The Cutlass only has two controls, and they are both mounted on the front panel of the detector.

1. POWER OFF, MODE SELECT, BATTERY TEST. This rotary switch control is used to select the operating mode (either all metal or discriminate), test the remaining battery strength, and to turn the unit off when it is not being used. Turning the knob completely counterclockwise disconnects the batteries from the circuit. Turning the knob completely clockwise activates the audio battery test circuit, which will give you an audible indication of the batteries' condition. Fresh batteries will cause a loud audio response which will gradually decay into silence over a period of about 4 or 5 seconds. As the batteries age and become weaker, the initial audio response will be weaker, and will decay quicker. When the response is just a short buzz instead of a long beep, or when there is no audio response, it's time for new batteries.
   
   This rotary switch is also used to select the All Metal mode of operation or the Discriminate mode. In All Metal, the detector will find not only the highly conductive non-ferrous metals, but will also find the ferrous metals. This mode would be ideal for relic hunting or ghost town searching, since many desirable artifacts (such as guns) are made of iron and steel. In the Discriminate mode, the detector's response to unwanted trash can be controlled to eliminate digging much of the common metallic trash items found in likely hunting spots. The detector may beep briefly when the switch is changed, but is ready for operation in the selected mode instantly.
2. DISCRIMINATE LEVEL. This control is used to adjust the detector's response to unwanted metallic trash when used in the Discriminate mode. At the lowest setting "0", the detector will eliminate most iron objects, but will still respond in a positive manner to light foil, bottle caps, pull tabs and most other metallic items. As the knob setting is increased, response to more of these metallic trash items is reversed so that these objects give no response.

The detector should be held in a position that is comfortable for you. Swing the detector from side to side in about a three foot arc, overlapping succeeding strokes well. This motion is called a “sweep.” The Cutlass was designed to get maximum depth without the frantic pace required of earlier motion detectors, so go at a pace that is comfortable for you. In fact, trying to hunt too fast in Discriminate may even cause a loss of depth in heavily mineralized locations.

It would be helpful to bury some coins and trash metal junk items in an area that you know is clear of other metal objects, and then try the unit in its various modes. Check the area in All Metal Mode first to be sure its clear of trash then bury the targets at least a foot apart, and from 2 to 6 inches deep to start. Make a map of the test bed to be sure you know what each target is and how deep it is. Practice on these targets to familiarize yourself with your detector’s target response. This will also help you learn the proper sweep rate for best operation.

Regardless of which mode you are using, try to keep your searchcoil height constant and close to the ground. Most people tend to raise the coil at the end of a sweep, much like a pendulum, especially if they are hurrying. Try to avoid this, as any increase in height will cause a corresponding loss of depth.

In areas with well kept lawns, the easiest way to maintain a constant searchcoil height is to allow the coil to rest on the grass as you sweep from side to side. In rough and rocky areas it is best not to “scrub” the coil on the ground, as the rocks will act like abrasives, and wear away the coil bottom (an optional coil scuff cover will protect against this.) Sweep the coil as close to the ground as possible without touching. Hitting the ground or rocks may cause a false signal much like a desired target would. Sweeping the coil too high above the ground results in a loss of depth.

When operating in the Discriminate Mode, some “false signals” may be caused by heavy concentrations of trash metal objects, by very large trash items, or by electrical interference. These signals will sound different than good target signals because they are generally short, choppy sounds. At the end of your sweep, as you the reverse the coil direction, the detector is most susceptible to trash induced noise. There are two ways to tell whether these sounds are good deep signals or trash “noise.” The first is by repeatability. Trash induced noises will not be regular as you sweep the coil over the suspected target several times, whereas a good target response will be repeatable. The second method is to switch to All Metal Mode and check the target response sound. If the response is weak, it may well be a deep, good target; but if the response is very strong, it is probably trash. Note that a coin close to the surface can give a double beep sound, but it is regular and repeatable. Raising the coil an inch or two will restore the single beep on surface targets.

If there is any doubt whether a target is good or not, DIG IT. For this same reason, in the Discriminate Mode, it is best not to use a higher DISC LEVEL setting than necessary. Nickels and most smaller rings are rejected when the DISC LEVEL is set to reject pull tabs on any metal detector that is a TR Discriminator like the Cutlass. If you don’t dig any junk at all, you are surely passing up a lot of good finds as well. Set the DISC LEVEL only high enough to suit the conditions where you are searching.

Because most detector users are coinshooters and most areas are likely to yield good coins are also likely to contain a goodly amount of trash, the Cutlass is furnished with a 7" searchcoil as standard. This coil will probably yield the best results in most search situations, and is easier to pinpoint with than the larger coils.

