stud sensor, harbor freight has the best one

[Bill Dufour]

Really, Harbor Fright has a USA made Franklin stud sensor that is better then anything else I have ever tried. This is not a knockoff made in China. AFAIK it is the only made in USA thing they sell.
Home Depot caries it for double the price. This may be the start of harbor fright improving the quality of it's merchandise. I know they have doubled or tripled the prices on some tools and claim to be higher quality with new improved brand names and new colors to differentiate them from the same old junk. It is still almsot all made in china.
Bil lD.

https://harborfreight.com/hand-tools/measuring-marking-layout/stud-finders-metal-detectors/prosensor-m150-stud-finder-57219.html

[Jim Becker]

Good to know, Bill. A stud finder is a "must have tool" and for anyone who lives in a house or apartment, not just people who do major work.

HFT has been upping quality for sometime now. Like anything, you have to "know what you're looking at", of course...

[Tom M King]

I've used that Franklin 710, since they first came out with it. It's the best tool ever for putting up crown molding. You can use one hand to hold it, and the molding, while it pushes the molding up to your mark. Then shoot the nail with the other hand. It's not the most sensitive one, but works great through drywall.

Looks like the same tool.

[Brian Elfert]

I think the Franklin Sensors stud finders are great. Way better than others and very accurate.

Harbor Freight isn't selling the product for far less than HD and others. Harbor Freight is carrying a different less expensive model than HD is. The list price is $37.99. HF has always had a few things made in the USA, but not often tools.

[Bill Dufour]

Brian, after what you said I looked at the differences the Hoe depot one has 13 sensors instead of 15, a bubble level and ruler in blue plastic. The HF one has 15 sensors no level, no ruler in yellow plastic for about 50% less. The level might be somewhat useful. I see no need for a mini ruler.
I do wonder how long HF will carry this item. If you want one maybe you should get one before they are gone. It may be a one time purchase never to be renewed. Kind of expensive for the HF crowd and the maker may decide they do not want their quality associated with HF.
Bil lD

[Matt Day]

I need a new one, this is the ticket I think.

Speaking of stud finders - any advice for using them with a textured ceiling? Mine are mostly stippled and man it’s a PITA using a stud finder with all those bumps and sharp pieces hanging down (mainly in my garage where I’ve installed bike/canoe lifts and above garage door storage). I’m installing monkey bars in my basement soon and will have the same issue.

[Michael Weber]

Anyone have one that works through thick plaster and wood lath?

[roger wiegand]

Anyone have one that works through thick plaster and wood lath?

A small finishing nail hammered in every inch or so.

[Jim Becker]

A small finishing nail hammered in every inch or so.

https://sat02pap001files.storage.live.com/y4mBQKeUAsTl6_yJjaQvQh5LB64RYFAXlS1Wl-Kcz-j3K4QoiLRQrUJQJUwvP6nX_Wz7fV7SkvzIkwmBA27GKkG_oyWR gs336szJFYfsRbJy4bAOEiokOBylVcorXBq_OD0a0YUXi4J0CF xA09JCjaPCU_m8WdV7NhXG5G4hl8qXenHuv0dM4P27gTdKDqJB I1g?width=300&height=279&cropmode=none

But yea...there were times I did that back in the day before I discovered electronic stud-finders.

[Brian Elfert]

Brian, after what you said I looked at the differences the Hoe depot one has 13 sensors instead of 15, a bubble level and ruler in blue plastic. The HF one has 15 sensors no level, no ruler in yellow plastic for about 50% less. The level might be somewhat useful. I see no need for a mini ruler.
I do wonder how long HF will carry this item. If you want one maybe you should get one before they are gone. It may be a one time purchase never to be renewed. Kind of expensive for the HF crowd and the maker may decide they do not want their quality associated with HF.


I already have a Franklin Sensors 710 stud finder that I bought for $50 from Amazon about a year ago.

The M150 is a slightly better product because it has the sensors and LEDs closer together. Yes, this model is quite a bit less expensive than Home Depot, but you're not comparing the same model. This is probably the one I would have bought if it was available a year ago. The Franklin Sensors website still shows it as coming soon.

[Bernie Kopfer]

The stud finder that I’ve find the most reliable and accurate is a “Japanese” stud finder. I googled it and see that Garrett Wade carries it. I Don’t know how to display links on this iPad. It is non electronic, pokes a tiny needle through the sheet rock and stops when it encounters a solid object. I’ve had several contractors purchase these after they saw me use one.
Many years ago I had to use my electronic stud finder at the office and my assistant who was recently single was standing nearby. I handed her the stud finder and said she might find it handy. She handed it back and asked how come when I was holding it it was not beeping? Years of laughs over that one.

[Bruce Wrenn]

This may be the start of harbor fright improving the quality of it's merchandise. I know they have doubled or tripled the prices on some tools and claim to be higher quality with new improved brand names and new colors to differentiate them from the same old junk. l (https://harborfreight.com/hand-tools/measuring-marking-layout/stud-finders-metal-detectors/prosensor-m150-stud-finder-57219.html)Last summer, I bought one of their "Pierce" brand roofing gun to shingle both my shop and house. Shed on back of shop had to be completely rebuilt, new rafters, sheathing, and shingles. Installing the shingles, not once did the Pierce gun misfire. I can't say the same for my Hitachi framing gun. Yes HF is bringing up the quality of their tools.

[Tom M King]

Anyone have one that works through thick plaster and wood lath?

I do, but I'll have to look to see what make, and model it is. I used it to prove that there was an old doorway in a plastered over, late 18th Century wall. That was through pretty thick plaster, and wooden lath. It showed every stud, and where their edges were, as well as the header over the doorway. I do remember that it wasn't a cheap one.

edited to add: I looked online. It's some high end Zircon, but it looks like they have some newer models now. I think it cost around a hundred bucks, and finds other things, like wires, as well as a wood mode.

[Rob Damon]

A stack of small super magnets.
They will stick to every nail or drywall screw.
Locate them and put a piece of blue painters tape on the spot and you will find center of the studs.

[Mike Kreinhop]

Anyone have one that works through thick plaster and wood lath?

You might not find this at Harbor Freight, but I use the Bosch D-TECT 150 (https://www.amazon.com/Bosch-D-Tect-Floor-Scanner-Technology/dp/B005EM93R0). The D-TECT 150 works well on nearly any surface and is the only sensor that works on the concrete walls of my house.

[Doug Dawson]

You might not find this at Harbor Freight, but I use the Bosch D-TECT 150 (https://www.amazon.com/Bosch-D-Tect-Floor-Scanner-Technology/dp/B005EM93R0). The D-TECT 150 works well on nearly any surface and is the only sensor that works on the concrete walls of my house.
That looks to be a really nice unit, and at $700 street price here in the US, it’s been in my Amazon shopping cart for a long time. Does it cost that much in Germany as well? So far I have had the Franklin 710 and the higher-end Zircons for a while now, and on our drywall textures they work fine so far. (But I try to stay prepared, should the need arise.)

[Mike Kreinhop]

That looks to be a really nice unit, and at $700 street price here in the US, it’s been in my Amazon shopping cart for a long time. Does it cost that much in Germany as well?

I bought mine from the Bosch store on Amazon just over nine years ago and had it mailed to my APO address. When I was pricing them here, the cost was about $200 more after the currency conversion, but they were not available at the time. Now, there are some available on the Amazon.de site (https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Bosch-Professional-D-tect-location-device/dp/B002JUMB4C) for €530 (about $586).