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Post by Charente on Jan 7, 2020 13:59:20 GMT -5
No, not a new dating app but those little electronic devices that promise that you can find studding, battens, pipes, electrical wires etc behind plasterboard walls.
In previous houses I've been happy to rely on common sense before drilling into a wall but our new house seems to have a plethora of wiring including downlighter spotlights everywhere and several rooms with unconnected wires coming out of the ceilings that I've yet to work out what they are (were).
So I bought one of these 'stud finders' primarily to avoid electrical wires. Checked all the (ahem) Amazon reviews and bought what seemed to be the best of the non-professional devices.
Bottom line is that this thing indicates wires EVERYWHERE even after following all the calibration guidelnes.
The (assumed) false positives are annoying but I'm more concerned about false negatives.
Are these things in any way trustworthy?
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Post by jonnyblooz on Jan 7, 2020 14:02:16 GMT -5
There are good ones and there are crappy ones. I wish I had better advice, but research the crap out of them, the good ones are out there, but a lot of junk too.
But also a lot of things can set them off, like metal lathe in old houses have me issues at times.
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Post by Chris Greene on Jan 7, 2020 14:04:14 GMT -5
I have something from at least 20 years ago. Works OK. Usually, I just tap along the wall to find a stud. Seems to work about as well.
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Post by Vibroluxer on Jan 7, 2020 14:06:44 GMT -5
I use a stethoscope and tap the wall with a heavy finger. They are very easy to find.
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Post by Mfitz804 on Jan 7, 2020 14:08:52 GMT -5
I use a stud finder, but of course I point it at myself to test that it’s working first.
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Post by Charente on Jan 7, 2020 14:11:17 GMT -5
I use a stud finder, but of course I point it at myself to test that it’s working first. False positive or negative?  |
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Post by Mfitz804 on Jan 7, 2020 14:14:56 GMT -5
Exactly!!
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on Jan 7, 2020 14:34:35 GMT -5
Electrical wire false positives are really common in the winter because furnace heat is on and the air is really dry. That creates static electricity when you run the fuzzy backing pad along the wallboard and it trips the detection coil.
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Post by Charente on Jan 7, 2020 14:45:11 GMT -5
Electrical wire false positives are really common in the winter because furnace heat is on and the air is really dry. That creates static electricity when you run the fuzzy backing pad along the wallboard and it trips the detection coil. Good information. But I'd read that static could be a problem and tried lifting and repositioning rather than sliding it. Having said that I personally tend to get a bit static in cold dry weather so I might be another factor? |
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Post by budg on Jan 7, 2020 16:03:41 GMT -5
I bought one from Lowe’s to use at home . I didn’t buy the cheapest one, probably the middle of the road one and it works pretty good.
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Post by LTB on Jan 7, 2020 16:40:22 GMT -5
There are good ones and there are crappy ones. I wish I had better advice, but research the crap out of them, the good ones are out there, but a lot of junk too. But also a lot of things can set them off, like metal lathe in old houses have me issues at times. Researching Stud finders was the most frustrating thing I have researched. Your right a lot of crappy out there. I typically will not buy anything with more than 7 or 8 percent negatives or only 1 or 2 reviews (even is positive) unless there is an absolute need and maybe it is the only product available anywhere. This day and time it is getting harder. |
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Post by slacker 🐨 on Jan 7, 2020 16:53:34 GMT -5
I've always had great luck with the one I've had for about 20+ years. In our new house, it's really flaky. Trying to find studs in my garage has been an adventure and I typically have to use a combination of the finder, tapping and measuring as a sanity check.
I was looking at one at Lowes that has a screen with a virtual image of what's behind the wall. Do they work? Anyone used on like that? It was about $70 IIRC.
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Post by Blacksunshine on Jan 7, 2020 16:56:18 GMT -5
You found him!
Smooches,
Peegoo
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Post by Chris Greene on Jan 7, 2020 16:57:12 GMT -5
Stud Finders is a helluva band name.
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Buster
Wholenote
Posts: 213
Formerly Known As: Buster Strings
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Post by Buster on Jan 7, 2020 17:42:54 GMT -5
Sometimes you can locate the studs by finding the nail hole divots in the baseboard. A painter will plug them with putty, but often you can still see where the nails are. Then, studs should be 16 inches on center. Tapping on the drywall and listening to the change in density can confirm stud locations.
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Post by Vibroluxer on Jan 7, 2020 18:01:46 GMT -5
You can get a cheap stethoscope for 15 bucks. Works like a charm.
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on Jan 7, 2020 20:04:04 GMT -5
Blacksunshine, you one fonny G.I.!
Want to know a really stupid simple way to find studs behind a sheetrock wall? All you need is a flashlight.
Darken the room, turn on the flashlight, and lay it flat on the wall so the beam projects along the surface of the wall. Slowly rotate the flashlight to sweep the beam across the surface. Chances are good you'll see almost every screw/nail location, as well as the taped seams where the sheetrock panels butt against one another.
Do this gently because the flashlight (especially rubber ones) can mark up the paint. If you give each end of the light a wrap with blue painter's tape, it will prevent marking the wall.
When you do this, have a few small tabs of blue tape handy to stick on the wall at the locations you need to drill. Makes them easier to find when you're working.
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: If you're an obsessive/compulsive perfectionist...do NOT try this flashlight thing. If you do, you will lie awake at night, being eaten away by thoughts of how imperfect your walls really are. Surface flatness is one of the rare things that is actually concealed by the light of day. By doing the Flashlight Test, you agree to hold harmless Peegoo from any responsibility for damage or other liability arising from conducting the Flashlight Test. You have been warned.
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Post by insanecooker on Jan 8, 2020 5:11:35 GMT -5
I use a Stud Buddy and it hasn’t failed me so far. I don’t look for wires with it though.
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Post by K4 on Jan 8, 2020 6:10:01 GMT -5
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Post by Charente on Jan 8, 2020 6:59:19 GMT -5
Wires are the issue. I'm not likely to be hanging anything heavy enough to need to be screwed into a stud.
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