Need stud finder advice

No, not for my dog, my horse, or my wife.
I have a couple projects that will require finding wooden wall studs in an old house. Some sheet rock walls, some old plaster and lath, and a couple spots where there is paneling or 1/4" sheet rock over plaster. Might also need to locate the strapping that ceiling sheet rock is attached to.

As I understand it, there are two basic types of stud finder, one magnetic and the other some kind of electronic magic. Which one will do me the most good? And how much will I have to pay to get a decent one?

Bob, the old magnetic ones work just fine--of course in this day & age people think that the more ya pay--the better the item---I don't buy that when it comes to the basics-- no flashing lights or sirens goin off with the magnetic though-- Couldn't tell ya price wise---20 yrs ago I think my magnetic was around $5.00--I'd bet that's changed Mine is a Stanley

I've got two somewhere. Both Craftsman. Both came with other tools I bought. I have no clue where either are. I've never used them. Generally, when I need to find the stud I break out the circular saw, set it to 3/4" and cut the tongue and groove paneling off. It's easier and faster. Plus, I'm in nonstop rennovation on this ridiculous house.

Depends on what yah doin'. Have you ever noticed they sell lathe in 4 ft. lengths, could very well be that houses built in that era used tru sized lumber and studs were 2 ft on center. As dimensional lumber became standard practice so did 16 inches on center. I have found stud finders almost useless with lathe and horse hair plaster, I take out the cordless with a 3/32 drill bit and find the studs, pull off the base board and save time and holes in the walls!

I have had a Zircon for over twenty years and it works well. You can check revues at Walmart or Amazon for several brands.

I can't use the electronic ones.... the instant I turn them on they slam to my chest & start to smoke.


I've uses magnets, electronic, thumping, drilling & all have their place. For sure, lathes & plaster is the worst. Nothing works well with it. Pull the baseboard & drill. Or, just drill & be prepared to fill holes & paint. Don't drill any deeper than needed. Hitting electric wires is not a good thing.

The electronic ones seem to only work well with modern construction, half inch sheet rock on 16 or 24" studs....but a ten cent magnet works just as well.

Im right there with ya Freddy, I just cant keep batteries in the things, and the constant beeping while ya carry it around.... omg

Freddy, that sure made me laugh.

michaelanthony wrote:Depends on what yah doin'. Have you ever noticed they sell lathe in 4 ft. lengths, could very well be that houses built in that era used tru sized lumber and studs were 2 ft on center. As dimensional lumber became standard practice so did 16 inches on center. I have found stud finders almost useless with lathe and horse hair plaster, I take out the cordless with a 3/32 drill bit and find the studs, pull off the base board and save time and holes in the walls!

very sound advice here^^^, if its a newer house just get el-cheapo from harbor freight or sears (i can never find mine the second i want it anyways), but if you dealing with that ole plaster N lathe these things just send off false positives everywhere and your better off with the drill.

Thanks for the advice, everybody. I think I'll start with one of the magnetic ones. I have some fairly strong small disk magnets, and they work to some extent, so I'm hoping a made-for-the-purpose one will be better. Less than $9 from Amazon -- I just have to accumulate enough other things to buy so the order is big enough for free shipping. My wife may be willing to help with that.

rberq wrote:Less than $9 from Amazon -- I just have to accumulate enough other things to buy so the order is big enough for free shipping. My wife may be willing to help with that.

rberg, I've been buying from Amazon for years, and three Christmases ago I signed up for a free Prime trial membership. Of course, I forgot to cancel after 60 days when it was up. But I'll tell you what, as often as I buy from them, the approx. $80 annual fee is a steal. Free two-day shipping on anything shipped from Amazon (gotta watch those third-party sellers), plus a slew of free TV-video-book content you can view or download to PC, phone, whatever--you don't need a Kindle. Also can share the whole thing with up to four other family members--wife and son, in my case, and they use it heavily too.

It's so nice not to have to find something else to buy to get the free shipping.

I have an old zircon as well that normally does the trick the old magnetic ones do the job but are a pain if the installer had no job skills & nailed all over the place or missed the stud himself & just kept going, I always try & keep my pattern the same height but I've seen some strange things.

Try a Zircon metalscanner m40. It is designed for older homes and makes finding the nails in the lathe easy. It will also locate metal piping and electrical runs. Check it out, it works great.

D

Just purchased an i65 Zircon. It replaces a more expensive Zircon that was on the seat of my work truck that ignited the "Big Fire" a few years back. It worked very well for me, the new one that is.

Kevin