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Can a stud finder be wrong?
Even though your tool indicated that it located a stud right where you need it, a stud finder can signal false positives when there is metal piping or flashing or brackets within the wall. If, in fact, they are 16 or 24 inches apart, then you’ve found your center stud.
Why are stud finders so unreliable?
Most magnet-type stud finders don’t work effectively since they reply on locating the fasteners (screws) used to secure the drywall. These can be very difficult to locate.
Are wall stud finders accurate?
PROS. Electronic stud finders are more precise at locating studs than magnetic ones. High-quality electronic stud detectors can detect studs located deeper in the wall than what a magnet can detect (up to 1-1/2 inches).
Are there any reliable stud finders?
For an accurate and quick stud finder, we recommend the Franklin Sensors 710 Precision Stud Finder. It can detect more than one stud at once, and the deep scan mode allows you to detect studs in thick walls.
What does it feel like to drill into a stud?
If your on a stud you will feel resistance and see wood exiting when using a drill. If not on a stud, no resistance will be felt once through drywall or plaster. Use a tape measure to find adjacent studs, usually 16″ apart from the center to center.
Can walls have no studs?
Can a wall not have studs? The answer is no—a wall must have studs to ensure structural support. However, there are some variations in how a wall can be framed and where you will locate studs.
What does a stud finder detect?
Low-end stud finders use magnets or electricity to detect a stud. These stud finders detect the fasteners in the drywall and alert the user once the magnet is attracted to the metal fastener. Stud finders that use electricity detect changes in the dielectric constant of the wall to find studs.
Do iPhone stud finders work?
Stud Find uses the magnetometer as a metal detector. Testing the app on an iPhone 5, we found it works best when moved slowly along the wall being searched, with the right side of the iPhone held perpendicular to the surface—that’s because the magnetometer is located in the upper-right corner of the phone.
Is a stud finder necessary?
It is commonly thought that you need to have a stud finder in order to find a stud in your drywall. But not all homeowners own a stud finder, and probably don’t need one often enough to justify the purchase. Most homes are built with 2×4 or 2×6 studs and studs can be found typically on the sides of windows or doors.
How far apart are studs?
The general spacing for wall studs is 16 inches on center, but they can be 24 inches. At my home, the exterior wall studs are spaced at 24-inch centers, but the interior walls are 16 inches on center.
Can I use my phone as a stud finder?
The Walabot DIY stud finder app is compatible with iPhone 7 or higher and Android phones running v9. This app requires the Walabot DIY device to operate. Users should only download it once they have purchased, received, and connected their Walabot DIY devices.
Will a stud finder detect pipes?
Using a Stud-Finder A stud-finder uses a sensor to locate wires or pipes behind the plasterboard. Most stud-finders will locate pipes and electrical cables as well as timber. There is usually a separate indicator light to indicate the presence of an electrical wire.
Will a stud finder work through plywood?
The reason is that stud finders are designed to scan through sheet materials, such as drywall or plywood that have a fairly smooth surface and consistent thickness and density.
Can you hammer a screw into a stud?
Sure, but the screw will just pull right out. Hammering it in will not allow it to cut it’s threads into the wall material, thus losing it’s holding capacity. But they will tear giant holes, won’t hold very well, and can easily snap off while hammering it in.
How long should a screw be to hit a stud?
You should use screws long enough to engage the stud one half the length of the screw. For example, if the wallboard is 5/8″ thick and the bracket is 1/8″ thick then you want a screw that is at least 1–1/2″ long.
Do you have to nail into a stud?
Whether fastening a framed picture, mirror, shelf, or curtain rod to a wall, it’s always best to screw or nail directly into a wall stud. Unfortunately, studs are seldom, if ever, positioned exactly where you need them, but that’s okay. Those with pointed tips can be hammered into the wall.
How do you find a horizontal stud?
Drill a very small hole in the wall or ceiling in the area where a stud or joist is believed to be located. A 1/16-inch bit, or even 1/32-inch bit, is adequate. If the bit strikes solid wood after penetrating the covering of the wall, a stud or joist has been found.
How do you find the center of a stud?
Locate and mark the other edge. It should be 1-1/2 inches from the first mark. Measure and mark the midpoint between the edges. This is the center of the stud.
