stud finder question

[Michael Conner]

I have finished the base cabinets for our house (never done anything like this before and I think they turned out pretty good). Anyway, I need to get them installed so the granite man can template and install granite. The walls are textured sheetrock, and I need to find the studs to attach the cabinets. The reviews on Amazon indicate that stud finders have problems with textured walls. Are there any reliable units out there that will work reliably in my situation?

[Bill Huber]

I have textured walls and I have no problem finding the studs with a cheap Black & Decker I got at HD.

[Leo Vogel]

I'm sitting here looking at a new Zircon StudSensor i65 OneStep stud finder. Between the StudSensor, thumping on the wall, and drilling search holes, I finally found the studs for my cabinets. The StudSensor is going back tomorrow. It was not much help and not reliable. I have semi textured walls.

[Wayne Cannon]

The Zircons of all stripes work ok, but on textured surfaces, you have to work to keep it pressed firmly against the wall while sliding it. Even then, they frequently require repeated passes from both directions to be confident of the reading. It is a bit of a pain. I have found no difference between the simplest sensor and the fancy find electrical, find plumbing, multi-depth, sensor across the Zircon line when it comes to basic stud-finding.

Honestly, I've found that a large rare-earth disk magnet (the size of a quarter) is the fastest and most reliable method, as long as there are simply studs with nails or screws. The Zircon is better at identifying wider timbers, headers, ganged studs, and glued surfaces.

[Lee Schierer]

I have a zircon stud sensor and it works well as long as you keep it tight to the walls. My walls are plaster over blue board, they have a bit of texture and are at least 5/8" thick so I generally use the deep scan mode. Use a little construction knowledge to help you locate a stud then go every sixteen inches.

Here's some tips.
Almost any wall outlet will have a stud to the left or right of it.
There will be a stud either side of any window.
If you have cold air returns in the walls, the studs are on either side of the grill opening.
If the room has crown molding the nail holes are usually over a stud. Nail holes in base moldings can be anywhere.

When all else fails, the old magnet type stud detectors will locate the screws or nails in the drywall holding it to the studs.

[Mark P. Miller]

I'm sitting here looking at a new Zircon StudSensor i65 OneStep stud finder. Between the StudSensor, thumping on the wall, and drilling search holes, I finally found the studs for my cabinets. The StudSensor is going back tomorrow. It was not much help and not reliable. I have semi textured walls.

That's the way to go in my opinion. I favor a hammer and finish nail (and thumping) myself for this type of thing. The cabinets will go over the holes anyway...

[Ben Franz]

The cheapo Zircon style stud sensors are garbage IMO - never found one to be repeatable or reliable. Do what Lee said - use the outlets to find a few studs and measure to locate the rest. Probe with a nail or "thump" to verify and you're in business. I probe just above the level reference line for the base cabinets so there isn't any need for patching.

[glenn bradley]

I have a couple, one Zircon and one something else that looks similar. Neither of these or any other I have ever tried is very good. They all seem to work to some degree regardless of cost. The funny thing is, if someone made one that was even 80% reliable, they could sell them for $100 each.

[John Coloccia]

I don't understand. Mine is almost 20 years old, has been dropped numerous times to the point that there is stuff rattling around loose in there, and I've changed the batteries in it maybe 3 times. Mine is perfectly reliable...finds the stud every single time.

I wonder if they're just not being used correctly. The proper way is to come in from one side until it beeps, and make a mark. Then come I from the other side and make a mark. That's your stud. If you try to grab the end of the stud by waiting until the thing stops beeping, it doesn't work properly.

[Michael Prisbylla]

I use my elcheapo magnetic stud finder all the time and has never failed me yet. I've never seen the need for an electronic one. That said, I do most of my work on older homes with plaster and lath walls and the electronic ones have a particularly hard time with those, I am told.

[Jim Rimmer]

Here's some tips.
Almost any wall outlet will have a stud to the left or right of it.

I use a Zircon to confirm what I find based on the tip above. Find a stud and then go 16" from there. Then it's Zircon, thump, and finish nail.

[david kramer]

The way Zircons work is they frustrate you to the point that you fling them against the wall, and then listen for the "thump" :). I've also tried models by Stanley and others, all junk.

A quality magnet seems like a good idea, although I haven't really tried it. Lately I've just been resigned to the old finish nail and patch technique.

[Michael Conner]

Thanks everyone. I was hoping not to have to go the measure, thump, probe route, but it sounds like that may be the best bet. I may also try the metal detector to see if I can pick up the sheetrock screws. I just never really thoght the detector was that precise.

Mike

[Clint Winterhalter]

You might want to try a low tech approach.

I've got a CH Hanson Stud 4 Sure stud finder.

It is a couple of rare earth magnets in a sleeve. It practically jumps on to the nails / screw in the sheet rock. It will hang on the wall when if finds a stud.

Amazon sells a fancier newer version for $11.29

http://www.amazon.com/CH-Hanson-03040-STUD4SURE-Magnetic/dp/B000IKK0OI

[Leo Vogel]

Wow, I may have to try one of those. Fifty-nine people on Amazon gave it five stars. I have $30.00 to spend, I returned my Zircon.