Stud Finder

[Lamar Horton]

Is this one any good. I have a stanley fat max that works good as long as the texture is not very heavy.

I would like one that works better.

http://www.franklinsensors.com/

[Hoover]

On drywall I always just use rare earth magnets. They work every time. Here we have plaster often. On plaster I use the rare earth magnets to find the nails on the baseboard then you have the stud location.

[parkwest]

Sorry! But the title made me think this thread was going to be about my GF.

[Lanya LaPunta]

Hi, Lamar.

I picked one up, as I've been on the holy grail of stud finders for twenty (plus) years.

I've never had good luck with the magnets, so I've tried just about every one that has come down the pike.

Figure that on a crown job alone (assuming it's decent sized) one that worked would pay for itself within an hour (and I was utilizing 3 hunnert dollars as what I would be willing to pay for one that always worked, no false readings, no misses).

I've have zircons (center finders, edge finders, etc.), Bosch, stuff that ends with "scientific", stuff that ends with all kinds of hoopla ....

None of 'em seemed to be worth the price of a bucket of warm spit.

So, making a very short story exceptionally long ...

Picked up one of these (already stated, so that's from The Department of Redundancy) ...

Perhaps, it isn't quite the holy grail... but she's gittin' close.

To date, only one miss and two false readings.

That is, based upon the performance of others, SWEET.

I'd buy another and recommend it to a friend, if I had any friends ... that is.

[johnebe]

So the website's software saw a mention of "Franklin Sensors" in a post and that authorized the placement of an advertisement by the Franklin Sensors people...? Or is that a coincidence?

If not coincidence, that approach actually does, to me, the opposite of what they're apparently hoping for...me no likey...

[Lamar Horton]

So the website's software saw a mention of "Franklin Sensors" in a post and that authorized the placement of an advertisement by the Franklin Sensors people...? Or is that a coincidence?

If not coincidence, that approach actually does, to me, the opposite of what they're apparently hoping for...me no likey...

I saw the ad first, went to the website and saw that they said the were the greatest thing in the world and then I started this thread to see if indeed they were the greatest thing in the world.

According the Lanya, they aren't the greatest thing in the world but they are not far from it.

Thanks Lanya

[ericbuggeln]

Wheres a source for rare earth magnets and what size do you guys use? Eric

[Hoover]

Wheres a source for rare earth magnets and what size do you guys use? Eric

I think lee valley has them, but google search and there are lots of sites. Computer hard drives have them too, if you have a bad computer.

[LIHR50]

stop will all that electronic junk stud finders and get one of these, you'll love it.

http://www.amazon.com/CH-Hanson-0304.../dp/B000IKK0OI

[FesFool]

stop will all that electronic junk stud finders and get one of these, you'll love it.

http://www.amazon.com/CH-Hanson-0304.../dp/B000IKK0OI

I will second this recommendation, I found these on the discount rack at Home Depot several years ago and figured they would be good to hold up plastic dust barriers to a drop Ceiling. But lo and behold they work excellently as a stud finder- if the stud has a screw or a nail in it it will find it and stick to it. Thanks for the amazon link, now I can tell all the people who borrow it where to get their own.
Dan

[Tom Bainbridge]

I am with Hoover. Magnets, or better still like he says, rare earth magnets.

Dont buy an expensive tool to look for the studs, use a simple and cheap tool (a magnet) to look for the fixings, nails or more and more often these days, drywall screws.

Like other's say, Lee Valley are good for magnets

For UK forum members, go to Axminster Tools or Rutlands

[JulianTracy]

Home Depot actually carry rare earth magnets now too - they're in the hardware section, decent prices.

JT

[rogerg]

The last time I bought an electronic stud finder they were on sale and I bought five. Right now I know where only one is so I'm looking for another sale price.
To be honest I can't understand why anyone would use a magnet except on rare occasions like double drywall thickness or some types of plaster walls.
Sometimes you don't have a large amount of wall to slide a magnet trying to locate one or two nails/screws and then drop an imaginary line up or down or across to where you want to go. Many times a stud needs to be found in one particular area like inside a closet or cabinet. Finding a magnetic 'hit' in another area and then measuring over to where you think a stud should be seems odd. How many closet walls don't have studs where we think there should be? How about trying to fine horizontal blocking that is supposed to be behind a wall?
Stud finders don't solve all the problems, but for the rare time I really needed a magnet (and I do have magnets from Lee Valley) I wouldn't have been able to find it anyway.

roger

[Kevin Stricker]

I use one of those little CH Hanson magnets too. Works great, no batteries or false readings. If it sticks to the wall it has found a screw or nail. For $10 it is a great value, the bubble helps get a visual on plumb in tight quarters.

[joseph]

I carry a tot loc in my bags -keeps small things together when not in use finding nail heads .http://www.drugstore.com/safety-1st-...5?catid=183859
but i wonder if the magnetic part wears out?
With thick mud it doesn't always work so well .