Your stud finder recommendations?

[Highpsi]

I'm sick and tired of my low budget Zircon cheapo stud finder giving me fits while I'm standing on a ladder with the #$&%^ thing over my head.

What say you gents? Can you guys give me advice for finding a really good one that will solve this issue finally?

 

[48548]

I have to zircon and they ****. i did get a blue one from costco but have not used it yet.

This one looks like it is it.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OIHLV3Q/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[LB-1911]

Which Zircon model are you currently using?

Have a look at a
ProSensor 710
http://www.franklinsensors.com/products/prosensor_710.php


Need a Reliable Stud Finder
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=295881


Stud Finder Help
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=313423

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... I use a Hammer,....

 

[fastbike02]

try a strong magnetic, that has been the best one I have found

 

[djjsr]

Franklin 710 or Precision Sensors Profinder 5000, I think they're the same, just different color. May be others that are the same (Bosch?). I never use the old Zircons anymore.

View media item 58785

 

[mfa81]

i did get a blue one from costco but have not used it

I have the blue one from costco and it serves me well for home use!

 

[Ign]

CH Hanson magnetic

 

[redmondjp]

I have the blue one from costco and it serves me well for home use!

Me too - it is identical to the yellow Franklin sensor above save for it being the color blue. My local Costco (Kirkland WA) still carries them.

 

[dclassical]

I love the Franklin 710. The Costco by me did not have the re-branded version of it, so I bought it on Amazon. More expensive but worked great. I highly recommend it.

 

[metaldad]

Ayuh,..... I use a Hammer,....

ditto.

 

[fourjeepin]

Another vote for the Franklin Sensors. It rocks.

 

[1969]

I've used the "knuckle" method for years and has worked quite well.

 

[Backpack Hunter]

I have a cheap Stanley that works well.

 

[ADSR]

Franklin 710 or Precision Sensors Profinder 5000, I think they're the same, just different color. May be others that are the same (Bosch?). I never use the old Zircons anymore.

View media item 58785

These are the best, hands down.

 

[admactanium]

I love the Franklin 710. The Costco by me did not have the re-branded version of it, so I bought it on Amazon. More expensive but worked great. I highly recommend it.

Yup. My brother in law had a really fancy expensive stud finder when we started remodeling his house. Ended up using my Franklin model after a week.

 

[ADSR]

Yup. My brother in law had a really fancy expensive stud finder when we started remodeling his house. Ended up using my Franklin model after a week.

I've found studs behind 1/2 granite glued to 1/2 drywall.

 

[nutsnbolts]

try a strong magnetic, that has been the best one I have found

This...buy a cow magnet on Ebay, like this...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Magnet-Silv...122719?hash=item41a3b06d1f:g:K3wAAOxyVLNS0CLf

Then get a foot of rubber tubing, like this...

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HE5DUG/?tag=atomicindus08-20


Stick the magnet in the end of the tubing enough so that it holds, but still hangs out the end. Holding the other end, let the magnet dangle an inch way from the will and slide it along the wall. When you come to the stud, it will draw the magnet to the wall. It works best with steel studs, but if you do it at different heights, it will find a screw in a wood stud as well.

 

[ADSR]

Hold on, hold on. A COW MAGNET? I had to google it.

UNBELIEVABLE

 

[redmondjp]

Hold on, hold on. A COW MAGNET? I had to google it.

UNBELIEVABLE

My grandfather had cows. He had a few of those sitting on the windowsill in the barn. Looked like 4" long vitamin pills! That was back in the day when some of the older bailing machines still used steel wire (basically the same as rebar tie wire), and sometimes the cows would swallow bits of the wire that accidentally got into their feed. The magnet stayed in their first stomach and kept the wire from traveling any farther through their system and damaging their intestines (that's what I remember being told as a kid).

 

[firworks]

These are the best, hands down.

Agreed. I will never use the crappy beepy kind of stud finder again. These work amazingly.

 

[DC73]

Franklin 710 or Precision Sensors Profinder 5000, . . .

Agreed. I really like the Franklin 710. The only issue with it is that it does not do well on popcorn ceilings. It needs to sit right on the drywall and the popcorn creates an air gap that throws it off.

DC

 

[kts]

I have to zircon and they ****. i did get a blue one from costco but have not used it yet.

This one looks like it is it.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OIHLV3Q/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Another +1 for the Precision Sensors/Franklin sensor. Love mine.

 

[bert1913]

Franklin sensor is the best stud finder I've ever used

 

[redmondjp]

Agreed. I really like the Franklin 710. The only issue with it is that it does not do well on popcorn ceilings. It needs to sit right on the drywall and the popcorn creates an air gap that throws it off.

DC

Oh well . . . cow magnet for you then!

 

[NewShockerGuy]

As noted above got this from Costco:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OIHLV3Q/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Works well. I have about 3-4 different stud finders and find that I end up using at least 2 when I hand stuff to make sure one or the other is accurate. Seems silly but the Zircon seems hit or miss... surprisingly the one I got from Ikea 10 years ago is on point EVERY freaking time and the battery lasts about 4 years.

-Nigel

 

[Highpsi]

Some great tips guys, thanks!

