WIFE'S TESORO VAQUERO

[Number9]

Just bought the Wife a new Tesoro Vaquero, it should be here Monday.
I bought it for her because it is so high rated!

Well, if she has her own metal detector, she want be asking me to use the Minelab Sovereign GT again...

BUT... MAYBE... JUST MAYBE... SHE WILL AT LEAST LET ME HOLD HER NEW DETECTOR FOR A FEW MINUTES...
HECK...I MIGHT EVEN GET TO USE IT SOME!!!

 

[sqwaby]

You might be surprised how much you like it.

 

[Jharhed]

Found my first (3) IHs 1880, 1899 and 1879 yesterday with mine, love it.

 

[amcjavelin]

awesome machine love mine got the nickels down to the science now and look out!

 

[Number9]

Thanks for the replies to my crazy post!

I have read great reviews about the Vaquero.
Would the regular coil be OK for the beach? I've read mixed reviews about having problems around wet sand.
Would a Double D coil be better?

 

[Hightone]

I use a widescan 7" at the beach and it does just fine at damp sand (sens at about 4-5). This is on the east coast beaches.

Dan

 

[Number9]

Thanks, Dan for the info!
It is because of experienced people like you that we decided to get a Tesoro detector.
We've been out of detecting for several years and just now starting to return.
We hope to be able to hunt several different beaches in the future, the first one to start will be the Outer Banks this October for a week. We live in Tennessee and our beach hunts will be along the Southern Coast.

Thanks again!
Wayne

 

[sqwaby]

I use the stock coil on Texas beaches. It works well for me, I even submerge the coil an inch or two sometimes, usually run the disc around 5-7. Once in a while I get small pockets of mineralized stuff that makes it unstable, but these pockets are very small (2 or 3 sq ft)and far and few between.

 

[Number9]

May buy another DD coil to take with us?
Never hunted the OBX, so having both kinds maybe a good idea?

 

[tvr]

I've got a few hunts at the OBX with Cibola and Tejon (and a couple of other detectors that don't directly relate). Personally, I did not find the DD coils to add a lot to stability. I do like the 12 x 10 or the cleansweep for coverage. When there is a lot of black sand, a smaller concentric coil worked better for me. The standard 9 x 8 is a good compromise of coverage area and handling of the tough sand. The 5.75 handles the ugly sand issues better but covers less area.

The sand consistency and black sand areas vary a lot at the OBX. Some days I'd see several inches of sand wash and blow in and bury things to the point that the only thing I hit is foil that blew in too. When the sand gets cut or is moving out, things are better. There can be thin black streaks or whole areas that are real ugly. The next day the beach can be largely changed.

I like to run the sensitivity up around ten and discrimination at iron in the dry. Turn the discrimination up to foil over the wet. Over some of the wet sand, I'd have to run sensitivity down to 7 and discrimination high side of foil. Over the wet and real black sand, I couldn't get the Tejon to ground balance, sensitivity down in the 4 to 5 range and depth not real good. I have heard the Vaquero does better on the ground balance range than the Tejon.
Good luck!
tvr

 

[Number9]

Hey thanks for the info tvr!!!!
Was looking for someone who has hunted the OBX.
Do you hunt there often?

 

[David]

For land and the beach you may also look at the waterproof Tesoro Tiger Shark with Salt-mode and Manual-ground balance.
http://www.tesoro.com/product/detectors/tigershark/
http://www.tesoro.com/info/fieldtests/current/tigershark/
BUT about 2x heavier than the Vaquero(2.2 lbs.), the Tiger Shark at "Less than 4 1/2 lbs." it says.

 

[tvr]

Been to the OBX with detectors on four extended weekends over the past four years. Not a lot of time there but the changing sand conditions make it a fun learning and experimenting experience. And some goodies have been pulled out of their hiding places.

First time was with a Cibola. For the latest trip there this past March, I packed four detectors and various coil options. Sand movement day to day without storm action is like no other place I've seen.

A drive and frequent stops through the length of the national park area provides wonderful sights and recreational activities even though there is no detecting permitted in the park areas. Beautiful area.
tvr

 

[Number9]

Hey David, it might be awhile before I buy another detector? Still need a few more accessories and still need to finish my titanium beach scoop. Why does everything that's fun to do... cost money!

tvr...
What areas did you hunt and what did you find?
I've never drove on the beach before... may drive to the north end and see if I can get stuck!

 

[tvr]

Hit the beach along several beach entrance areas from Corolla to Nags Head. My finds ranged from small change and trash (most frequent result) to a nice 10k ring. For my little time spent there I'd say you could expect a day to produce some change, bottle tops, lead sinkers, some foil trash. If you put the coil in the right place with the right sand conditions maybe some gold and silver. Not as target dense as some other places but has the possibility of letting go of some old ship wreck goodies as well as tourist jewelry.

I have not driven the beach either as they require 4wd and I am 2wd, and I don't even have limited slip differential. If I still had my old VW, I may have tried it anyway ... but that's approaching a life time ago.
Good luck!
tvr

 

[Number9]

TVR,

We plan to stay in Nags Head and maybe hit some of the more popular tourist spots and head north to hit a few spots along the way... may even find a shipwreck?
Most all of my off road driving has been in the mountains around home(east TN, western NC, north GA). I've had 9 four-wheel drives over the last 40 years, 7 was Jeeps. But, I'll hit my 61st. birthday on the OBX this year, if I'm lucky.
My modified V-8 Jeep days are behind me, it's time to slow-up some?
But.. I still like to have all four turning!

 

[tvr]

Well happy birthday coming up and enjoy the trip! Sounds like a great plan!!