Stud finder for plaster walls

Bought a stud finder , only to find out inside the package that it will not work on plaster walls ! Checked out the outlet box, only to find out that it was cut directly into the lath and screwed on the top and bottom of the electric box! In many cases, the textures on the plaster wall and the junk (cables, wires, etc.) within the wall confuse the sensors on electric stud finders. To function properly, the wall surface must have a consistent density level, and be less dense than the wood stud. These stud finders work by detecting density changes in the wall directly underneath the scanner.

Stud finders designed to sense a change in density in the wall will not do the job on lath and plaster. Laths have horizontal fastening on vertical studs , with wire mesh added and two seams of plaster applied over the strips. Your Zircon stud finder finds studs by looking for an increase in density compared to where it was first calibrated on the wall. Drywall and other manufactured sheet materials have very consistent density, but lath and plaster walls have very inconsistent density on the backside of the wall.

Q: Do electronic stud finders work with lath and plaster walls ? Even though the surface looks smooth, the underlying structure can be extremely varied. The plaster or drywall surfaces of the walls in your home are unlikely to be sturdy enough to support much weight. If you want to hang shelves or artwork without risking damage to the wall, attach. To get the lowdown on best stud finder for plaster walls , we’ve consulted top experts who has in-and-out knowledge about the stud finder for plaster walls. There goes our advice on how to find studs in plaster wall ! These techniques have been used for decades already when it comes to locating studs.

They also cost you very little (sometimes, even none at all). However, the steps in locating them will become easier if you have a stud finder. If you find an affordable one, it is highly recommended. Wondering if anyone has advice for finding studs on old plaster walls.

The builders used a method of hanging drywall and then coating it with a substantial layer of plaster over the drywall. We do not have the traditional wood or metal lathe as a scaffold for the plaster. Such wall stud finders will work well in new homes where the walls are made of thin drywall. The distance between the studs and the magnet will be minimal, and the magnet will easily be attracted to metal. Ron had a chance to test out stud finders on stucco.

As the user moves a magnetic stud finder over a wall , the. You can find studs with an electronic stud finder or you can try to find them manually. If you have drywall walls , a stud finder locates studs quickly and accurately. Hanson uses a tried-and-true method to reliably locate studs behind sheetrock and drywall.

This Magnetic Stud Finder from C. Get Real-time visual image behind walls. Electronic stud finders have never worked for me. Since I have plaster walls , the manufacturer recommends screwing directly into a stud , not using mollies.

I spoke with Zircon about a stud finder , but they say that only their videoscanner will. A person just sweeps the magnet over the wall and marks the place where he feels a pull from the magnet. Stationary magnets however, are quite limited. They will not work on plaster walls and other thick walls.

For lath and plaster walls , without metal mesh reinforcements, you may be able to use a metal finder by detecting the nail heads that attach the wooden lath to the studs. From the Zircon site Stud finders work by identifying increases and changes in density behind the wall. Or, if you simply take off the cover plate for the switch or outlet and peer inside, you may be able to see in which direction the box has been nailed. For this, you need the stud finder. Use it to see into walls.

Walabot DIY detects pipes, studs, wires, cables and even. In today’s worl stud finders are one of the most common tools in the household and almost all the houses have one. I bought a stud finder -called my ear and fist. I too was going to install a closet organizer and have plaster walls (what a mess).

I do have a battery operated stud. Although you can easily use a stud finder to find studs in drywall, you can not use most stud detectors with plaster. Instea you need to rely on a much more primitive — but equally accurate — form of finding amounts. Measuring Distance cannot be much help when looking for studs in a plaster wall. If the house construction is lath and plaster (with no metal mesh), you may be able to use a stud finder with metal scan capabilities or a dedicated metal finder.

The reason why these work, over basic stud finders is because metal finders work by finding the nail heads that attach the wood lath to the studs. These gadgets are inexpensive, and in my experience, work very well. These work by measuring the relative density of a portion of a wall. Because of this, my magnet based stud finder sticks everywhere on the wall and my density based stud finder gets confused by the plaster goop on the back of the lath.

Shop Menards for a great selection of stud finders to make.