STANLEY Stud Sensor S160

Product Information

Many of us don’t know it, but stud finders have been around since the early 80s. These were simple devices that used magnetic force to sense the presence of a stud behind an already-built wall. Of course, they’ve come a long way in terms of accuracy. Some electronic stud finders can detect live electric cables and different types of metal in addition to finding studs. This feature-set ensures that you’re not drilling into any sensitive or dangerous equipment behind your wall. Brand Ultrasonic detectors are much pricier, and use sound waves to map out the inside of the wall. These aren’t typically used in home contexts, as they are heavy-duty units for mapping out the internal makeup of a wall.

Stud finders are essential for DIYers when hanging items or mapping out any project on one of your home’s walls. In addition to choosing between magnetic and electronic stud finders, think about each product’s battery life and additional features. We put together the following buying guide to help you examine the most important features when choosing a stud finder. Type of Stud Finder Truth be told, on the consumer market your primary forms of stud finder sensors are going to be magnetic and electronic–which is completely fine, as both kinds of sensors are more than adequate for day-to-day use. The primary factor in differentiating finder types is the project you have in mind and the needs you have for that project. But what is a “good” stud finder? One that finds studs, of course, but more than that it is one that does all the things that you need it to do to make your project go off without a hitch.

The longer answer is a little more involved. Before stud finders were even a thing, construction workers used the “tap” method to locate studs. Simply put, they tapped on different sections of a wall and used the sound to determine if a section was hollow or connected to a stud. A hollow section of wall was obviously stud-free, and with their knowledge of stud spacing workers could more or less figure out where to drive nails. You can learn more about how to find will studs manually here. Edge: An edge stud finder finds the edge of the stud. After finding that edge, we determined you have to approach the stud from the other side to find its other edge and determine its width. Look For Nails or Screws: Studs are often found where pictures, mirrors, shelves etc. have been mounted previously on your walls. The nails or screws likely went into a stud, so you should be able to locate one in that area.

To provide our readers with the best stud finder recommendations possible, we rely on several key sources of information to help guide our selection process. One: Know your budget. Many of us like to buy new shiny tools for our upcoming projects, but don’t let your stud finder get in the way of something else you might need to buy. This simple stud finder uses a powerful magnet instead of battery-powered sensors to identify studs, making it our top choice for magnetic stud finders. The magnet’s plastic casing is easy to hold and won’t mar or scratch the surface of the wall. Since it has no batteries or moving parts, the stud finder is always ready to use.Over time, the sensitivity and accuracy of magnetic sensors improved, and new methods of looking for studs behind walls began to revolutionize these devices. Types of Stud Finders All electronic stud finders use sensors to measure the change in density in the wall. Typically, you must place the stud finder on a part of the wall without studs to ensure it gets calibrated before sliding it across the wall to find studs. Once the finder locates a stud, the results are displayed on an LCD screen.

The earliest stud finders were magnetic. These finders used internal magnetic to determine the location of metal located in studs. The theory was that this covered several use contexts—commercial buildings were often built with metal studs, and almost all wooden studs present in residential homes had some sort of metal contained in them. If you’re trying to hang something heavy such as a mirror or T.V., but are struggling to find a stud, we recommend finding out if there’s a proper fastener for the situation that doesn’t require a wall stud. Drywall anchors and hollow-wall anchors are two of the most common options for studless load-bearing jobs. Why isn’t my stud finder working?At some level, the price of such scanners puts them out of reach of homeowners. But serious builders and contractors who are looking for tools that can help them easily do their job should consider investing in a unit with more commercial uses. Ergonomics are worth considering, especially if you’ll be using your stud finder on a regular basis. Many stud finders have a comfortable grip in the shape of a computer mouse, which we recommend for users to gently and carefully guide it along the wall. Extra Features Now, there are several types of stud finders and sensors on the market that compliment a user’s budget and needs.

Magnetic stud finders use large magnets to find the nails that are holding the studs together. Some magnetic stud finders we researched are molded into a plastic casing, while some are left loose. With molded ones, you can feel the magnetic attraction as you push it along the wall. With loose ones, we find you’ll hear a “thunk” noise when it finds something or see a bright piece of plastic pop up. Notably, the downside to this type of stud finder is that you can’t guarantee that it found a stud and not some other magnetic piece behind the wall. Electronic Know your finder. There are basic stud finders out there, but there are also some that are a bit more precise. There are some stud finders that are either a center finder or an edge finder. Some are equipped to do both. Marking only one edge is a common mistake that many DIY homeowners make. Center: Center finders use multiple sensors to gauge the stud’s entire width and provide you with the location of the center of the stud.

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Two: Get something that will last. If you want a stud finder that you can throw in your toolbox and pull out when you need it, then buy something that fills that niche. if you want a high-powered tool that hands on the wall of your workshop, then spend a little more money.