointed.

 

[BillF]

Why would you spend good money on a deep seeking machine, with 3 coils you don't intend to use, just to put a coil on it for surface or just under the surface finds?

 

[TN Mike]

I for one bought the Bandido because I heard it was good in iron and trash infested sites. The Clean Sweep came a bit later, after reading several posts about the amount of good finds that come within the top 5" of soil, from very highly regarded forum users. Its a proven strategy that keeps producing for me.

If I were interested in going deep I would probably buy a Vaquero.. But then I wouldn't have the ability to cover ground as fast as I can with the CS. The 4 pins don't have a CS coil. I can still put a big DD on if I want to go deep.

 

[amberjack]

4 pin CSC 5 is good too and yep they hit the goodies from what I have seen.

AJ

 

[amberjack]

here's something for free.

CSC and super trash, disc low sens high and dig everything you can get a super real good lock on might be a surprise in there

AJ

 

[TN Mike]

here's something for free.

CSC and super trash, disc low sens high and dig everything you can get a super real good lock on might be a surprise in there

AJ

You sir have better knees than me lol

 

[ronhob]

Why would you spend good money on a deep seeking machine, with 3 coils you don't intend to use, just to put a coil on it for surface or just under the surface finds?

Well, I am taking into consideration that I may like it for other uses as well. I don't know much about the Tesoro line, but I have read a few of Monte's post's about them, and I am sure that they do well in the iron with the small coil, and a big DD would certainly find some deep coins if I were to decide to use it for that. I am at a bit of a cross road on whether to go cheap, but fruitful, or to spend more and get more options in case I want them after all.

Correct me if I am wrong, Tesoro currently only produces and sells these 4 micromax machines: Cortes, Deleon, Silver Umax, Outlaw- (That work with the cleansweep)
I gather that the bandido, golden umax, silver sabre, and a few others, are no longer made?
I like the idea of having a pinpoint and some tones. Some kind of notch disc might be nice too, if I went with a higher dollar machine.
How many tones does the Outlaw have, and are they awesome , or just ok?
I also wonder how high the discrimination can be set on these machines? It looks like maybe Max is past Zinc penny?

 

[amberjack]

here's something for free.

CSC and super trash, disc low sens high and dig everything you can get a super real good lock on might be a surprise in there

AJ

You sir have better knees than me lol

don't know just got home and thought yep those are some sore knees old football injury or maybe its a new detecting injury LOL

I know one thing for sure I got a few screws lose !!

thanks for the smile

AJ

 

[amberjack]

Why would you spend good money on a deep seeking machine, with 3 coils you don't intend to use, just to put a coil on it for surface or just under the surface finds?

Well, I am taking into consideration that I may like it for other uses as well. I don't know much about the Tesoro line, but I have read a few of Monte's post's about them, and I am sure that they do well in the iron with the small coil, and a big DD would certainly find some deep coins if I were to decide to use it for that. I am at a bit of a cross road on whether to go cheap, but fruitful, or to spend more and get more options in case I want them after all.

Correct me if I am wrong, Tesoro currently only produces and sells these 4 micromax machines: Cortes, Deleon, Silver Umax, Outlaw- (That work with the cleansweep)
I gather that the bandido, golden umax, silver sabre, and a few others, are no longer made?
I like the idea of having a pinpoint and some tones. Some kind of notch disc might be nice too, if I went with a higher dollar machine.
How many tones does the Outlaw have, and are they awesome , or just ok?
I also wonder how high the discrimination can be set on these machines? It looks like maybe Max is past Zinc penny?

quick answer

one tone, yes those 4 will hold the 5 pin CSC

as will the others you mentioned only one with tones is golden with 4.

does anyone need to disc past zinc?

Tesoro's are caught in the stone age but they do find stuff , but if you want notch etc.. better looking elsewhere.

