After spending years tapping on walls and using bare magnets, we’re happy to say that the latest stud finders really are better than they used to be. Deep scan mode: When your wall is covered with lath and plaster or stucco this mode will help you find studs more accurately than a regular stud finder could. Standard practice is to start by calibrating your stud finder somewhere you don’t expect a stud and then move in a horizontal line across the place you need to find one.

Zircon’s patented “over-the-stud” indication alerts user to start the scan in a new location if scanning begins over a stud

That depends on the individual tool. Some beep when they detect the edge of a stud, while others beep when they detect the center of a stud. Some stud finders beep to let the user know they’ve just recalibrated. Q. Are outlets always on studs?

The most common appendage to a stud finder, a leveler—a tool that finds a gravitationally level surface—is a logical choice. Much like putting a bottle opener on a corkscrew, it makes sense to plop a leveler on a stud finder.For your convenience, the stud finder handle is made with ergonomic finger indents to fit snugly in your palm. Now, a few words about the scan button positioning. As we mentioned earlier, the manufacturer placed the button on the device left, just where you put your thumb when you take the Zircon e50 in your right hand. Thus, after a short use, you will already be able to start objects detection without even looking at the device. When you think of a single-sensor stud finder, you’re probably thinking of something in a form factor very similar to that of the Zircon Multiscanner A250c. It’s got a handle and head not too unlike what you’re used to seeing, as well as that orange-ish yellow that just screams stud finder or similar tool. 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. WireWarning ® detection indicates the presence of live, unshielded electrical wiring up to 2 in. (51 mm) deep Other than that, this device also comes outfitted with a muti-sense tech, meaning that it can detect multiple 'threats' at once. Rounding its features lineup is the automatic calibration function, making sure that you can use this thing without calibrating it manually first.

Compared to the other magnetic designs we tried, the Studbuddy Plus doesn’t try to show you the precise centerline of a stud at all. The width of the plastic body is just under an inch and a half, so if you trace a line on either side you’d have a rough outline of the stud underneath. Choosing a stud finder should be a relatively straightforward affair, but there are still a few things that you need to take into consideration before choosing one. The number of sensors and width of your stud finders’ effective area will affect the convenience of use, as will the stud finder’s interface. Lastly, because even the best stud finders are relatively simple, they can come filled with extra features that are worth exploring. Number of sensorsWireWarning™ detection indicates the presence of live, unshielded AC electrical wiring up to 50 mm deep The Studbuddy Plus is a multi-purpose tool that adds a handy level to all the strengths of other magnetic stud finder designs. This is the first magnetic finder we’ve seen that actually gives you more functionality than a set of bare magnets would.