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Stud Finder (Read 6800 times)
JerryD
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Stud Finder
Nov 16th, 2004, 11:05pm
 
Does anyone know of a good, reliable gizmo for finding timber studs in a wall?

I see that Bosch have got one that retails at about £400 + vat!  When I enquired about it at my main tool supplier they said "it's useless, we've had one here on demo, fecking rubbish!"

So I went in there today but they didn't have the Bosch but they did have a Ryobi one.  This cost £25 ish.  So we gave it a try, absolutely completely useless!!  It was beeping at nothing, then missing known studs!  Try it again and it would beep at different times on that same wall.  What a load of cr*p!

Does anyone here have a reliable stud-finder that they can trust to 'tell the truth'?
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The_Trician
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Re: Stud Finder
Reply #1 - Nov 16th, 2004, 11:57pm
 
Best one I've found - seriously - is a simple bradawl with a very sharp point. Got me out of the sh*t many times I can tell you.

The electronic ones are all pretty poor.

TT
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Thats the trouble with a colostomy - you can never find the shoes to match the bag.......
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woodsmith
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Re: Stud Finder
Reply #2 - Nov 17th, 2004, 7:06am
 
I've tried the Bosch too and it is probably the best of the bunch but at the best part of £500 Shocked It is probably worth £80. The rest are even worse. I've got a Videoscanner and it can't even find ceiling joists.
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billythekid
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Re: Stud Finder
Reply #3 - Nov 17th, 2004, 2:18pm
 
mine is shît too, works not too bad if you have a flat, even surface. anything out of place, artex, thicker plaster, and it messes up. 3"nail and a hammer works for me.  The electronic finder is pretty good for the elec finding though. I think the setting can have more 'play' in it, doesnt need to be so accurate to find the lecs as it does fir the studs/joists.
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Robbo
Re: Stud Finder
Reply #4 - Nov 18th, 2004, 7:52pm
 
Its not just mine then.I have a stanley one, useless.
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The_Trician
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Re: Stud Finder
Reply #5 - Nov 18th, 2004, 8:18pm
 
Yeah, I have a Stanley one too - cost me around £40 and its neither use nor ornament!

Can't beat me 'dibber' from the pound shop!

TT
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Thats the trouble with a colostomy - you can never find the shoes to match the bag.......
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JerryD
Re: Stud Finder
Reply #6 - Nov 18th, 2004, 10:34pm
 
I'm going to start making these then.  Simple empty plastic box, battery and a beeper that beeps every now and then.

Every bit as useful as the posh ones.

I'll sell 'em for £19.99 + vat
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billythekid
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Re: Stud Finder
Reply #7 - Nov 24th, 2004, 7:54pm
 
i'll have one of those thanks JD, do you accept paypal?  Grin
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« Last Edit: Nov 24th, 2004, 7:54pm by billythekid »  
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Dewy
Re: Stud Finder
Reply #8 - Nov 24th, 2004, 10:22pm
 
[quote author=JerryD  link=1100646353/0#6 date=1100817282]I'm going to start making these then.  Simple empty plastic box, battery and a beeper that beeps every now and then.

Every bit as useful as the posh ones.

I'll sell 'em for £19.99 + vat [/quote]
When CB was the rage the hissing from the speakers was annoying and a small black plastic box with 2 wires was sold for £5 that connected accross the speaker terminals to reduce the noise.
All it was made from was 2 100 microfarad capacitors joined back to back.
These cost 10-20p from anywhere selling electrical parts.
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JerryD
Re: Stud Finder
Reply #9 - Nov 24th, 2004, 11:11pm
 
[quote author=billythekid  link=1100646353/0#7 date=1101326063]i'll have one of those thanks JD, do you accept paypal?  Grin [/quote]

sorry btk, cash only  Grin Shocked
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JerryD
Re: Stud Finder
Reply #10 - Nov 24th, 2004, 11:14pm
 
[quote author=Dewy  link=1100646353/0#8 date=1101334961]
When CB was the rage the hissing from the speakers was annoying and a small black plastic box with 2 wires was sold for £5 that connected accross the speaker terminals to reduce the noise.
All it was made from was 2 100 microfarad capacitors joined back to back.
These cost 10-20p from anywhere selling electrical parts. [/quote]

So where can I bulk buy these capacitors Dewy?  I can feel a business venture coming on.......  Undecided
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Dewy
Re: Stud Finder
Reply #11 - Nov 24th, 2004, 11:55pm
 
CB has been dead for years otherwise I would still be making those 'hash filters'
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