Studfinder recommendation

[5wndwcpe]

I did a search on this but only turned up threads from when Old Car Guy was Middle Aged Car Guy. Is there a "best of the breed" stud finder concensus out there? I don't mind paying $40 for a decent tool, but hate like hell to find that a $10 one will work just as well (if not better ). What are you guys using?

 

[monstergarage87]

Ive got this one for work. It was on sale at lowes for like $15 or so. Not sure what it is now. Actually works pretty well and I use it a few times a week and its alot better than the cheapie $5 ones with the LEDs.

http://www.zircon.com/products/edge_ss_pro_lcd.html

 

[charlie_nj]

I'll second the recommendation for the Zircon. I have an older version of the one described above and it works great. Gives you both edges of the stud so you know exactly where the center is.

 

[G-force]

The one listed does not seem so well received.

http://www.amazon.com/review/product/B000KKT0Y2/ref=sr_1_14_cm_cr_acr_txt?%5Fencoding=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

 

[nova65ss]

I have one of these and it works great. Even has a pencil to make a mark and will find the center.

http://www.zircon.com/products/center_ms_i700.html

 

[G-force]

For $60 that thing better scan for tumors.

Try a stud4sure. Simple and accurate.

The only advantage to the electronic ones listed is that they sense electrical.

 

[Torque1st]

I have an ancient (20 years+?) Stanley ultrasonic Studfinder unit with a half dozen LEDs on it that works great for finding the edges and centers of studs. It has no audible signals, magnets, or lasers, but somehow it just works. I have no idea how well their newer units operate.

 

[Stuey]

I use the Zircon I65, which is ~$30 everyone in-store and online. It comes with a usage DVD that I never used. Its operation is straight-forward and fairly accurate.

 

[NotEnough]

I had a mid level Cman, but it wouldn't work on some/all of the walls in my garage. Worked great in the house thou?? Borrowed an i700 from a friend and it worked no problem. Don't know what caused the issues with the Cman. Wife picked up on it so she got me an i700 for Christmas.

 

[5wndwcpe]

Well, thanks for the input fellas. I just bought a Zircon i700 by accident. I was in Lowes today looking at the $29.95 one (#65 I think) picked up the next model on the rack ($39.95) and decided I liked those features better for the extra ten bucks. I get through checkout and I'm thinking "Hmmm...that was a little saltier than I thought it was" Turns out someone had hung the $49.95 model on the $39.95 rack. It better friggin' work, that's all I can say.

 

[nova65ss]

I have the 700 and think it is great. I also use it alot so it has more than paid for itself.

Some people think it is crazy to pay that for a stud finder but that is how I feel about alot of the tools guys use as well. I mean a boxed end wrench is a boxed end wrench right?

 

[5wndwcpe]

UPDATE I used the i700 today and it's the cat's ***. Dead nuts accurate and no false positives. If you're in the market for one of these, I highly recommend you pony up the funds and buy the top dog, you won't be disappointed.

 

[reedwesd]

UPDATE I used the i700 today and it's the cat's ***. Dead nuts accurate and no false positives. If you're in the market for one of these, I highly recommend you pony up the funds and buy the top dog, you won't be disappointed.

I am in the market if a stud finder. Do you still think this one was a good choice after several months?

 

[nate379]

I have that one and it's a complete pile of ****. I have better luck finding a stud banging on the wall 9 times out 10.

Ive got this one for work. It was on sale at lowes for like $15 or so. Not sure what it is now. Actually works pretty well and I use it a few times a week and its alot better than the cheapie $5 ones with the LEDs.

http://www.zircon.com/products/edge_ss_pro_lcd.html

 

[tube_guy]

This really works.

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200328321_200328321

I also have the kind of similar Stud4Sure by C.H. Hanson. It's no longer US made and incorporates a kind of gimmicky level now. The Master Magnetics stud finder is more simple and includes a magnetic shield. I like it better, but they both work quite well. They are both made in China.

 

[mjozefow]

In a pinch I will use a Neodymium magnet. I was actually going to post the same question here pretty soon.

You beat me to it.

 

[The Alchemist]

To bring a thread back to the top, does any of these stud finders work for finding floor joists through carpeting? My builder was quite sloppy putting in the sub floor and now that the house is 8 years old, I have a lot of squeaky floors because the nails, the few that they used, are starting to pop, so I want to screw throuhg the carpeting and hit the floor joists.

Thanks.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

To bring a thread back to the top, does any of these stud finders work for finding floor joists through carpeting? My builder was quite sloppy putting in the sub floor and now that the house is 8 years old, I have a lot of squeaky floors because the nails, the few that they used, are starting to pop, so I want to screw throuhg the carpeting and hit the floor joists.

Thanks.

I think you will find the measuring method works better for that then these. I have access to five different stud finders and none of them work well for plaster and lathe (too dense). Flooring will have some of the same issues.

Now a metal detector, might work.

 

[scooby074]

I have a I700. Id have to say its the best electronic finder ive used. Seems to scan deeper than the others. Its not perfect, but its pretty close.

I havent tried the bosch though. They have a very impressive looking model in the Wallscanner d-150 http://www.bosch-pt.co.uk/boptocs2-uk/Product.jsp?country=GB&lang=en&division=gw&ccat_id=101302&object_id=23307 Unfortunately it looks like its got a price to match its ability and isnt even sold here. Id love to find one that can scan deeper than 1.5" and accurately at a -$100 price.

One of the woodworking stores online had a neat tool, it was a wooden handle with a very fine 3"? "needle" coming out of it. You could use it to probe the wall without damaging the drywall or paint. The hole was so small it blended in.

I thought it was a great idea and intended to get one one day, but unfortunately i cant find the site anymore.

 

[Morrisman]

Holy thread resurrection Batman.

