Fisher 1236X2

[stoney56]

Let's see what we can say about this machine. I've been running it for over 3 years and have found it to be a pretty good machine overall. It doesn't have an LCD, meter, or anything else that might distract the user or make you 2nd guess what the signal might be. It has the standard vol. control, and 2 or 3 extras that can come in handy. For those that competition hunt, there's a frequency knob that adjusts (or tunes out) nearby detectors that clashes interference wise. The disc. works like most discriminators with the added + of a notch below 0 for iron null (meaning that only non-ferrus metals should sound). I've found that it works pretty well in that aspect with the exception of either very rusty items or larger rusty nails, most of which have been either surface or very close to the surface (i.e. 1 inch or less).There is also a silencer switch that can help eliminate ground chatter (medium to heavy mineralization). It also helps around power lines and transformers and other electronic interference.
This detector works well in parks with a setting of either just above 6 on disc. (pulltabs) and silencer off, sens. to 8 or 9 unless there's quite a bit of trash, then the silencer is switched on. Around water (freshwater), go to iron null (below 0) on disc, as much sens. as possible to go deep in the sand without the chatter and silencer off as there may be small gold items that will be blocked if silencer is on. I don't know about around saltwater as Oklahoma is pretty far from ocean, .
This machine also has a pretty fast time on signaling as I can literally whip it over a coin (say 5 swings per sec.) and it will sound off all 5x's even at a height of 4-6". The battery compartment is easy access although I've found that some 9 volt batteries (especially Dollar General and others that come 2/$1 or so) have a bit of a tight fit while Duracell/Energizer types just seem to slip right in.

 

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[Bandido]

Thanks for the info, i am thinking of buying a new 1236x2 for my next detector. I currantly use a 1266x, a Tesoro Bandido II umax and a Bounty Hunter Discovery 3300, i love them all, the Tesoro loves to find tiny gold,and deep! the 1266x with a five inch coil finds a silver dime at 12 inches deep! The 3300 is a best buy and very accurate, although not very deep, 5-6 inches on a quarter, i think it's the lightest underated detector out there!!! Thanks, Ron.

 

[momule55]

Great Review!! I have a 1236X also to augment my stable, just got it this fall. The last "New" detector that
I bought was in 1990, a Tesoro Bandito, 1st model. I still use it with the 10 1/2 coil for relic hunting. But I wonder
if the 1236x would beat it with a larger coil ?

 

[Bandido]

Thanks! and good question, i also have a 10x12 spoked coil for my Bandido II umax and it goes deep, a measured 12 inches on a 64 silver dime, then again..i've heard even the 1225x will find a quarter with the stock 8 inch coil about a foot down, i say it would be close! but think the 1236x2 would win with the bigger coil, i've owned many detectors and always depth test them, and the Fishers are the deepest seekers, bring a small shovel if you use one!, but...they also LOVE iron. I also just sold my new xterra 30, that would only do 6-7 on the silver dime, i was dissapointed, i test them all in my back yard which is loamy type soil with a lot of roots.

 

[morbiusandneo]

Thanks! and good question, i also have a 10x12 spoked coil for my Bandido II umax and it goes deep, a measured 12 inches on a 64 silver dime, then again..i've heard even the 1225x will find a quarter with the stock 8 inch coil about a foot down, i say it would be close! but think the 1236x2 would win with the bigger coil, i've owned many detectors and always depth test them, and the Fishers are the deepest seekers, bring a small shovel if you use one!, but...they also LOVE iron. I also just sold my new xterra 30, that would only do 6-7 on the silver dime, i was dissappointed, i test them all in my back yard which is loamy type soil with a lot of roots.

I picked up iron ore bearing rocks about 1" x 2" x 1/4" thick at 26" w/ a standard coil Bandido-2. There were 2 of them laying flat, so the area of them both was about 2" x 4". One (maybe 80%) iron ore rock about 1" x 1" x 3" at 22". Mostly sandy soil, very moist with some bits of clay. Below the 18-20" level the soil was mostly this gravel w/some sand. 4-6 disc. setting , 7-8 sens., all-metal mode. I have yet to test the 1236X-2 w/standard coil.

 

[Rob66]

Hi Stoney-need to ask you a question regarding the 1236x2.

I received mine today...I am impress with it but, I feel it may not be working right. For the quiet one, it sure is noisy.
I can't push pass sen-8 with out it going crazy if held in the air!!!!!!

And at ten it just chatters awayWhat dose the threshold sounds like?

Any help is much appreciated.

Thanks in advance...Rob.

 

[stoney56]

Hi Stoney-need to ask you a question regarding the 1236x2.

I received mine today...I am impress with it but, I feel it may not be working right. For the quiet one, it sure is noisy.
I can't push pass sen-8 with out it going crazy if held in the air!!!!!!

And at ten it just chatters awayWhat dose the threshold sounds like?

Any help is much appreciated.

Thanks in advance...Rob.

Rob, I just turned on mine and even laying on the love seat in the house with lights and tv, I was able to get to sens of 8 with the silencer off and disc to 0 without any noise. If I bumped the sens to almost 9 it started chattering.
It beeps when turned on then runs a silent threshold. The 1236 is pretty sensitive anyway but you may have either some electrical lines or transformers nearby. Did you try using the silencer switch?

 

[Rob66]

Sounds like the same thing. I maybe around to many electrical lines.?
I really need to take it out and test drive it.Very sensitive.

Have you tried using the slight audio threshold at sen-10 to search for deeper targets in the fields?
The manuel states at sen-10 an audio threshold can be heard?

Thanks for the feedback it made me feel better.I'm not alone....

 

[Rob66]

It works just fine!!! Even at sen 8-9 it goes deep. Love the silencer

 

[stoney56]

It works just fine!!! Even at sen 8-9 it goes deep. Love the silencer

This is the machine that I usually use in competition since I can also hip mount it. The silencer helps in that aspect as well to keep machine crosstalk chatter to a minimum. In other areas, it helps with electrical interference. Normally I keep it off.
Glad you enjoy the machine. I've used various batteries in it from Duracell to the cheap Dollar Store 9V's. Found the cheap ones tend to stick in the machine a bit. Guess their outside dimension is a bit big.

 

[Rob66]

Thanks....I only use Duracell or energizer anyhow.Will invest in a rechargeable unit.
I will be testing it this weekend on the beach of southern CA. I'm sure it will do well.

 

[stoney56]

Rob, I don't know how it'll do on a saltwater beach seeing as I live too far inland. I'd expect some salt interference but the dry sand would probably work great. In it, I'd turn the disc. to the iron null. (far left till it clicks) and run with silencer off if poss. I just ran an air test of 6" on a flat white gold 2 dwt band and it did a doulbe beep of 4" on edge. Of course soil minerals will make a big difference.
Good luck and HH!