studfinders....do some work better?

[ChristopherLutz]

Gang,

I just purchased my second stud finder - one designed to show the center of the stud.

accuracy is still pretty poor - and, I'm only going through a single sheet of drywall.

Does anyone have a brand they've used that works "well"?

 

[aka Larry]

I have the middle of the line from Zircon and I'd say it's "fair". I had to remove the pads to increase the accuracy when dragging it though.

 

[Steevo]

I've had an old Zircon for years, that simply lit up when you came to the edge of a stud, and it worked fine for most things.
I recently bought a new higher-end Zircon with center finder and some other features, and I like it a lot. It hasn't misled me yet.

 

[bad_idea]

No need to worry about heat or no heat luvit, just do some grinding in the garage. I have grinding dust in perfect circles all over the walls of my garage, spaced fairly evenly. The rapid heating and cooling of the steel when ground on makes the grinding dust magnetic. It sticks to every screw head in the sheet rock! Polka dots all over my walls.

To answer OP's post, I haven't found one worth a damn. I spoke to a friend who is a professional carpenter and he suggested the 'machine gun' approach. Take your best guess at where the stud is, and keep running screws in a horizontal line until you find the stud. Then you can measure 16" to the next one. Works best when hanging something over the wall.

 

[GGB]

I've had poor luck with an inexpensive model Zircon, and better results with a more expensive Zircon. Not perfect but better than just guessing with a soft hammer. What I try to do is to reference the "hits" with measurements from known studs up against the side of electrical boxes. That helps the confidence, but I'll still miss one occassionally.

If you are not hanging something very heavy, you may want to look at the new plastic screw in drywall anchors for when you miss a stud. Some are rated for up to 75 pounds. I've been impressed with how easily they install and how well they hold. Just don't overtighten the anchor or screw. Check them out if you haven't already.

Good luck with the project.

GGB

 

[cashishift]

i have the Zircon i65.. the electrical sensing part is handy.

 

[Jack Olsen]

Anyone find anything that works with lath and plaster over the studs?

It's always a problem in my house.

 

[JimVonBaden]

Anyone find anything that works with lath and plaster over the studs?

It's always a problem in my house.

I've used one of these:

Not exactly designed as a stud finder, but it 100% accurate for finding studes, even through solid wood 2"+ thick.

http://www.cseco.com/Products/BusterK910B.aspx

Then again, we usually were just looking for drugs through car doors.

For my NORMAL home use, I use the cheapest one from HD and it is fine. Pass over the stud a few times and you will be able to guestimate the middle pretty accurately.

Jim

 

[Steevo]

Anyone find anything that works with lath and plaster over the studs?

It's always a problem in my house.

My mother had a lath & plaster home in So. Cal. and I was the one that had to go there and earthquake strap all of her bookshelves, tall dressers, etc. to the walls. What a nightmare.

 

[Falcon67]

I have a middle of the road Zircon unit - works reasonably well in most instances on sheetrock. Wires in the wall trip it's power sensor and it loses focus after that. About time for a replacement I think. This one replaced a cheap Zircon model - both worked about the same.

Good luck with that lath and plaster deal. The first house we owned was a 1920s model and the inside walls were 3/4 boards with 1/2" sheetrock over that. Fergetaboutit. You drilled yer holes and took yer chances.

 

[472scout]

I use a strong magnet. It's great for finding the drywall screws. And the wiring.
Getting up in the attic has worked well for some projects.
Hoping for something better.

It's always a good idea to pictures of interior walls before drywalling.

 

[Gary S]

We had studfinders at work to help us. I could never get them to tell me anything useful. I always ended up using my knuckle and listening to the sound. This works for me, while studfinders never do.
Since I had such lousy luck using the ones on the job, I never considered buying one for working at home. I still do it the old way and I'm getting good results.

 

[Krash Kadillak]

I also have a Zircon. Works real well, IMO.

One thing is you have to understand how it works, and operate it as the instructions indicate. With it, I am able to mark BOTH SIDES of where the stud is.

 

[ddawg16]

My wife is a real good stud finder......she found me.......

Oh....you mean studs made of wood.....yea...I have the Zircon....works fine with normal drywall...but 'struggles' if you have the plaster over gypson board...wall is almost 1' thick.....

You can't depend on studs being 16" OC....

In most cases I end up using a small drill bit and doing the drill until it hits wood trick

 

[allinon72]

I have a cheap neon green Stanley and it *****

 

[WQ59B]

I have a zircon also, works decently if you scan to either side of the stud a few times. Worked for finding the stud thru marble tile/drywall.

Also was using a green Stanley this week on plaster/lathe- worked decent, too.

In general I use everything: rapping, stud finder, measuring off an electrical box, pilot holes... depends on the scenario. Also good results by taking a LED flashlight and placing it flat against the drywall- you can always find a screw/nail indent that isn't perfectly smoothed over.

 

[dragginbalz]

I hate stud finders.... until I got one of these...
This thing works very well.
Run along the wall, the magnet is very strong once it grabs a nail or screw, , plumb and draw a mark. Usually I find a nail above and below where I need to locate and then draw a plumb line connecting the two. I don't think I have missed a stud since I got this thing! Yeah you are counting on the screws of the drywall being centered in the stud, but I have had good success! Much better than any battery powered ones I have used in the past!

 

[RVA-Jeff]

Link to absolute best I've ever used. Home Depot had them in clearance last winter for 2 buks. Bought 3-4.

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

 

[darkk]

I have an older Zircon stud finder with deep scan that has worked awesome for 15 years. Even works on my walls that are 3/8" drywall covered with 5/8" concrete plaster. It is some times a PITA but it does work...

 

[Rust]

Stud finders are for noobs

 

[pcmeiners]

With an older cheap zircom was able to find studs on my old 2 story house through clap board with a layer of 5/8" Densglass over it. Very few ballon frame beams were perpendicular so it was very helpful.

 

[DYNA BILL]

I have 2 of these, and neither one of them is worth a ****.

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[Sage55]

I too have tried Stanley and also had issues with it so I ended up gettign a Zircon like this one - been working pretty good.

 

[FakeName]

Mine indicates a stud whenever I get close to it.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Mine indicates a stud whenever I get close to it.

Now THAT'S funny