Best stud finder

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Looking for studs in all the wrong places? After investigating over 28 of the best stud finders on the market, we compared the top 12 models side-by-side. We tested for accuracy, ease of use, and features, both in isolated tests as well as while working on home projects to get a feel of their real-world performance. Read on to see our detailed results and find what works best for you, whether you're hanging a mirror or remodeling your entire kitchen. It has three modes; wood, metal, and electrical power, and is quite accurate with all three.

Best stud finder

Hanson Magnetic Stud Finder. Equipped with two magnets, the C. Hanson is a basic, durable model that scans twice as fast as the rest. This finder gives a visible and audible signal when it locates a stud, but it scans a smaller area and is less durable than our main pick. The most accurate electronic stud finder we tested scans the wall in 13 places to display the entire width of a stud, and unlike the competition, does not require a fussy calibration process. In 30 hours of tests against five competitors, the C. Hanson Magnetic Stud Finder stood out for its reliability and accuracy. Most magnetic styles have only one magnet, but a second magnet in the C. Hanson expands its scanning area and reduces the time it takes to get a hit. Its pointed end and small onboard spirit level simplify marking a stud as well as leveling a picture or mirror. If the C.

Another negative concerning the magnets is that storing the C. What We Like Penetrates even lathe and plaster walls Scans up to 4 inches deep Detects both magnetic and nonmagnetic metals Easy to use. Alternate spacing is

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Emily Estep is a plant biologist and journalist who has worked for a variety of online news and media outlets, writing about and editing topics including environmental science and houseplants. If you plan on hanging anything over about 20 pounds in your home, you'll need a stud finder to help you locate the studs and joists you'll need to anchor into to keep things secured in place.

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Jump to a Section. To find the best stud finders, we put 30 electronic and magnetic options to the test at our testing lab in Des Moines, Iowa.

Best stud finder

Knowing where your studs are is crucial for hanging up heavy items, like mirrors or mounts for flat-screen TVs. Some stud finders have other features, too, like deep scanning and AC wire detection. To test all the features, we put a selection of stud finders through their paces on a wall of our own making and walls in real homes. Magnetic stud finders work by waving the magnet along the wall until it catches on the fasteners that attach drywall to the studs. Since fasteners may be spaced over a foot apart on a single stud, it may take longer to locate one with a magnetic stud finder, but this is an affordable and simple option. If the builder missed the stud, so will the magnetic stud finder. In commercial construction, where metal studs are standard, you may find magnetic stud finders more useful.

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Hanson magnetic stud finders were easy to use, mainly because they lacked any buttons or electronics. The manufacturer claims the tool has a detection depth of 1. Understand audiences through statistics or combinations of data from different sources. Where it really shines, though, is the laser level. Without the multiple passes, it can be off enough to miss the stud completely. Still, there is a lot to love about this durable, effective, and time-saving device. Best Utility Knife. Best for Copper. It was also exceedingly easy to use—just press the button and drag the stud finder across the surface to immediately locate the studs. They also have more depth capacity, which can translate to a better read on objects hidden beneath a wall. Walabot DIY Plus. Some magnetic models, like the Calculated Industries StudMark Magnetic Stud Finder , are equally as effective, but may not pick up on smaller studs or nails. I spent 10 years in residential construction, and have been writing about and reviewing tools since , with articles appearing in Fine Homebuilding , The Journal of Light Construction , Popular Mechanics , Popular Science , and This Old House. However, because we had access to the back of the wall, we concluded that this had to do with wire depth—more than 2 inches from the face of the wall and the wires were harder to pick up. Accuracy 6.

Hanson Magnetic Stud Finder. Equipped with two magnets, the C. Hanson is a basic, durable model that scans twice as fast as the rest.

Some stud finders have multiple modes you can tailor to the project, while others have one preset mode that can read through several surface types. With this stud finder, I discovered the user has to hold the power button down while scanning—let off the button and the tool goes back to sleep. What We Don't Like Not as sensitive over paneling. We were able to differentiate between pipes and studs by toggling between stud scan and deep scan. The Bosch GMS had a steep learning curve, and we had to read the instructions several times in order to get accurate results, but we liked that the device required no calibration. Trevor Raab. On further inspection, it was a blatant case of user error. The Zircon MultiScanner A is an excellent tool that is easy to use, accurate, and won't break the bank. Hanson offers in reliability, it lacks in additional capabilities. He worked as an electronic technician and later as an engineer for the IBM Corp. First, the name comes from the large circle on top where there's a hole just big enough for a pencil tip to mark the wall, ensuring accurate marks every time.