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1280x
- Thread starter fisher2
- Start date
Its like finding a needle in a haystack, sometimes you get lucky and find it straight off, sometimes more than one but mostly it takes time, you can cut the odds reading the beach and water, look for zones that have most people in the water, (i find they tend to group) deeper gullies,arround sandbars etc, takes time but you'll learn, even the best water hunters come home empty handed most days
I have not got around to doing statistics. But...to give you an idea. I spend 3 hrs a day, for about 5 days covering one small freshwater swim hole. I found two rings. One was a cheapo and the other was a 10k class ring.
Keep in mind. This is a freshwater machine. It does well in freshwater. Especially areas that are all sand.
The other day I went out...tuesday after memorial day to a pond that was heavily used...and hunted the buoy line for 2 hours. 20 bobby pins, dime, nickle, and no pennies. Few aluminum shards from old soda cans. No gold. IMO some one did it and threw the trash back...bobby pins. I presume this because I found no change. And In my time I have met many detectorists that just toss their trash finds right back over their shoulders...I don't know why.
It will take time. If all it took was owning a detector and ten minutes in the water to find a gold ring, then everyone would do it for a full time job.
The 1280 works best with sensitivity as high as it will go without falsing and discrimination between 2-3. Learn the noise for iron and don't dig it. Learn the noise for quarters too...iron and quarters can sound similar. Learn what a pull tab from a soda can sounds like, thats the signal that is most similar to gold. It is not a target ID machine per say, but with enough practice you will know whats what before you dig it.
Good luck, your picking up a good starter machine. Try it for at least 6 mo going atleast 20 hours a mo....maybe 10. Really give it a shot. Find a freshwater hole within an hour of you that people [adults] use whom wear cheap gold. There are a lot of ponds that are only used by kids...which will get you lots of junk and practically no gold.
You might wanna find a hunting buddy. And do you have a scoop? ITS A MUST! And a good one too. Check the ads up on this site. 150 and up for a good one. Wetsuit. You might feel weird in one, but you gotta have one. I got booties and gloves also. You can do without wetsuit until fall, but you need to protect your feet.
Anyway...sorry for long post. Good luck with your new machine. The design for the machine has not had to change in over 20 years...its build like a tank and will work fine. HH -Joe
Keep in mind. This is a freshwater machine. It does well in freshwater. Especially areas that are all sand.
The other day I went out...tuesday after memorial day to a pond that was heavily used...and hunted the buoy line for 2 hours. 20 bobby pins, dime, nickle, and no pennies. Few aluminum shards from old soda cans. No gold. IMO some one did it and threw the trash back...bobby pins. I presume this because I found no change. And In my time I have met many detectorists that just toss their trash finds right back over their shoulders...I don't know why.
It will take time. If all it took was owning a detector and ten minutes in the water to find a gold ring, then everyone would do it for a full time job.
The 1280 works best with sensitivity as high as it will go without falsing and discrimination between 2-3. Learn the noise for iron and don't dig it. Learn the noise for quarters too...iron and quarters can sound similar. Learn what a pull tab from a soda can sounds like, thats the signal that is most similar to gold. It is not a target ID machine per say, but with enough practice you will know whats what before you dig it.
Good luck, your picking up a good starter machine. Try it for at least 6 mo going atleast 20 hours a mo....maybe 10. Really give it a shot. Find a freshwater hole within an hour of you that people [adults] use whom wear cheap gold. There are a lot of ponds that are only used by kids...which will get you lots of junk and practically no gold.
You might wanna find a hunting buddy. And do you have a scoop? ITS A MUST! And a good one too. Check the ads up on this site. 150 and up for a good one. Wetsuit. You might feel weird in one, but you gotta have one. I got booties and gloves also. You can do without wetsuit until fall, but you need to protect your feet.
Anyway...sorry for long post. Good luck with your new machine. The design for the machine has not had to change in over 20 years...its build like a tank and will work fine. HH -Joe
Finderskeeper
Active member
I had one for almost 18 years. As Joe says, It is built like a tank and I never had any problems with it. I had the 10 inch coil. I bought it new back in the early 90's for $799. It was my first water machine.
It was not very good for saltwater beaches as the waves would false the 1280x heavily. It is a good dry sand machine though. Once in the saltwater where no cavitation was present around the coil then it was ok. It was more a freshwater machine and there it was much better.
After trying a friends Excalibur, I realized that its time had come and past so I sold the 1280X. It is a machine designed back in the 80's with almost no changes for its entire production run even up to today.
$275 is a good price as long as it is working. Check the battery compartment to see if the batteries ever leaked. That is about the only problem that the Fisher 1280X's had. Not really a detector problem but a battery problem. Also check the seal on the battery compartment. Make sure it is pliable and not dry or rotted.
Gold is everywhere. I have found gold in schoolyards, parks, swimming holes, ocean beaches and water, even churches. They key is spending time to find it. An hour a week is not enough. I often spend at least 4 hours or more hunting every day I can. My finds are coming in pretty fast as I spend the time. If I sit at home, then I do not find anything.
It was not very good for saltwater beaches as the waves would false the 1280x heavily. It is a good dry sand machine though. Once in the saltwater where no cavitation was present around the coil then it was ok. It was more a freshwater machine and there it was much better.
After trying a friends Excalibur, I realized that its time had come and past so I sold the 1280X. It is a machine designed back in the 80's with almost no changes for its entire production run even up to today.
$275 is a good price as long as it is working. Check the battery compartment to see if the batteries ever leaked. That is about the only problem that the Fisher 1280X's had. Not really a detector problem but a battery problem. Also check the seal on the battery compartment. Make sure it is pliable and not dry or rotted.
Gold is everywhere. I have found gold in schoolyards, parks, swimming holes, ocean beaches and water, even churches. They key is spending time to find it. An hour a week is not enough. I often spend at least 4 hours or more hunting every day I can. My finds are coming in pretty fast as I spend the time. If I sit at home, then I do not find anything.
Grumpyolddiver
New member
Fisher2 ,Joe really hit the nail on the head.I have used the 1280,cz20and most of the others and this will probably be one of the best to start out with.Mine has an 8" loop but I spent most of the time 5-7' down just outside the ropes. As long as you check the battery compartment door seal every time and keep it clean and lubed with a good grade of silicone(diveing) your on your way to some of the most fun you'll ever have.The first time you see gold in your scoop or sifter you'll understand.It is lots of work and can be frustrating but 1 big fat gold ring/chain will make a believer of most.I hunt mostly beaches in the midwest and have had years where 30-40- gold rings is normal.Not so much anymore.But thats because I don't get out as much.After 4-6 hrs in the water it takes me a couple days to recouperate unless there's a couple pieces of Gold and then it seems like I'm not as tired anymore.As Joe said a wetsuit/drysuit ,boots and a scoop are a must.The suit will keep you warm and also doubles as a life jacket if you happen to step in a hole as will a floating sifter.I've been water hunting and a S&R diver for over 30yrs now and have had some good and bad times but I will allways have atleast two detecters and I don't care what they say I'm taken um with me when I go ! ! ! 
Grumpy
Grumpy