Stud Finder

[drx2]

Any recommendations to find metal studs through 5/8" drywall? Was hoping to get one that will work for wood studs also. Will a magnet work with that thickness of drywall? Thanks in advance.

 

[The Cobbler]

a magnet will find screw heads for sure . not sure thru 5/8". probably will if the magnet is strong enough

 

[nbpt100]

A good magnetic stud finder will find steel nails and screws. I assume it will find steel studs. I have never used one for such an application. I have a Franklin Professional stud finder that will identify metal or wood studs. You can go on their website and look up the specs for each model. I dont recall which one I have. It also identifies if live wires are near. That feature seems a bit too sensitive as it flashes when I know there is not a wire immediately behind it.

 

[nadogail]

I have successfully used stud finders to locate both wooden and steel studs in walls covered with drywall.

 

[BrandonV]

I rip out magnets from hard drives for things like this.

They'll easily go thru that thickness of drywall.

 

[Renegade1LI]

OK, I'm here lol

 

[djbmw]

If you have access to a thermal camera... they work great as well for seeing studs. If you dont already have one then... they are about 20x the cost of a standard stud finder lol... but they let you see all the studs behind a wall at once

 

[danski0224]

OK, I'm here lol

I'm not detecting anything...

 

[SILVERPLATE]

Use to find a reasonable stud finder at Costco. I worked very well on wood and metal studs.

 

[seber]

I've tried four or five different brands over the years. None of them are as reliable as tapping a hammer against the wall and listening.

 

[purplezr2]

Magnets work well.

I also have a franklin stud finder that is surprisingly accurate.

 

[JohnC1957]

Franklin works for me. I’ve used pretty much everything else.

 

[danski0224]

Any recommendations to find metal studs through 5/8" drywall? Was hoping to get one that will work for wood studs also. Will a magnet work with that thickness of drywall? Thanks in advance.

I believe your problem will be locating the metal, as stud finders are tuned for wood. There are radar models that may work, but have not used one. Then there are the magnet tricks.

A light shone at an angle to the wall can highlight screw depressions.

I have not had too many issues with this one (there are newer models):

PROSENSOR 710+ - Franklin Sensors

PROSENSOR 710+ 13 SENSORS 13 LEDS 1.6" DETECTION DEPTH BUILT-IN BUBBLE LEVEL RULER $54.99 BUY NOW AT AMAZON.COM PROSENSOR 710+ 13 SENSORS 13 LEDS 1.6" DETECTION DEPTH BUILT-IN BUBBLE LEVEL

franklinsensors.com

I also have an old Zircon with an LCD display and it finds the stud center.

Fresh batteries are important.

The Franklin models do not require "calibration", which is nice.

 

[jonshonda]

I hear someone's looking for me?

 

[Rusted Nut]

Go to a drywall supply store and they will have a cow magnate on a string. Works very well on even two layers of 5/8”.

 

[drx2]

Thank you all

 

[bassJAM]

I have this Zircon (or maybe an older model, mines 14 year old) but have used it on wood studs on the main level and the metal studs that are in part of my basement. It hasn't failed me yet.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Zircon-1-5-in-Scan-Depth-Metal-and-Wood-Stud-Finder/3092949?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-tol-_-ggl-_-PMAX_TOL_000_Priority_Items-_-3092949-_-local-_-0-_-0&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAnfmsBhDfARIsAM7MKi2puq2Y_pVQUd6mX0cO5-zukVqzDI-ghPOvpcpKlaix1jN8oXHvF4AaAokLEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[Numerator2142]

Rack-A-Tiers 52300 Studball, Colors may Vary (Basic Pack) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JV3JNE6?tag=atomicindus08-20

Got on the recommention of someone here.

I've got old, thick drywall with texture over steel studs. Fancy stud finder that was supposed to be good for that depth and steel didn't work. Strong (square) magnets I already had around didn't work.

The studball makes it super easy.

 

[engineer2]

I gave up on electronic stud finders and now use the magnetic kind. I have a thermal imager and it works great in the winter, don't know about the other seasons.

 

[rharman]

This looks like a gimmick but I've had better luck with it than the Franklin.

 

[nadogail]

Zircon Stud Finders have saved my Bacon, several times.

 

[Ohmthis]

I use this one, it has never let me down. I look for the screws/nails.

https://www.amazon.com/CH-Hanson-03040-Magnetic-Finder/dp/B08DY3MKXQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[dscheidt]

Rack-A-Tiers 52300 Studball, Colors may Vary (Basic Pack) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JV3JNE6?tag=atomicindus08-20

Got on the recommention of someone here.

I've got old, thick drywall with texture over steel studs. Fancy stud finder that was supposed to be good for that depth and steel didn't work. Strong (square) magnets I already had around didn't work.

The studball makes it super easy.

I came here to recommend this. I've used mine to find lath nails behind 3/4" of plaster. drywall screws or nails are no problem at all.

 

[alinc100]

Franklin's M150 stud sensor has worked great for us . We run into a lot of acoustical walls with double layer drywall and studs on resilient channel and the Franklin always performs. Available at Home Depot, Harbor Freight,Amazon,etc.