Stud finder

Kabous · Post by **Kabous** » Fri Jan 03, 2020 4:39 pm

Hello members

Looking to acquire a good stud finder. Any recommendations appreciated.

K

ayjay · Post by **ayjay** » Fri Jan 03, 2020 4:54 pm

They're all a waste of time.

Studs are usually at the same centres across a wall, generally @ 400 or 600mm in a newer build or 16" in an older one.

First check any skirtings for signs of fixings, a good chippy will mark the studs on the floor before fixing the skirtings and the studs will be vertically above the fixings. If the skirtings were glued on this probably wont work.

Tapping with the blunt end of a pencil is also a pretty good way of finding them, it sounds more solid over the stud.

Once you've found one, it shouldn't be too hard to find the others.

If you're fixing something like a batten along a wall, don't be frightened to poke holes in the wall behind where the batten will be until you find them.

Job and Knock · Post by **Job and Knock** » Fri Jan 03, 2020 6:08 pm

Tried a few of them including megabuck "professional" models, but yet to find one that works consistently, especially on older buildings with lath and plaster stud walling. As AyJay says, look for signs of fixings in the skirtings (e.g. filled nail holes which may be a slight depression viewed in an oblique light). You can sometimes measure out from the corner of a room, too, then poke a few small holes with a sharp awl to confirm. Another way is to get a rare earth magnet and move it slowly back and forth across a suspected stud position - the strong magnetic attraction of the magnet to steel plasterboard screws (modern fixing), clout nails (older plasterboard fixing) or even the tacks used to affix timber (lath and plaster walls) is often a useful aid

London mike 61 · Post by **London mike 61** » Fri Jan 03, 2020 6:40 pm

I’ve got a set of these https://www.first4magnets.com/circular- ... pull-p6418 and they are very good and easy to store in the toolbox.

Mike

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Fri Jan 03, 2020 6:44 pm

Does your toolbox stick to the side of the van Mike

DWD

London mike 61 · Post by **London mike 61** » Fri Jan 03, 2020 8:52 pm

dewaltdisney wrote: ↑Fri Jan 03, 2020 6:44 pm Does your toolbox stick to the side of the van Mike

DWD

No mate, but occasionally all the odd screws in there form a almighty mess when the get stuck together

Mike

Argyll · Post by **Argyll** » Fri Jan 03, 2020 10:10 pm

I bought an expensive Bosch one a few years ago. After turning a plasterboard wall into a pin cushion I returned it a few days later. Neodymium magnets all the way.

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Fri Jan 03, 2020 11:05 pm

The owner of this website made a good video Click here