Field Test - Fisher F-2
Published by Larry on Tagged 1900's Coins, Detector Review, Instuctional
I have been a big fan of Fisher Metal Detectors since the early 70’s. I have owned 15 different models and found nearly 100,000 coins and nearly 400 gold rings utilizing these fine instruments. from the Medalert 11 to the cz20, I have only had to have one repaired as Fisher makes durable, quality machines that pay for themselves over and over again. I am very excited about the lastest start-up unit the F-2. The 1210 and 1212x units were and are amazing start-up machines, but I can only say WOW when I use the F-2. Contact a Fisher dealer and grab this unit up while the 4″ coil is still a bonus. I would! It is the best machine for the buck that I have owned. This innovative detector has more features than most detectors selling in the $500 to $600 range.
Here are the F-2’s Feaures:
Target Display with numbers from 0 to 99 (very large numbers)
Depth Meter
Battery Meter
Sensitivity Control
Target Groups for Notch
Tone ID
Pinpoint Button
Power Button
Adjustable Settings: Sensivity, Discrimination, Notch
All of this for $199. The F-2 comes with a stock 8″ coil plus a hot 4″ coil with extra lower rod and hardware. Again I say WOW!
I took the F2 to my test gardens to see what it is capable of doing. With the standard 8″ loop I was able to detect every coin buried up to eight inches deep. Silver dimes at 6 to 7 inches were weak signals as were silver quarters at 7 to 8 inches. Wheat cents gave good signals down to about 5 to 6 inches and old nickels came in at 6-7 inches in both of my 5 Feet square gardens. This is very impressive depth for a low end detector. My amazement with this light weight unit dramatically increased when I switched to the 4 inch coil and went to my trash garden to give it a real workout and test its TID system. This 3 feet square garden has a variety of pop tops and pull tabs going all the way back to the early 70’s plus pencil erasers, foil, chewing gum paper/packages, etc. All the junk you would find in a schoolyard or sport stadium plus new and old coins in close proximity.
The newer pull tabs read between 33-35 and most nickels read at 30 to 32 with a few hitting 33. In a matter of minutes I could distinguish between almost every tab and both my older and newer nickels. Incredible! No nickel read higher than 33 and most tabs read 34 or 35. I have never found a start-up unit that can do this. Tesoro has some of the best differentiating units for nickels verses tabs, but my units selling for $500 -$700 dollars did not outperform the F-2. The Fisher 4″ coil also proved itself depth wise. The nickels and dimes at 5 to 7 inches deep came in very clear, the target system was very stable and the response speed on this coil is fantastic. I was so impressed with this small coil, that I chose to use it at the beach, my high school stadium and old school yard test spots.
In a four hour period at Sponger Stadium, I dug up 211 coins with a face value of $19.55. Nothing old and exciting as field was built after silver disappeared from circulation. Yet 53 coins an hour is very good production. That is almost a coin a minute. This is my 2nd highest four hour total at this stadium in more than 35 years hunting there. In 1985 using a Fisher 1260 with a 4″ coil, I took 244 coins in this time period. That was the premier top of the line detector of that time frame and I paid over $400. on a Christmas special. Do you understand why I keep saying WOW about this F-2?
At my old school yard the most aggravating signal is the aluminum pencil erasers that can be found eveywhere. My wife was in the first graduating class of this elementary school back somewhere in the 50’s (I dare not age her). I tried to find out why this school has 10 times more aluminum erasers than any other schoolyard I have hunted. She and none of her school buddies could answer my question. Guess what? It is no longer a problem. From my trash garden, then to the school grounds, I learned to target and notch this menace out. In 2 hours I found 20 coins including a 1913 Canadian Quarter, a 1936 Buffalo Nickel and 2- 1945 wheat cents and did not dig up one pencil eraser. This school closed down a few years ago and any coins are leftovers as the grounds are fenced in and only a few people are given permission to even walk the old campus grounds and play areas. I have used top of the line Garrett, White, Minelab, Tesoro and Bounty Hunter units along with my Fisher cz20 and have found fewer coins than this. My trip to the Tarpon Springs Beach with the F-2 was short-lived as rain came within 10 minutes. However, I did recover a nice sterling earring and three pennies. I will not use this instrument in the water as fresh or salt water intrusion would destroy this great little detector. In fact, I am convinced that the F-2 with its 4 inch coil will outperform any detector with a similar size coil. It is fast, it is stable and it goes very deep. WOW! I would charge no less than $60-$100 for the 4″ addition. Here’s to “diggin It”! Larry
March 3rd, 2008 at 4:58 am
Hey Larry!
Thanks for the cool 1907 coin! I was so excited to win it! Love the great info you have on your site!
Suzanne Brubaker
June 10th, 2008 at 8:12 am
Hello Larry,
I found you and your amazing blog from ezine article’s and just wanted to say Thanks your
FREE ebook. I have since read many of your other articles. I purchased my first detector
because of one of your articles. I am a happy camper now with 11 new coins to show for my
effort. The detector you say: Fisher’s F2 … Thanks for the great review.
Take Care And Good Hunting
Charlie
A Difference In Treasure Hunting
http://www.campmoves.com
June 10th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Thanks Charlie! I am excited about Camp Moves MD Club. To demonstrate my excitement with our connection, next month (July) I will give a 100 year old Indian Cent to every member who leaves a comment about any post and lets me know that they are a part of Camp Moves. Will send all to you for distribution at the next club meeting to save the postage.
Larry
June 12th, 2008 at 1:36 am
Larry,
Thanks for the great review of the F2!! On advice from others, I narrowed my choices down to two… the Ace 250 and the Fisher F2. It was not easy for me to decide ot give the “new kid on the block” the nod, because most were singing the paraises of the Ace and saying that F2 would probably be another detector that was long on promises and short on delivery (kind of like most politicians ;>0)!! But, I just coldn’t resist the extra coil, extra lower rod, AND the FIVE YEAR WARRANTY!!!!
Since buying my F2 in December 2007, I’ve been quite please with it. And, I’ve found sevral coins with it. For a newbie like me, the learning curve was quite minimal…. I really like that too.
I admire you and respect your opinions. And, I consider you a highly experienced and very successful metal detectorist. To read that you consider my little $199 metal detector to be a very good value and excellent entry level detector has made my day!!!
Thanks again!! And, God bless you and yours!!!
Robert
June 12th, 2008 at 3:26 am
Robert,
Thanks for the confidence. You made a good decision. My unit purchased mid December has almost paid for itself in only about 10 hours use.
Larry
July 13th, 2008 at 10:49 am
Thanks to you’re very positive (WOW) review of the F2, I decided I could hardly go wrong getting it as my first MD. Thanks for a great site! Lee
July 13th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Thanks Lee! I personally have owned over 50 detecters and I believe this is the best start-up unit ever made. I own one and use it for for most of my coin ventures though owning several top of the liners worth up to $1100.
Larry