Just checked a stud finder against a known stud location - off by 3 inches

Found out after watching a YouTube teardown that most cheap stud finders are basically guessing based on density changes, not actually detecting nails. Checked mine with a magnet after and realized I've been hanging cabinets blind for years. Anyone else verify theirs before a big install?

2 comments

2 Comments

quinnj2410d ago

Yikes, that's rough! But you gotta give credit where it's due, not all cheap stud finders are that bad. The trick is knowing what you're buying. The ones that use AC detection for live wires are usually the better cheap ones, but the basic density models are really just guessing like you said. You can test them by running them over a known stud spot with a magnet first to see if they're consistent. Next time you're at the store, grab one with a metal scanning mode if you can, it makes a huge difference for big jobs like cabinets.

aaron_wilson1710d ago

Three years back I had a $20 stud finder that actually worked pretty decent for hanging shelves, but it went crazy once I hit the kitchen with all the pipes and wiring. @quinnj24 that tip about running it over a known stud first is smart, I always just assumed they'd work right out of the box. Have you ever tried the magnetic ones, like the little rare earth magnets on a string, for finding studs behind tile or thick plaster? Those things are dirt cheap and never need batteries, plus they don't pick up on wire noise like the electronic ones do.