I'm sure this will be another pathetic Fail Thread, but if I get 2 or 3 legitimate replies, that would be much appreciated. TIA, if that happens... I recently acquired a Zircon i320 Stud Finder from Home Depot, because I need to mount something semi-heavy on the wall. I've never used one, but it seems easy enough and it does what it says, I think, but how much can you actually rely on the things???? I'm not sure how they work, and the idea that it's telling me exactly where the center of a 2x4 stud makes me feel skeptical. Anybody have actual prcatical use and familiarity with these things? I don't want the wall to end up looking like the Bonnie And Clyde Death car when I'm finished, and not being electrocuted would be a definite plus, too.... I'm repped out for today, but I will put any legitimate answers on my Rep Agenda for tomorrow....
Truthfully, they work great as long as your not bumping against junction boxes. I use them all the time
They don't work too well on lathe/plaster walls...when I hung my tv in my bedroom, measured the distances from a bearing wall...lucked out.
Your studs should all be equal distance apart. 16 inches on center, usually. Some may be 24. If you can make a tiny hole with a small finishing nail in order to get the exact edge of the stud once the locator finds it, you should then be able to extrapolate the exact location of the others. The 16 inch centered studs will be at 16", 32", 48" etc. from the edge of any stud you find.
Another easy way to locate one if you're not good at it is to remove a cover plate, either an outlet (be CAREFUL) or light switch.
I tried to use a stud finder to hang something once but the thing went nuts every time I turned it on. Turns out it was just pinging my presence in the room.
What he said. The nail finder usually gets you there but using a little nail to find the edges gives you a little more confidence.