AJ

 

[ronhob]

Thanks for the replies. I guess I wasn't for sure if the Disc. was up as high as zinc penny or not. I worded it little funny Amberjack. Nickle was so close to the Max. on the pot. that I thought maybe the disc was limited to the lower end range. I couldn't see if it said zinc for sure. I would want to be able to disc out all but dime/quarter with the CSC in some cases.
Ya, notch would be a little much to ask for this style unit.
One tone might suck though.
I like the idea of 3 coils all with lower rods included.

*I got a lot more thinking to do before I come to a decision.
Thanks again.
Ron

 

[amberjack]

never had it any higher than just below zinc Ron but sure maxed out it will only be Q etc.. someone else will know more about that than me.

if you have mild ground and just want to try a Tesoro why not the Silver and CSC ? see if you like them ? I think the Silver has better disc than the Outlaw in super trashy spots.

but detecting is a funny business there is no perfect detector or set up and there are trade offs in every set up and there are more thoughts on what's best than there are detectors

can drive yourself insane reading what everyone thinks , but all the major brands work and what ever you chose hrs behind the wheel probably are more important than which detector to use.

good luck which ever way you go !

AJ

 

[Monte]

I am debating which model I would get to be strictly used with the clean sweep 3x18 for quick coin retrieval in large areas. I used to have a Bigfoot coil on a DFX I owned, and I loved it for that.

Of the Tesoro model line, I like the Tejón, generally, but personally prefer many of the non-H.O.T. models a lot more, and have for over 32 years. As for area-of-search size, I can't, physically, endure big sites anymore, and while I have hunted a lot of sports fields and big parks, etc., in the past, I much prefer to hunt renovation and other urban places, and mostly enjoy getting away to more out-of-the-way and highly littered [size=small](especially iron)[/size] locations.

Tesoro's set a standard long ago by which I compare all other makes and models for dealing with iron nail infested sites, such as homesteads, encampments, old building tear-down or burned-down locations, ghost towns, etc. For the bulk of my fifty-plus years of detecting I have enjoyed using smaller-than-stock search coils, and have most of my Tesoro's so outfitted today to get the best performance out of them.

As for other search coils and how they best perform, I have not been and still am not enthused by the CleanSweep Coil. "Quick coin retrieval" is really more a matter of the operator's skill at isolating [size=small](pinpointing)[/size] a target then quickly and skillfully recovering it. You might be referring to Quick Coin Locating, and that can be different based upon the coil used, but also upon the site ground mineral environment and the particular detector used.

For example, you mentioned using the similar-sized BigFoot coil on a White's DFX. Well, honestly in that case I didn't care for the coil or the model, but the DFX was derived from the XLT which was one of my all-time favorite White's detectors. The DFX and XLT, like their 6000 Pro XL, 5900 & 6000 Di Pro SL and similar 4-filter models, were designed to handle mineralized ground better AND they operated best with a moderate to fast sweep speed. Thus, they were good picks for Quickly Locating coins in large, open spaces. So, your DFX/BigFoot combination were handier for quickly hunting a site.

There are, or have been, some very functional 3-Filter type detectors on the market, too, such as the former Compass Scanner series, or the current White's MX5, M6 and MXT Pro models. This design concept provides the benefits of a faster-sweep speed in bad ground, like the DFX, XLT, XL Pro, but also a quick-response, more like you get from a Teknetics Omega, Makro Racer or, naturally a Tesoro.

However, if using a 22-filter, aka Double Derivative, circuitry design, you can do a rapid target motion back and fort past the search coil ...IN THE AIR ... and get a quick response, but when these types of detectors are swept over mineralized ground, especially more iron mineral challenges ground, like pea gravel, dark mineral sand, or just bad dirt, they are at their best with a slow and methodical sweep speed. If swept quickly, like a DFX & BigFoot, you will lose depth of detecting as well as good target response, even on shallower targets.