Apologies for being lazy and just posting up the question when I shoulda known this would have been covered elsewhere. I think I was just at my wits end in the garage the other day screwing around with my Zircon POS and typed up a quick topic on the forums!

This is like the Zircon one I have:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000055X0X/?tag=atomicindus08-20



But looks like I'll be stepping up to the Franklin one now instead. Wow, for 50 bucks vs. 20 I can see that you certainly get what you pay for. I'll gladly drop another 30 bucks for less swearing and backaches from doing the same stud search 10 times over with that worthless Zircon one!

 

[JEdA]

CH Hanson magnetic

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

That's what I use when I need to find a stud, but it's just around the house, no professional use.

 

[bfm336]

Well my wife found me, so obviously she works.

But for wood stud construction this is my favorite by a long shot:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000IKK0OI/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Colin Len]

I've found studs behind 1/2 granite glued to 1/2 drywall.

Really? That's amazing, maybe I should get one of these. I almost bought one about a year ago but opted not to after reading some of the reviews. My walls are plaster over button board and so far the only way I can reliably find studs is by poking holes. Hammer method works sometimes but with how solid the walls are it's really tough to discern much of a difference in sound.

 

[ADSR]

Really? That's amazing, maybe I should get one of these. I almost bought one about a year ago but opted not to after reading some of the reviews. My walls are plaster over button board and so far the only way I can reliably find studs is by poking holes. Hammer method works sometimes but with how solid the walls are it's really tough to discern much of a difference in sound.

Test it out before you do it. I took a piece of scrap granite, dry wall and stud and tested it like this before I performed the task in the kitchen. I was sweating hard until I did hit the wood stud. It would have been a costly mistake.

 

[ilovevocs]

I have been waiting for my cheap a$$ Zircon to break so I can justify the franklin.

I make it work, just have to verify the stud placement two or three times to ensure its accurate. Sometimes it just says their is a stud when their isn't one...

 

[djjsr]

I have been waiting for my cheap a$$ Zircon to break so I can justify the franklin.

Get the Franklin and donate the Zircon to someone who doesn't have one. You'll feel better twice.

 

[Highpsi]

I have been waiting for my cheap a$$ Zircon to break so I can justify the franklin.

I make it work, just have to verify the stud placement two or three times to ensure its accurate. Sometimes it just says their is a stud when their isn't one...

I hear ya... I was on that fence myself but I decided better to have them both and when doing those exhausting stud searches overhead through thick surfaces I would pay who knows how much not to have stand there bent over backwards cussing at the ceiling hunting for those freaking studs.

My ceiling in the garage has some irregular patterns for the joists I've concluded due to the rooflines and design so there's been times where the joists aren't where I would expect them to be.

And for sure, the Zircon does work, but I frequently have to scan the same area 3 or 4 times just to make sure I've found the sweet spot. I will be keeping the Zircon for simple stuff or a secondary one to share if doing a big project with help and my helper needs one. (Likely I'd give the helper my new Franklin tho!)

Get the Franklin and donate the Zircon to someone who doesn't have one. You'll feel better twice.

Hahaha. Now that's funny. Devious, though funny. I suppose I'd only give it to one of my enemies!

 

[77thor]

Zircon = Junk

I think that I might give the CH-Hanson magnetic unit a try.

 

[cheechi]

I have a pos b&d from over a decade ago that was a cheapo when I got it then. I have made due with it until last year I saw a Zircon on open box at lowes and figured it'd be an upgrade. Well it is but still not 'great'.

Happened to be the pink Franklin was cheaper than the yellow one on amazon the other week. Happy on both counts. Thanks gents for another great thread.

 

[66HertzClone]

I have the Franklin unit, I let my GC use it one day when our addition was under construction. He had never seen one before and was amazed at how well it worked. He and a couple of his guys purchased their own after trying it out.

 

[Highpsi]

Results are in - the Franklin Stud Finder is A+++ tool!

I received my stud finder a little over a week ago now, so I've had the chance to use it many times in different applications.

Hands down, undeniably PERFECT at precision stud finding EVERY TIME.

Oh man, I love this thing. I am kicking myself for not finding one earlier and just paying the few extra bucks for it then. Some of the best $40 I've ever spent! I found a refurb one on Amazon for about $10 cheaper than the regular retail price there. When I got it, it looked new in every way - packaging etc. etc.

Thanks to all who made this recommendation. GJ comes through again!

 

[rharman]

I know I was jazzed too when I bought mine. So much more accurate than anything else I've tried.

 

[bon.love]

Re: Results are in - the Franklin Stud Finder is A+++ tool!

I received my stud finder a little over a week ago now, so I've had the chance to use it many times in different applications.

Hands down, undeniably PERFECT at precision stud finding EVERY TIME.

Oh man, I love this thing. I am kicking myself for not finding one earlier and just paying the few extra bucks for it then. Some of the best $40 I've ever spent! I found a refurb one on Amazon for about $10 cheaper than the regular retail price there. When I got it, it looked new in every way - packaging etc. etc.
Thanks to all who made this recommendation. GJ comes through again!

I want to buy Amazon for $10 cheaper than regular retail price... I look stud finder here jonsguide. Try the same seed without stud finder. See if ladder rooms apear without it... tho I'm not sure if they are decided by something like "luck" stat or are linked into a seed.