Stud finders??

[danrush]

I've never been a fan of electronic stud finders, but to be fair, I haven't tried one manufactured in the last 10-15years.  For my needs, a rare earth magnet works just fine for locating drywall screws, and thus the studs I need to hang cabinets and trim.

But I have a different mission on a new job:  I need to fish some A/V wires through a specific bay in a floor.

I have 3/4" T&G flooring, on 3/4" plywood, on 2 x4" sleepers, on 4" concrete.
I know the direction the sleepers run, and I need to determine whether there is blocking in a particular bay.

Have you guys found a stud finder (or other tool) that will accurately tell me about the framing in the floor? 

Plan "B" is to pull up some flooring to complete a more invasive inspection.

Thanks in advance, Dan

 

[Ken Nagrod]

Dan,

Here are the tools in my arsenal for stud finding.  Magnetic stud finder from C.H. Hanson.  Relies on screws or nails being placed on center in studs.  Bosch electronic stud finder.  I've used a lot of different electronic ones and this seems to be the best, but not fool proof.  Hammer and small finish or brad nail to find general stud location, then your stud's edges so you can figure out the center.  Knuckle, I've got 10 of those tools.

You might find that for your application, drilling a small hole to insert a fiber optic scope would be best.  I know Ridgid and Milwaukee sell a few models that are relatively inexpensive considering what some of those things go for.

 

[Guy Ashley]

Dan

I use this Bosch stud detector. It will indicate timber (studwork) electrical cable, and metal.

  http://www.angliatoolcentre.co.uk/bosch-dmf10zoom-metal-and-stud-detector-pid657.html

It works for me.

 

[Jesse Cloud]

Hey Dan.
Wish I had a good answer for this one.  I'm not a fan of stud finders either, but if there is a good one out there I sure would like to know.  Be sure and let us know how you solve this one!!
Jess

By the way Festool - make a stud finder that works and we will line up to buy it! ;D

 

[jmbfestool]

Try this!

I am waiting for it to come out in the UK looks mint it has wheels on it so it measures the distances as you role it along the wall and tells you the where the edge of the timber is and when your in the center of the timber

http://www.milwaukeetool.com/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductId=2290-21&CategoryName=New+Products+and+Offers

 

[FEStastic]

JMB

you are the TOOL SENSEI  !!

 

[Uffe Kaagaard]

http://www.umarex-laserliner.de/
http://www.umarex-laserliner.de/content/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=76
http://umarex-laserliner.de/content/flash/MultiFinderPro_en.html

 

[jmbfestool]

JMB

you are the TOOL SENSEI  !!

heehee!  Sensei!

That remeinds me
I got my Milwaukee Drill today!  And I have just ordered a TS75!! 

 

[richard.selwyn]

Dan

I use this Bosch stud detector. It will indicate timber (studwork) electrical cable, and metal.

 http://www.angliatoolcentre.co.uk/bosch-dmf10zoom-metal-and-stud-detector-pid657.html

It works for me.

I recently played with it's big brother, which like the Milwaukee mentioned here has wheels on it.  The interest to me was that it will accurately detect plastic water pipes as in underfloor heating and give you a safe drilling depth.  I didn't buy one because they are about 550 euros over here (they are, of course cheaper in the UK and probably a real bargain in the US)
I think I might get the one Guy lists above, but if you do a lot of that type of work check out the fancy one - i'll try to find a link
I think this is it: http://www.bosch-pt.co.uk/boptocs2-uk/Trade+and+Industry/Tools/GB/en/gw/Detectors/101302/Wallscanner+D-tect+150/23307/index.htm

 

[danrush]

Thanks for the help guys.  I probably should have been a bit clearer in the title.  I need to find a possible framing member through 3/4" oak, and 3/4" ply, or 1.5" total solid wood.  I'm having trouble discerning whether any of the available "stud" detectors will penetrate 1.5" of wood.

Again thanks, Dan

 

[Julian Tracy]

Most of the stud finders I've tried are crap.  I even payed $99 for the Bosch unit that's available here in the states, and it's absolutely useless.  You can be using on a half wall and it cannot find the studs in 1/2" drywall.

Recently though, I picked up the Ryobi Tek4 stud finder.  It works amazingly well. - it just works!  No useless features like ac power or hvac detection.  It's just a stud finder and it has 2-3 levels of wall thickness.

I'm no ryobi fan in general, but I use the Tek 4 headphones and the flashlights, so I bough the stud finder.  As a side note, their two flashlights are among the best led flashlights I've used - check them out.

For you Festool fans here, the Tek4 stuff is just about Festool green as well.

Julian

 

[Uffe Kaagaard]

Laserliner
Starfinder

STUD-SCAN  (max. measuring depth 6 cm)

http://www.spot-on.net/images/LLSF-StarFinder.pdf

Uffe

 

[Kevin Stricker]

I would remove some baseboards, drill a small hole in the floor and use a fish tape to see if you can get it down the entire bay.  Why rely on technology when you can use your ears.

That Laserliner looks good if it actually does what it says.  My top of the line Zircon Multiscanner  says it goes to 1.5" with deep scan mode but I wouldn't trust it for your application.

 

[Sparktrician]

I would remove some baseboards, drill a small hole in the floor and use a fish tape to see if you can get it down the entire bay.  Why rely on technology when you can use your ears.

That Laserliner looks good if it actually does what it says.  My top of the line Zircon Multiscanner  says it goes to 1.5" with deep scan mode but I wouldn't trust it for your application.

I might suggest coming up into the bay from underneath, presuming you can get under it (from the basement or the like), and using a fishtape to sound out the bay so you don't mess up the visible floor above.  I concur regarding the Zircon Multiscanner.  As far as I'm concerned most of the alleged studfinders being sold at Home Despot, Lowe's and others are nothing but junk.  I'd like to find one that will work reliably and not give false/erroneous indications.