I have had my best open-area searches with many Tesoro models using either a stock round 8" Concentric coil, or the 8X9 'OOR' [size=small](slightly Out-of-Round)[/size] Concentric coil, and honestly just about match that general performance with a 6" or 7" Concentric coil. Why? Because to not miss a deeper-located smaller target, like a dime or penny, you need to overlap no more than the diameter of such a smaller target. Therefore, ALL coils should be advanced about an inch once you've swept left and then right over the same spot before being advanced the tiny amount for maximum coverage.

I am leaning towards getting the outlaw with 3 coils, and adding the clean sweep coil to it.

The Outlaw with 3 coils is sufficient and I wouldn't add the CleanSweep.

I think I could also find good use of the small concentric and possibly the larger DD.

The 6" Concentric coil is the primary coil for best performance, in my opinion, and I keep that coil, I have three of them now, on three of my Tesoro's. One on my Bandido II, and one on my quick-grab microMAX models, the Silver Sabre µMAX and Bandido II µMAX. My Eldorado keeps the stock 8X9 Concentric mounted, but I am shopping for another 6" concentric for it.

The larger 10X12 DD coil? It's for sale, or I'll trade it for another 6" Concentric. I have no use for the bigger coil, especially a DD due to the trashier sites I hunt.

If not, I could always sell the coils I don't prefer using.

Yep.

Once again, I have plenty of other machines that I can choose from for older sites,...

If so, then you ought to have a model that can be used efficiently with a faster-sweep in an open area to "Quickly Locate" coins. I'd suggest nabbing a good Tesoro model to complement them by having a detector/coil combination that would excel in iron infested sites, trashier environment, hunt close to metal structures and fences, etc. Take advantage of the Tesoro strengths, that's at I do, and will put one to work later this afternoon in a fun semi-competition hunt ... with 6" Concentric coil.

... so I am mainly thinking of searching larger areas quickly to get max. coinage and coverage. Anyone have this set-up? Pro's Con's?

I do hunt big areas quickly with a Tesoro at times ... using the Threshold-based All Metal mode, but for peak "quick search" capability, I'd suggest a model designed for faster-sweeps in mineralized environments.

Does the clean sweep swing nicely, or does it get to feeling like a brick on the end of a stick on the tesoro's ? Thanks for any help.

For ME, the CleanSweep and most of the bigger coils, to include the 8X9 when the Coil Cover is added, are more nose-heavy when it comes to balance and control.

Well, I am taking into consideration that I may like it for other uses as well.

Tesoro's are, in my opinion, great for "other uses" than quickly searching big areas for coins.

I don't know much about the Tesoro line, but I have read a few of Monte's post's about them, and I am sure that they do well in the iron with the small coil, and a big DD would certainly find some deep coins if I were to decide to use it for that.

Yes, I do tell you the Tesoro's do excellent in iron, especially with a smaller-size search coil. I will never say that a Double D is a good pick if you're looking for deep coins. I have found more deep coins with a Concentric coil than a DD coil on makes ands models that are designed to handle both coil types.

I am at a bit of a cross road on whether to go cheap, but fruitful, or to spend more and get more options in case I want them after all.

Not knowing what other makes and models you currently have, it is hard to make any good suggestions, but I own more thsan one brand so that I can complement my Tesoro's for certain features and selected applications.

Correct me if I am wrong, Tesoro currently only produces and sells these 4 micromax machines: Cortes, Deleon, Silver Umax, Outlaw- (That work with the cleansweep)

The actual "microMAX" [size=small](µMAX)[/size] name assignment is only on the Silver µMAX currently.

The Compadre, Outlaw, Cibola, Vaquero use the same smaller-size micro-housing, but they are not labeled a microMAX. The Tejón, DeLeon and Cortés use a slightly larger-size control housing.

Personally, I was glad to see Tesoro drop the µMAX reference on newer models, like the Cibola, Vaquero and Outlaw, because the little 'micro' symbol .. µ .. is not a lower-case letter .. u .. and too often people call these models YOU MAX and it drive me nuts! It's a 'micro' symbol to say microMAX.

