On Saturday, 16 April 2016 at 19:00:49 UTC+1, Harry Bloomfield wrote:
> I have had a metal/stud/live cable detector for close on ten years. It
> always worked fine for all but the stud detection mode, where it just
> seemed to radomly detect none existant studs in fresh air.
>
> Today I finally worked out how to use the stud detection system, you
> don't point the tip at the wall, as with the other modes - you lay it
> flat against the plaster board - now I know how to use it, works great.

It sounds good (and sounds like what I am looking for, depending on price). Could you say which one it is?

--
James

On Wednesday, 20 September 2023 at 09:08:01 UTC+1, Murmansk wrote:
> Suspect you may not have noticed that the last message was 7 years ago!?

No, I saw that. Perhaps I should have said so but I was thinking that it didn't matter much as Harry may still be reading and may reply.

I also noticed that over the years no one else had asked him which device he was talking about (or, at least, he hadn't said), which is a little surprising: genuine product recommendations can be useful.

--
James

On 20/09/2023 09:45, James Harris wrote:
> On Wednesday, 20 September 2023 at 09:08:01 UTC+1, Murmansk wrote:
>> Suspect you may not have noticed that the last message was 7 years ago!?
>
> No, I saw that. Perhaps I should have said so but I was thinking that it didn't matter much as Harry may still be reading and may reply.
>
> I also noticed that over the years no one else had asked him which device he was talking about (or, at least, he hadn't said), which is a little surprising: genuine product recommendations can be useful.
>

The device may work on a plasterboard wall with a thin skim but not on
lathe and plaster or where the wall has been tiled etc. With foil backed
or insulation backed plasterboard a stud detector may not work.

I've found devices that detect metal (screws in plasterboard or nails in
lathes) to be more effective at finding the position of the stud.

https://www.zircon.com/tools/metalliscanner-m40/

--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

alan_m wrote:

> I've found devices that detect metal (screws in plasterboard or nails in
> lathes) to be more effective at finding the position of the stud.
>
> https://www.zircon.com/tools/metalliscanner-m40/

These are cheaper

<https://amazon.co.uk/neodymium-magnets/dp/B00NLM95VO>

On 20/09/2023 08:43, James Harris wrote:
> On Saturday, 16 April 2016 at 19:00:49 UTC+1, Harry Bloomfield wrote:
>> I have had a metal/stud/live cable detector for close on ten years. It
>> always worked fine for all but the stud detection mode, where it just
>> seemed to radomly detect none existant studs in fresh air.
>>
>> Today I finally worked out how to use the stud detection system, you
>> don't point the tip at the wall, as with the other modes - you lay it
>> flat against the plaster board - now I know how to use it, works great.
>
> It sounds good (and sounds like what I am looking for, depending on price). Could you say which one it is?
>

I have found the Zircon models work well - I have an old triscanner pro,
and that will find studs reliably under normal plasterboard.

Their range seems have grown a bit though:

https://www.zircon.com/categories/stud-finders/

(having said that a neodymium magnet is also an easy way to find the
plasterboard nails and screws!)

--
Cheers,

John.

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On 20/09/2023 11:10, Andy Burns wrote:
> alan_m wrote:
>
>> I've found devices that detect metal (screws in plasterboard or nails
>> in lathes) to be more effective at finding the position of the stud.
>>
>> https://www.zircon.com/tools/metalliscanner-m40/
>
> These are cheaper
>
> <https://amazon.co.uk/neodymium-magnets/dp/B00NLM95VO>

I tried this method on my walls both with small and large size magnets -
it doesn't work. The old type plaster is an inch thick in places.

--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

On 9/20/2023 3:43 AM, James Harris wrote:
> On Saturday, 16 April 2016 at 19:00:49 UTC+1, Harry Bloomfield wrote:
>> I have had a metal/stud/live cable detector for close on ten years. It
>> always worked fine for all but the stud detection mode, where it just
>> seemed to radomly detect none existant studs in fresh air.
>>
>> Today I finally worked out how to use the stud detection system, you
>> don't point the tip at the wall, as with the other modes - you lay it
>> flat against the plaster board - now I know how to use it, works great.
>
> It sounds good (and sounds like what I am looking for, depending on price). Could you say which one it is?
>

The stud finder function is here. Capacitive, dielectric constant of a stud

https://patents.google.com/patent/US4099118A/en

I got the patent number off the back of the unit :-)

If the unit has multiple functions, see how many
patent numbers it's got, as that may be a hint whether
it uses anything other than the one method.

Mine is glued together, and does not have a screw as
some of the Youtube videos show.

If any of the patents are still enforceable, that reduces
the number of suppliers. Mine is an ancient Zircon.

*******

You could look through the list here. This shows the activity level.

https://www.popularmechanics.com/home/a28842874/best-stud-finders/

Paul

This thread comes up from time to time though.
Brian

--

--:
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
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Blind user, so no pictures please
Note this Signature is meaningless.!
"Murmansk" <stainburn@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:244a0200-eea2-44ee-93c1-335c383943e4n@googlegroups.com...
>
> Suspect you may not have noticed that the last message was 7 years ago!?

