No one with experience on 2 box Fisher Gemini 3 ?

[Sven@1970]

Any reviews on using the Gemini3 ?
I understand that it is a metal detector that is not used much, but I find it interesting because it allows you to exclude small objects and is the archetype of the metal detector par excellence, perhaps most common for tracing metal pipes or metal veins in mines.
Difficulties, advices? Thanks

[Red Fred]

I have a Gemini 3 which I bought about 30 years ago. It was in the local free-ads and was being sold by a wealthy couple who had been sailing in the Caribbean and fancied searching for pirate treasure on their journey.
Being a keen Fisher 1265/6 user snapped it up as I thought it would be worth searching a few spots on our farm where I have found coin scatters and a small hoard of palstaves to see if I could find any more.
I didn't find any hoards and I must say I found the Gemini rather disappointing as it was hard to keep in tune and to hold level while searching. After many tries, I gave up and haven't used it for years. Our sandy/iron rich soil might not help.
It has come out a few times to trace pipes using the two boxes separately and I think it would find a buried car several feet down, but for general searching it wasn't much use and I put it in the same category as those "locator devices" that claim to find treasure from 5 miles away.
I opened up the boxes to see what was inside for the money, and that was also disappointing having been used to Fisher's solid hobby detectors.
So to sum up, disappointing but it didn't cost much second-hand.

[Sven@1970]

Thanks Red Fred, very interesting, I hope that in my mild mineralized soil it goes better.

[Mega B]

I have a Fisher TW-5 twin box which i have had for a very long time,only purchased when someone got one brand new and used it once,got a bargain at £80,so in theory got a tremendous bargain.

These are very very specialised machines and absolutely no good what so ever for deep single coinage or small items in general,but on big items the bigger they are the deeper these machines go.Predominately the few times that i have used mine is for locating the mother lode or tracing pipes either metal or pipes with metal fitting attached as of course not all pipes are metal but most do have metal connectors of some kind.

A few things that need to be remembered with these detectors are the fact that if like me you carry it attached to its attachment bar and walk with it by the strap you you will need to remove any traces of metal object from your body ie watches,chains,boots with metal items in and even belts as they will all be picked up with the twin box.Of course if they are also used with out the bar attachment and strap for say locating pipes then its not so critical about removing every bit of metal off your body.

Would i buy another one my reply would be a massive NO,i was lucky to get mine ultra cheap so even if i was to say use it every 2-5 years it would not worry me,the usage to cost ratio just dont stack up in favour of buying one,if you are looking at going ultra deep for say a actual hoard location,pipe tracing etc and small coinage/items i would choose a Pulse machine every time with a medium to large coil on,the advantages a Pulse has over a twin box and of course subject to the specific machine they do have a reasonable decent iron rejection facility hence why i use a GPX,a twin box runs in 'All Metal mode'

Unless you have a very very specific use for a twin box my reply would be a massive NO,of course its your money and can do what ever you like with it,but the usage against the cost of the machine have to be slightly in my favour before i part with money.In laymans language i would never buy another one.

[Sven@1970]

Thank you Mega B, i got a bargain like you, and i'm curious to try it out.
It should arrive this week.

[Red Fred]

I find it telling that there aren't many videos on youtube showing successful recoveries with Geminis. There are some sales spiels, amateurish tests and a unhappy owner but not the films you might expect. I agree with Mega B, a pulse or a modern detector with a large coil will be a much better bet for hoards- a twin box might have its uses hunting for buried aircraft or WW1 tanks, but otherwise I wouldn't buy another.

[Sven@1970]

Thank you Red Fred, actually you are right, few videos showing interesting findings, at most pipes and garbage.
Actually I have a dream, in 1944 an allied plane crashed in an wooded area near me, with many 2-foot tall bushes, perhaps the ideal context, apart from the very large area to detecting, I do not have the point of impact unfortunately.
I will try to do preliminary research while waiting to have results to bring to the authorities.
P.S.
Fortunately the pilots survived, and with the help of locals they then crossed the front line.

[Mega B]

Thank you Mega B, i got a bargain like you, and i'm curious to try it out.
It should arrive this week.

Sven,has your Fisher twin box arrived yet or still waiting for it,will be interesting to get some feedback on what you think about and especially for your specific need on locating that crashed plane,as i personally reckon that is the ideal tool for the job.

[Sven@1970]

Thank you Mega B, yes, it arrived and it works, as soon as I have a moment of time I will try to start the search, I will update you.
Lighter and smaller than I thought, positive features for moving on uncomfortable terrain.

[LuckyB]

Thank you Red Fred, actually you are right, few videos showing interesting findings, at most pipes and garbage.
Actually I have a dream, in 1944 an allied plane crashed in an wooded area near me, with many 2-foot tall bushes, perhaps the ideal context, apart from the very large area to detecting, I do not have the point of impact unfortunately.
I will try to do preliminary research while waiting to have results to bring to the authorities.
P.S.
Fortunately the pilots survived, and with the help of locals they then crossed the front line.

Not sure if it is available but LIDAR images might throw up an impact site in a wooded area

[Koala]

Or just use a large coil pulse detector instead