Newer than Newbe

[Steve in PR]

Welcome to TQ, Robert. It is difficult to give you specific advice because every machine has its merits.

I think the best thing I could do for you is to suggest that you research the four main types of machine. The Pulse Induction (PI), the single Very Low Frequency (VLF), the dual VLF and the multiple/broadband frequency machines.

Talk to local hunters to find out how much "junk" is in the water and do more research.

Another important consideration is the sand scoop. If you plan on hunting in salt water, I recommend that you invest in either an heavy duty aluminum or stainless steel scoop with a long handle.

Don't forget to get a pouch for your goodies with 2 pockets, one for the good finds and one for the junk that you will throw away after the hunt.

I believe that water hunters 'repay' the beach for the good finds by taking the trash too and disposing of it properly.

Keep a bottle of vinegar in you vehicle to treat any jellyfish encounters (Like the one that got me today. Ouch! ).

Finally, if you don't have a digital camera, get one so that you can post your finds for all of us to see!

Good luck and good hunting!

[PAPPY]

WELCOME to the TQ FAMILY BOB ! GREAT to have you with us.

Our 100% A1 Sponsors will be more than glad to take their time and help you in your consideration of your new machine.....

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We are looking forward to your pic's of your finds and your post's.

[mtpockets]

Welcome to TQ.
I have the Excalibur 1000.. It sure is a great unit. There are many Excalibur users out that that are just sucking the rings from the sand with them..
Good Luck with your decision..

[INDY]

Welcome to TQ.

[Robert]

Thank you all for your warm welcome and advice. I am still in the research mode for the right machine and will take all the information from each of you into consideration. It is nice to hear from everyone. I may post a picture or something soon. Thanks again.

Bob

Just wanted to say a quick hello and welcome to the TQ family! I'll leave the advice on which detector to purchase to the experts as I'm still a newbie myself! Good luck on whatever you decide and HH!!

[bigbillinsc]

Welcome to TQ

[Robert]

Hello again all,
Thank you for all your tips and ideas!!!! I am still a little undecided which underwater detector I should buy. I read an article on the Tesoro website written by Mr. Rusty Henry comparing the Sand Shark and the Tiger Shark. I will probably be hunting mostly on the Florida beaches with some time at the bottom of the Gulf and some on land. He says both units are good but recommends the Sand Shark over the Tiger Shark. The PI over the VLF. If anyone has a thought (and I bet some do) I would love to hear from you. I want to get a good machine for my money but mostly want it to work correctly in the conditions I will be in. I am still also thinking of the Fisher 1280X but I don't know what the differences and quality of hunting will be. Thanks for your input. It is nice to have a place like this to get so much great information.

Bob

[MinelabMan]

Hi Robert and welcome to the forum. I just bought the Excalibur the end of July and used it for the first time this week, so I'm certainly no expert and can't speak for the other units, as the closest that I've come to them is the Tesoro Cibola which I use as a back-up and competition hunter, It's a good machine.

I bought the Excalibur because I had an Explorer II and loved it on dry land and at and in the beach (I know I took a big chance raising it each time before a wave hit).

Anyway, I sold my Explorer II and I bought the SE for land and the Excalibur for the water and so far I love it. I'm at the beach now and in addition to a good bit of change and misc. stuff, I found 2-14k gold chains, 4 silver rings (I believe 2 that I can't see the marks on are silver), a 10k gold ring with a stone and another silver ring for a girl that lost it.

I haven't learned all the tones yet so I'm digging just about everything (including alot of pulltabs and some foil) but I think that's the reason that I got the small chain today.

I'm running the Sens. on auto most of the time but I have ran it on high a few times until it started falsing still plenty of room to back off of it, but auto is easier and I'm still learning. I have discrimination on and set to the lowest setting and I can cross the boardwalk without hearing a beep from the nails. I will get a little noise going from dry to wet sand but I'm told that's the machine balancing itself.

There's plenty of people on here that can help you with your decision and there's websites also that give reviews (Metal Detector News, Reviews and Ratings).

The important thing is to be patient and learn whichever machine you choose.

Anyway, I was going to put my 2 cents in but you wound up getting the whole dollar . Sorry for being so long winded.