PINPOINTING

Pinpointing a target is probably best accomplished by "X-ing" the target with the searchcoil. Remember that the detector will beep just as the target passes the center of the searchcoil. Swing the searchcoil over the target from side to side and then front to back until you can "zero in" on the exact location of the coil center when the detector beeps. Slowing the sweep speed down will help you pick out the center of the X because the target response will be reduced at very slow speeds and it's easier to correlate the sound with the coil center at slower speeds.

Another easy method is to sweep the coil from side to side across the target in very short sweeps, as you slowly move forward and backward across the target. Slow down the sweep rate and shorten the sweeps until you just barely get a response at one spot. The target will be directly below the coil center at this response time.

Raising the searchcoil can also help pinpoint by narrowing the response to the target. Practice pinpointing often, and you will soon become more accurate and faster. Be sure to fill all holes after you recover the target. Your local dealer should be able to point out the preferred methods of digging in your area. Two methods are shown here which work most everywhere. Be sure to protect your hobby by leaving the site cleaner than you found it and with all holes filled.

The Cutlass has a battery test circuit so that you can always be sure you are getting top performance from it. The batteries should be checked after the detector has been on for about 10 minutes, and then periodically as you are using it for long periods. To activate the battery test circuit, simply turn the mode select switch to battery test. The detector should beep loudly if the batteries are fresh. As the batteries age, the sound is less intense. When you just hear a brief buzz, or no audio at all, replace the batteries.

To replace the batteries, pull the large knobs on the battery door on the rear of the unit. The entire door will pop out. Remove the battery pack from the detector, and then remove the batteries from the pack. Replace the new penlight batteries into the pack, observing the polarity indicators embossed on the insides of the pack. Slide the batteries back into the detector, making sure that the battery clip lead is connected to the pack. Install the battery door flange into the top of the cutout in the chassis, and push the nylon fasteners into the holes at the sides of the chassis, making sure that the plungers are still pulled out. Then push the plungers back in to lock the door into place.

Should you desire to do so, rechargeable Nickel-Cadmium batteries can be substituted for standard 9 volt cells. Individual 9 volt size cells are readily available at most electronic supply stores, as well as the chargers for them, and they can be inserted into the standard holder used in your Cutlass. The initial battery check reading will be slightly lower, but will not drop as much with use, until the batteries are completely discharged.

If the detector is to be stored for a long period of time, it is best to remove the battery pack from the detector. This will prevent internal damage to the detector if the batteries should leak.

The searchcoil is waterproof and may be submerged in either fresh or salt water. Caution should be exercised to prevent water from entering the chassis, where it could damage the electronic circuitry. After the coil is used in salt water, the coil and lower stem assembly should be rinsed well with fresh water to prevent corrosion of the metal parts.

There are several good books to help the beginner learn how to use the detector, where to search and how to recover a target without damaging the environment. A good coin shooter can recover a lot of finds and leave the area looking as though he had never been there. Above all, always fill your holes when you have recovered the target.


TESORO Metal Detectors are sold through independent dealers, who are almost always treasure hunters themselves. They can provide you with you much needed information about how to use your detector, how to probe, plug and dig in your locale, and answer most of your questions about treasure hunting in general.


The use of earphones will benefit you in two ways. Most earphones will very effectively block out most of the ambient noise, such as traffic noise and wind noise, which will enable you to better hear the fainter signals caused by the deeper targets. Obviously, the older, more valuable coins will probably be deeper than the ones which were lost last week, so you should take advantage of anything that will help you hear the weaker signals. Secondly, using earphones will greatly extend the battery life, since it takes much less power to operate them. The Cutlass is not equipped with a volume control, but does have a limiting circuit in the earphone jack. If less volume is desired with earphones, you may want to use earphones with a built in volume control. Any good 8 or 16 ohm set with 1/4 inch stereo jack will do.

Your Tesoro metal detector is covered by a Limited Lifetime Warranty, the terms of which are listed below. If your metal detector should require service, you may return it to the Tesoro factory, or tone of the factory authorized service centers. Contact the factory for the name and address of the nearest service center.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact the factory.

This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may have other rights which vary from state to state.

This instrument is warranted to be free of defects in material and workmanship as long as it is owned by the original consumer purchaser. This warranty is not transferable, and is valid only if the warranty registration card has been completed and mailed within 10 days of purchase.

During the first two years, TESORO will, at its option, repair or replace any instrument covered by this warranty, without charge, except for transportation charges, at its factory in Prescott, Arizona, or at one of its authorized repair centers. After two years from date of purchase, TESORO will replace defective parts at no charge except a nominal labor change and transportation charges.

This warranty excludes batteries, damage caused by leaky batteries, cable breakage due to flexing on body mount units, and wear of the searchcoil housing. Also excluded are instruments which have been abused, altered, or repaired by an unauthorized party.

If warrant service should be necessary, contact the factory for nearest repair center.