Does anybody have an experience in using a stud-finder through concrete walls?

Where I am building my garage and house they use concrete block for the walls. Wiring conduit and plumbing and stuff are sunk into that, in grooves, then the whole lot is plastered over with up to an inch of concrete.

Would I be wasting my time trying to use a stud-finder?

This is the sort of fun I have to look forward to, the wall in the front room. There will be an air-con in the middle, which is what the short conduit is for, but the diagonal pipe meanders off to a power outlet.

 

[Morrisman]

So nobody here has ever used anything to find anything hidden in concrete???

 

[back2class]

10 years as a remodeling contractor. SAVE YOUR MONEY. I have had to find more studs behind walls than most of you will combined in your lifetimes. I have had a small magnetic one that detects fasteners, the ultrasonic unit that is most common and one that was shaped like a pencil. Non was better than tapping on the wall with your knuckles. By far the best was the $1.50 clear bubble with the magnet....sometimes simple and cheap is the best, though not as **** as these light up radar toys. You will not get false readings with the little magnet and no batteries to die. The electric ones are a solution looking for a problem and are mostly to seperate DIYers from their money.

 

[BQuicksilver]

I have the Zircon unit and it is quite good when using it vs drywall (not a waste of money). That said, I upgraded with the hopes that I could find studs under the plaster walls in portions of our home. It will not work through plaster.

 

[heynicebits]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000IKK0OI/?tag=atomicindus08-20

This is what I keep going back to. Unless you are looking for AC in the wall, you shouldnt need more.

 

[american lockpicker]

10 years as a remodeling contractor. SAVE YOUR MONEY. I have had to find more studs behind walls than most of you will combined in your lifetimes. I have had a small magnetic one that detects fasteners, the ultrasonic unit that is most common and one that was shaped like a pencil. Non was better than tapping on the wall with your knuckles. By far the best was the $1.50 clear bubble with the magnet....sometimes simple and cheap is the best, though not as **** as these light up radar toys. You will not get false readings with the little magnet and no batteries to die. The electric ones are a solution looking for a problem and are mostly to seperate DIYers from their money.

I used to have one of those best $5 I ever spent.

 

[Morrisman]

Looking through numerous websites, I've decided to order these two:

High tech: Zircon MultiScanner i520 $70

Very low tech: CH Hanson 03040 Magnetic Stud Finder $7

Plus I'm ordering an infra red thermometer gun.

Plus I'm taking pics of all the walls as it is being built, with wires, pipes etc.

Hopefully I'll have some chance of missing everything.

 

[2oolhound]

I don't know much about it but xray cameras are used to test concrete. It may be something to look into but it is pretty specialized work with expensive equipment so may be cost prohibitive. Maybe there's a digital alternative these days.

 

[back2class]

I don't know much about it but xray cameras are used to test concrete. It may be something to look into but it is pretty specialized work with expensive equipment so may be cost prohibitive. Maybe there's a digital alternative these days.

This thread is just getting nuts! Just tap on the wall to locate the stud. No need for x-ray vision, lasers, ultrasound and psychics.

 

[earlthegoat2]

Ive found all stud finders, past and present, use the ultra latest "shot in the dark" technology.

Sometimes they work, sometimes they dont.

 

[treasureseeker]

I had a mid level Cman, but it wouldn't work on some/all of the walls in my garage. Worked great in the house thou?? Borrowed an i700 from a friend and it worked no problem. Don't know what caused the issues with the Cman. Wife picked up on it so she got me an i700 for Christmas.

It could be wall thickness.

 

[rockchucker]

I think one of the big issues with people saying that their Stud Finders **** is that they have not read the directions on how to use them. It can take a few tries to get the newer models "Zero'd out" to where they will sense correctly. None of them are perfect but if you make a few runs across the same surface and use some deductive reasoning you will find your Studs.

I think the biggest thing is starting in an area where you know there is no Stud then proceeding to scan without lifting, tilting or twisting the Scanner. Very slow smooth scrolling left to right is what needs to happen.

I find the Zircon brands to be good. Maybe it is time to take that DVD that came with the Studfinder out of the garbage and actually see how things work before just jumping in and saying they are hunks of garbage.

Of course magnets to find other fasteners is really the cheapest and easiest way to go. Find two Screws or nails then Plumb up with a Level between them. With Lathe and Plaster and Stucco this usually doesn't work too well though.

 

[KnurledNut]

amen back2class!

 

[GoBlue]

My wife...she found this stud! Sorry...couldn't resist.

 

[TheGrooveking]

I have and use the Milwaukee M12 scanner a lot at work. I use it to scan floors for data cable and electric runs that were set shallow in the pour (don't ask, dumb *** VP of stupidity thought it look cool to have no overhead conduit - he's sense been fired so there is some justice in the world). I use it to find metal studs in double layered drywall walls, conduit in block walls, it works great but note that it will only scan up to 6" deep. Its not cheap at $349 but it does what they say it'll do.

TheGrooveking

 

[greasemonkey44]

So nobody here has ever used anything to find anything hidden in concrete???

a sub scanner like grove king's will do it
id get someone with a subscanner come by and mark everything out for you like a utility, plumber or electrician

 

[Morrisman]

This thread is just getting nuts! Just tap on the wall to locate the stud. No need for x-ray vision, lasers, ultrasound and psychics.

Well if you read it properly you would have some idea what we are currently talking about!!!!!!

 

[Morrisman]

a sub scanner like grove king's will do it
id get someone with a subscanner come by and mark everything out for you like a utility, plumber or electrician

I've looked at some of that type of scanner, and the price is getting right up there, but where I live there are no people with professional subscanners to hire for a day.

If Amazon sell the Milwaukee M12 I might see if I can order it through my company.....