Stud finder recommendations

[Welshie]

Can anyone recommend any decent but good value stud finder? This is just for personal, and not professional use so I don't want to spend a huge amount of money. It seems that most are magnetic such as this:

https://www.amazon.com/CH-Hanson-03040-Magnetic-Finder/dp/B000IKK0OI/ref=sr_1_4?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1526949131&sr=1-4&keywords=stud+finder

My understanding is they detect the screws in the studs, are they reliable?

 

[skookum1]

These are really nice, costco has a rebranded blue version for around $30:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0064EICKG/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[vhol5]

I LOVE the Hansen stud finders! Iv'e used many different types of electronic ones and hav yet to find one as reliable as the simple Hansen. Finds the nails quick!

 

[RainingBlood2014]

+1 on the blue Costco. I've had one for over a year I use it all the time and it works great

 

[Eric29]

That’s the best one I’ve ever used, and I’ve been through several.

Can anyone recommend any decent but good value stud finder? This is just for personal, and not prefessional use so U dont ant to spend a huge amount of money. It seems that most are magnetic such as this:

https://www.amazon.com/CH-Hanson-03040-Magnetic-Finder/dp/B000IKK0OI/ref=sr_1_4?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1526949131&sr=1-4&keywords=stud+finder

My understanding is they detect the screws in the studs, are they reliable?

 

[Mark in Indiana]

I use a VERY STRONG magnet. Mine came from an old computer hard drive. May not be the best, but it's free & works for me.

 

[SilverBulletZ06]

These are really nice, costco has a rebranded blue version for around $30:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0064EICKG/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I've been using this for the last several hundred feet of molding I put up.

 

[Reese]

I recommend the Hanson, especially on plaster. I haven't found an electronic unit yet that is worth anything on plaster.

 

[Doug19]

I recommend the Hanson, especially on plaster. I haven't found an electronic unit yet that is worth anything on plaster.

The costco blue one works great on plaster and shows the whole width of the stud.

 

[WWheeler]

They are not just looking for nails. They detect density and if they work as they should they should detect a stud anywhere up and down the length of it (at least behind drywall - good luck if you have plaster), not just where there's a screw/nail. If you just want to find screws/nails then use a magnet.

I wouldn't really call this a 'recommendation' but only because I'm guessing this one isn't available anymore, but I have only ever owned this one Black and Decker 'Bullseye' studfinder, which I got in the 90s as the 'free' addition/gift (yeah right) that accompanied a 5pc 18V Nicad Firestorm cordless set of tools. the rest of the tools I still have, and surprisingly they all still do work (bought new batts once IIRC) though they were ok at best for a Harry Homeowner. The cordless drill had a gimmicky quick-release chuck that stored a 1/4" bit behind it, which actually was handy to use, but the vacuum got the most use, if that tells you anything, but I digress ...



But this studfinder has never ever once let me down. I still use it pretty often. I've never not hit a stud using it, and the laser line level which makes hanging something a snap. Many who have seen me use it have said it works so much better than whatever they have used before.

 

[6PTsocket]

These are really nice, costco has a rebranded blue version for around $30:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0064EICKG/?tag=atomicindus08-20

The blue one is the one I got from Costco.com. They were no longer available in the warehouses. My local warehouse employee checked the computer and said when they are back in stock, they will no longer be rebranded so look for the yellow one. These were also rebranded for the other warehouse clubs. Generally it is pretty good.Because of the way it works, with 3 lights on over a stud, I notice that there is a small shift if you come in from the left or the right. If you split difference you are probably right on. So far so good. All my screws hit the stud. Costco had a good price. The reviews are good.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[white91formula]

Is there a difference in the yellow and blue other than the color?

 

[royesses]

I picked up a Zircon L550 at Lowes when we were doing some remodeling. It is excellent.

Roy

 

[MikeF2316]

I'll also recommend the Franklin 710. My house was built in 1950, the walls are drywall, 2 coats of mortar, then plaster. Zircon sensors don't work. Magnets don't work either. The Franklin finds them every time.

 

[7echo]

I use a VERY STRONG magnet. Mine came from an old computer hard drive. May not be the best, but it's free & works for me.

A rare earth magnet works best for me as well. And you can locate the seam where 2 pieces of drywall meet because the magnet will lock onto the 2 screw heads individually that are usually only an inch apart.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

I had a couple of cheaper ones prior to the Zircon. This one is a keeper.

 

[southalabama]

You mean that you don't do like Dad and tap all over the wall then guess??

 

[BMack37]

I like my Franklin a lot also. I also use rare Earth magnets sometimes, depends on what I'm doing.

 

[sreeb]

I use a VERY STRONG magnet. Mine came from an old computer hard drive. May not be the best, but it's free & works for me.

The ones with the mounting hole work great for this:

https://www.banggood.com/20pcs-N50-...m-p-979800.html?rmmds=search&cur_warehouse=CN

 

[zendriver]

I have use the inexpensive zircons and so forth it worked adequate, since they work on the changes in density, but you're really have to work to get it to work of plaster on lathe.

Not exactly cheap, but these look pretty cool and I was wonder if anybody had some experience with these since they will presumably find pipes and wires as well.

https://walabot.com/diy?utm_source=...MInYyCgPWY2wIVhbXACh2OtQ3bEAAYASAAEgJBW_D_BwE


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[jam022316]

I had a couple of cheaper ones prior to the Zircon. This one is a keeper.

Agree I love this one. Eventually I'm going to move on to this though.

https://www.amazon.com/Walabot-DIY-Wall-smartphones-COMPATIBLE/dp/B06Y29NXKK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1526989356&sr=8-1&keywords=see+through+walls+device+for+phone

 

[Welshie]

Thanks guys, I may get the Hanson for now as it's only 7 bucks but the Franklin does look pretty awesome too. If I spend that sort of money though I may go with the zircon so I can detect wiring and piping too.

Certainly learned a lot in this thread though!

 

[dogdog]

I have use the inexpensive zircons and so forth it worked adequate, since they work on the changes in density, but you're really have to work to get it to work of plaster on lathe.

Not exactly cheap, but these look pretty cool and I was wonder if anybody had some experience with these since they will presumably find pipes and wires as well.

https://walabot.com/diy?utm_source=...MInYyCgPWY2wIVhbXACh2OtQ3bEAAYASAAEgJBW_D_BwE


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I can't find any spec difference between the DIY $60 version vs the Maker version...

 

[Mark in Indiana]

The only problem with stud finders is that they start signaling every time I pick one up.

 

[dogdog]

The only problem with stud finders is that they start signaling every time I pick one up.

could be false alarm or defective device or low on battery....

 

[SteveCh]

I've used several over the years, none of them top-of-the-line tools. Now I am using the Costco blue one referenced above, and it works fairly well, at least much better than the other inexpensive ones I've tried.

 

[Bondo]

Can anyone recommend any decent but good value stud finder? This is just for personal, and not professional use so I don't want to spend a huge amount of money. It seems that most are magnetic such as this:

https://www.amazon.com/CH-Hanson-03040-Magnetic-Finder/dp/B000IKK0OI/ref=sr_1_4?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1526949131&sr=1-4&keywords=stud+finder

My understanding is they detect the screws in the studs, are they reliable?

Ayuh,..... This is the stud finder I use,.....