On 20/09/2023 11:10, Andy Burns wrote:
> alan_m wrote:
>
>> I've found devices that detect metal (screws in plasterboard or nails
>> in lathes) to be more effective at finding the position of the stud.
>>
>> https://www.zircon.com/tools/metalliscanner-m40/
>
> These are cheaper
>
> <https://amazon.co.uk/neodymium-magnets/dp/B00NLM95VO>

"NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN OF PEOPLE WITH PACEMAKERS"

Perhaps that should say 'not suitable for young children
or anyone with a pacemaker'

I used an old MeecroWarvay magnet to find the plasterboard
nails holding up a bit of ceiling and thence the location
of the supporting joist.

On 20/09/2023 12:28, alan_m wrote:
> On 20/09/2023 11:10, Andy Burns wrote:
>> alan_m wrote:
>>
>>> I've found devices that detect metal (screws in plasterboard or nails
>>> in lathes) to be more effective at finding the position of the stud.
>>>
>>> https://www.zircon.com/tools/metalliscanner-m40/
>>
>> These are cheaper
>>
>> <https://amazon.co.uk/neodymium-magnets/dp/B00NLM95VO>
>
> I tried this method on my walls both with small and large size magnets -
> it doesn't work. The old type plaster is an inch thick in places.

Magnets only really work on plasterboard walls with just a skim coat (or
taped and filled) so it can get close enough to the metal fixings to
stick to them.

I don't think I have tried my zircon on lath and plaster walls or
plasterboard with full coat plaster. Is yours still able to find the
studs on those?

--
Cheers,

John.

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On Thursday, 21 September 2023 at 19:12:01 UTC+1, John Rumm wrote:
> On 20/09/2023 12:28, alan_m wrote:
> > On 20/09/2023 11:10, Andy Burns wrote:
> >> alan_m wrote:
> >>
> >>> I've found devices that detect metal (screws in plasterboard or nails
> >>> in lathes) to be more effective at finding the position of the stud.
> >>>
> >>> https://www.zircon.com/tools/metalliscanner-m40/
> >>
> >> These are cheaper
> >>
> >> <https://amazon.co.uk/neodymium-magnets/dp/B00NLM95VO>
> >
> > I tried this method on my walls both with small and large size magnets -
> > it doesn't work. The old type plaster is an inch thick in places.
> Magnets only really work on plasterboard walls with just a skim coat (or
> taped and filled) so it can get close enough to the metal fixings to
> stick to them.

Magnets also won't detect electrical cable.

And I presume there could be cases in old houses where beneath the plaster there are timbers without ferrous nails in them.

Magnets are working for me for what I have to do just now. But I guess that a meter which detects metal, wood, and cables would be more useful.

--
James

On 20/09/2023 09:45, James Harris wrote:
> No, I saw that. Perhaps I should have said so but I was thinking that it didn't matter much as Harry may still be reading and may reply.
>
> I also noticed that over the years no one else had asked him which device he was talking about (or, at least, he hadn't said), which is a little surprising: genuine product recommendations can be useful.

As it happens, I was checking through the box where I keep such things,
just yesterday. The item is still there, still working, but I could not
find a name on it. My best guess is that I picked it up at either Lidl,
or Aldi's middle isle.

On 20/09/2023 12:28, alan_m wrote:
> I tried this method on my walls both with small and large size magnets -
> it doesn't work. The old type plaster is an inch thick in places.

Try a more sensitive method - tie a rare earth magnet, on the end of a
bit of cotton thread. move that around close to a wall, and watch for
deviations.

On 21/09/2023 20:00, James Harris wrote:
> On Thursday, 21 September 2023 at 19:12:01 UTC+1, John Rumm wrote:
>> On 20/09/2023 12:28, alan_m wrote:
>>> On 20/09/2023 11:10, Andy Burns wrote:
>>>> alan_m wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> I've found devices that detect metal (screws in plasterboard or nails
>>>>> in lathes) to be more effective at finding the position of the stud.
>>>>>
>>>>> https://www.zircon.com/tools/metalliscanner-m40/
>>>>
>>>> These are cheaper
>>>>
>>>> <https://amazon.co.uk/neodymium-magnets/dp/B00NLM95VO>
>>>
>>> I tried this method on my walls both with small and large size magnets -
>>> it doesn't work. The old type plaster is an inch thick in places.
>> Magnets only really work on plasterboard walls with just a skim coat (or
>> taped and filled) so it can get close enough to the metal fixings to
>> stick to them.
>
> Magnets also won't detect electrical cable.

True, but the subject under discussion was finding studs, not cables.
(i.e. identifying places you want rather than ones you don't!)

> And I presume there could be cases in old houses where beneath the plaster there are timbers without ferrous nails in them.

Normally the laths are nailed to the studs - and there will be more of
them than in plasterboard since each lath is narrow.

> Magnets are working for me for what I have to do just now. But I guess that a meter which detects metal, wood, and cables would be more useful.

Indeed, well worth having IME.

--
Cheers,

John.

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