But yes, those are modsels that would use the CleanSweep coil. Of them, however, I would only suggest the Outlaw because it provide manual GB to control performance of both the All Metal and Discriminate mode, and with Tesoro models you can run in to problems using accessory coil that are not a proper match for the detector's preset GB.

I gather that the bandido, golden umax, silver sabre, and a few others, are no longer made?

Correct, but don't think that "no longer in production" means they "no longer work." Look at the Tesoro models in my current carry arsenal and you'll note they are all former or discontinued, no longer in production models, and each of them works excellent! matter-of-fact, my suggestion to you, if shopping for a good Tesoro to add to your detector battery, is consider the current offerings, but don't hesitate to shop for one of the excellent units they used to make.

I like the idea of having a pinpoint and some tones.

All of my Tesoro's and other detectors have an All Metal Pinpoint function. Very useful. Only one model I currently have features any form of visual Target ID or audio Tone ID, and, while these features do have a time and place where they might be useful, Tone ID definitely isn't a must-have to get reliable performance. In many sites I hunt, I much prefer having a very clean and informative single-Tone audio response.

Some kind of notch disc might be nice too, if I went with a higher dollar machine.

Notch Discrimination, to me, is close to useless. Too many good, desired targets can fall into the wrong 'notches' or 'segments' due to depth, position, ground conditions, and nearby masking trash.

How many tones does the Outlaw have, and are they awesome , or just ok?

One Tone and it is 'OK.' For some it is fine, but I like a little higher or sharper-sounding audio pitch, but the Outlaw audio is fine.

I also wonder how high the discrimination can be set on these machines? It looks like maybe Max is past Zinc penny?

You can adjust them higher than Zinc cent rejection, usually, but why? Most Indian Head cents and many early Wheat-back cents from 1909 tom about 1920 have a similar conductivity reading, as do many older coins [size=small](like the US Half-Dime)[/size] and many good jewelry items and keeper artifacts.

Just some thoughts. Now I have to find someone to jump by battery as I forgot about the lights I had on and charging the computer and am stuck in a Carl's Jr. parking lot. At least I can laugh at myself ... I guess.

Monte

 

[BillF]

Why would you spend good money on a deep seeking machine, with 3 coils you don't intend to use, just to put a coil on it for surface or just under the surface finds?

Well, I am taking into consideration that I may like it for other uses as well.

Well, there you go then. Originally you said you had other machines for searching older sites.
Personally, for myself, I could care less about searching for clad. It makes no sense to me to be out making less than a couple of dollars an hour to ruin my back and knees. The occasional piece of jewelry makes it worth it but occasional is the key word. To each there own though. Best of luck whatever you decide.

 

[TN Mike]

Shoot I think having more than one tone would be mind wracking. Just mastering the audio of one tone has been more than enough for me. And if you don't know, the single tone will have tons of variation from smooth and rounded to scratchy and cut, and even hot sounding, which if you play electric guitar you will know the difference in pickup heat (higher gain sound). The actual audio response over different metal sizes changes quite a bit as well, and I have found that practice in listening to the target size (which I think the CSC excels at in trashy areas), has boosted my good finds over trash probably ten fold. When I was using a meter machine I was digging quite a bit of large can slaw and just big trash in general cause I didn't have a hold on listening to the target size. Also, using your pinpointer to check a targets size is helpful, especially when using a coil that only goes a couple inches into the ground (CSC).

I plan on making a sound file showing the different sounds. Maybe this would be a good time to try and do that.

I personally love my bandido II micro. For the shallow hunting Im doing I'm not sure it can be beat using the CSC. The Outlaw is the child of the Bandido II micro max if you didnt know.

 

[ronhob]

Anyone know what the 3 3/4 turn GB to allow quick swap of coils is all about on the outlaw?