Toltec II meter mod you may like to see

[tony (Orlando FL)]

I threw this mod together and thought you may like to see it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2x8Sw3ez2b4

 

[Hombre]

Hi Tony......interesting mod.

I bought a Toltec ll in 1994 and still have and use it alot. I like the stock meter on mine, just wondeing why the digital meter? Don't take what I say wrong, just never had the desire to improve the stock analog meter. I've had several detectors with digital ID like White's XLT, DFX and a Minelab Explorer ll, and I don't get the same kind of information (digital) that I get with an analog meter (better for me). But like I said.... your meter modification is interesting, by the way, still have your Pantera? I still have the PanteraI I bought off of BJ OK.... I have read some of the posts from the past by Monte about the Panteras when they first came out (1991) and he said that there were 'hot' and 'cold' versions of the Pantera. I believe mine is a hot one and get the "high tone" on some really deep pennies and dimes.

Best Regards

 

[Mike Hillis]

Do you think the same thing could be done for a Golden uMax?
HH
Mike

 

[GaryF]

Nice job.

 

[tony (Orlando FL)]

Hi Mike-

Nope, cant be done to another unit other than a toltec imo. A toltec has additional innerds which drive an output to the meter.

 

[tony (Orlando FL)]

Hi Randy,

Interestingly enough, I had no real desire to improve the meter either as I rarely look at it while tecting. I guess the reason I did it is because I could and deep inside I was slightly curious about the end result.

The BEST thing about the digital meter is the fact I can see/identify Iron very easily. ALL iron is a negative value. That being said, this doesnt mean I can totally ignore the IRON id of what I am hearing BUT it makes me aware that I need to listen close and use ALL the little tricks in my bag before digging if I am lazy and use the meter to decide to dig or not. I ALWAYS go by sound first, second and third. The meter may have the last vote when it comes to a complex iffy sounding target. At times I would run the toltec without the meter, it works good this way. Now I simply just do NOT turn the meter on when I want to tect without it.

Nope, I have sold both Panteras, since getting the Toltec. Both the Panteras I had were actually pretty close to the same on depth but one was a tad louder and made it seem a bit stronger or deeper but when air test comparing them, they were both within an inch of each other. I didnt use the notch, I didnt use the tone break on the Panteras. The 10 turn GB was my fave feature. The toltec II in comparison is a better fit for me because I never used the pantera features and actually they got in my way more so than not. I mount the control box under the arm cuff and too often the notch switch would get thrown and I ended up accepting or rejecting items I hadnt meant to.

I havent got a whole lot of time on the digital meter yet, but enough to know it works. Another interesting thing is different coils significantly shift the ID readings which the analog meter didnt indicate. Need to keep a mental chart on the meter readings for standard coins in order to know what a target in between the readings may be.

Sorry for the long version of my reply!

Later
Tony

 

[tony (Orlando FL)]

Thanks Gary,

It was a fun project. Well, it was frustrating actually. It was trying to cram a 6pound meter into a 5pound box. Had to fabricate trim pieces which are far from perfect but, as it is, it gets the job done.

 

[Hombre]

Hi Tony

Like you, I use audio first and foremost and use the meter for the fun factor, for deep silver coins. The Toltec ll, like most older Tesoro's have a modulated audio that is sweet on deep non-ferous targets. I like this feature and after hearing a sweet, small, faint and repeatable signal, and looking at the meter that has the needle pointing into the green coin segment, it is just too cool. Several occations I was able to call a silver coin before it came out of the ground, I know that some will not believe my statement and state that I am stretching the truth, but in this one area I called a seated dime before I dug it! Of coarse....I have had this detector for going on 17 years and know it's audio and meter responses well.

 

[jabbo]

That is real neat.