Any reliable Stud Finder for home use?

[Frank15]

I'm thinking of getting a Stud Finder, so that when I drill or nail something into a wall at home, I don't puncture any pipes, wires etc.

I heard that cheap ones aren't good, not sure if this is true.
Any recommendations would be very welcome

 

[Stanley services]

bosch GMS 120 is pretty great. around 90 quid though

 

[Camallison]

bosch GMS 120 is pretty great. around 90 quid though

I have one of those and it has never let me down.

ColinA

 

[AC Power]

I use a neodymium magnet. They are small (usually circular) magnets, however, they are very strong. Find a nail/screw that fastens your drywall/gypsum board. Once found, more nails/screws should be found about every 24" UP/DOWN from there. If so, that will be a stud. Then measure 16" to the left or right, and another vertical row of nails/screws (about 24" apart)will appear. Too, remember that an electrical outlet midway along the walls length will have a stud either to it's right or left.....its a good double check.

 

[SandburRanch]

Being I'm a DIY'er and not a contractor and an old man once told me that " sometimes good things take a little longer " and being I use a phrase I copied that reads " I don't mind spending money but I do mind wasting money " I use a Pin or sewing needle pushed with pliers. I'ts inexpensive as well as accurate and any test holes made can be coveed with paint. This method can also tell us the drywall thickness if that's desired. I have details if interested.

 

[Camallison]

I think Frank 15 is speaking about solid walls which are more common here in the uk. Buried pipework or cables can be difficult to trace, but my Bosch unit has never let me down.

ColinA

 

[He who knows]

I think Frank 15 is speaking about solid walls which are more common here in the uk.

Fortunately the works of the devil assumed by AC and Sandbur are uncommon over here.

Another vote for Bosch.

Also, a bit of investigation first can be a great help.

Pipework tends to go to very few places and should be easy to divine if you can look under floors.

Cables are supposed to only run in corners, just below ceilings, and vertically or horizontally from accessories, and usually they do.

But sadly no guarantee. You can get a clue which way they at least start heading off by looking behind accessories.

 

[AC Power]

@ He who knows:

"Fortunately the works of the devil assumed by AC and Sandbur are uncommon over here." I am sure how to perceive that comment, but I'll assume it wasn't malicious.

 

[He who knows]

Not at all.

I (and it's a reasonably common view) think that walls like this

are an abomination.

 

[AC Power]

Ok, good to hear that it's all good.

Yes, many wall look like that here in North America. Usually, if the wall is built by a framer (or a carpenter), they don't have so much backing. However, sometimes the backing (vertical strips of 3/4" plywood) is needed to provide "meat" in the wall so as to screw a future mirror, cupboards, heavier nature article in which drywall itself would not be suitable for support.

 

[He who knows]

I once boarded out a brick wall, i.e. battens screwed to it and plasterboard on those, which I did to level itand because there were pipes and cable trunking on it, and I infilled between the battens with 2" of plywood to be able to screw into.