Tesoro Lobo Supertraq sensitivity

Hello all, I have a few questions about the LST's sensitivity.  First off, let me state that I have only had the machine for about a month.  Secondly it is my second machine next to the Minelab X-Terra 70.  I read the manual, and watched some of the videos on youtube and whatnot, and figured it would be a snap to figure out.  My first hunt with the LST was mixed at best.  I had the sensitivity set at about 8.5, and was running discrimination off and on, but the disc. was never set above 3.  The LST was finding pieces of small wire no more than 1/2 inch long at about 3-4 inches depth.  This sensitivity is a double edged sword.....seems to be great in relatively clean ground, but if there was any trash at all, it would scream.  My question is, can I find a happy medium between sensitivity and depth for smaller targets.  I understand that most nuggets found here in my part of California are relatively small (match head size up to .dwt or so), so a PI machine isn't going to do any better than the LST, especially in the mineralized ground we have here.  I don't want to negate the machines abilities by turning the sensitivity down too far, or turning the discrimination up too high.  Any advice you guys can give would be great. 

Hi Keverett,

Here is something you may want to try with your LST.  I know it works on mine. 

Instead of using the normal setting for the auto ground balance, select the alkali position when using the all metal mode.  Now, when you go over small targets make a few passes over the target to see if the target disappears or the signal reduces dramatically in 3 to 5 passes.  If it does, it is probably a piece of rusty iron and not gold.

On my LST I don't null out gold even if it is small, but I have had a couple of people say their unit does, so it should be checked to see just how your unit reacts.

Also, on my LST when in the alkali mode, some of the smaller hotrocks that sound off disappear almost immediately if you make a couple of passes. 

If you are using the normal mode and switch to the alkali to check, gold may initially be ignored but the signal will come back after a couple of passes.  On my unit, I can change modes and the change is transparent, but on another unit, that wasn't the case.  Personally, I usually run mine in the alkali mode when nugget hunting with it.

At least this is something to try with your unit to see how it reacts.  If you don't have any small gold to test, you can cut off small pieces from a brass rod using for brazing or use small lead objects for testing.

Reg

You left out the most important info needed to answer your question-size of coil. The smallest coil is absolutely great for trashy areas, boulder fields and cracks and crevices. The machine is only as good as the man behind it so practice Practice PRACTICE. There isn't 1 in a 1,000 who can handle nugget shooting as it's the absolutely hardest,tedious,expensive and time consuming form of detecting there is-tons a au 2 u 2 -John     but ya gotta love it and lust the oro puro   

Thanks John,   I have two coils for the LST, the standard 10" coil, and a 8" round concentric coil.  I figured that the standard DD coil would handle the trash better than the concentric.  I have looked at some of the other coils, but I didn't want to buy one new until I had heard from some members about what they thought.

Concentric is more sensitive to smaller gold BUT the DD punches deeper and handles bad ground much better. DD for beaches too in alkali mode. tons a au 2 u 2 -John   

Make sure your LST has the discrimination switch on (down position), and the mineral switch (black sand/alkalai) set in the middle.  Its in the directions, and I do not know why it helps, but it does help.  You can put your discrimation switch off after, if you want.

Depending on what you are detecting for is the key to how to set it.

In some instances, putting it on alkalai can help, but I don't usually do that.

If you are looking for coins - I put sensitivity about 6, discrimination about 7.  If there may be rings in the area, (like fairgrounds, etc), I turn up the sensitivity and lower the discrimination.

In a beach setting, I switch it off discrimination completely and go with all-metals, and dig every thing.

B

I, too, bought the LST after reading good reviews and finding a lack of complaining by LST owners. As I've posted here, I've only been out of my backyard twice, but am amazed at the sensitivity of this machine. It is strangely like learning a musical instrument, huh? Thanks much for the pointers. My local prospecting club has a couple of LST owners and I've grabbed onto their coattails to gather as much information from them as I can, too. Please feel free to post anymore pointers and tips for the LST. such a quiet bunch of folks.

  your on the right track to being a successful nuggetshooter grasshopper-continue on your quest at being the best and oro puro will follow you where ever you go-tons a au 2 u 2 -John  PS not quiet--jus' busy--off the net by 6 and gone -usually--except winter storms/cold/rain/sleet and dredging too