The $18 stud finder that lied about my wiring

So I grabbed this cheap stud finder at a hardware store in Phoenix last month, figured it was fine for hanging shelves. Turns out it kept beeping on a wall where I knew there was nothing but insulation. Finally got curious and opened up the drywall, found a live Romex cable running diagonally that the thing just ignored. Now I double check every reading with a magnet and a voltage pen, cost me 2 extra hours but saved a potential shock. Anyone else trust a cheap tool until it nearly bites you?

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linda3052d ago

And that diagonal wire thing is exactly why I stopped trusting the beep alone, the cheap ones can't see through thicker patches or weird framing. Mine missed a live line behind a metal mesh patch once, and I only caught it because the voltage pen went off when I touched the screw. These days I treat the stud finder as a hint, not a fact, and honestly a strong magnet for finding nails has been way more reliable for me in old plaster.