Stud finder/detector recommendations

Paremon

So I'm in need of a stud finder/detector for home DIY jobs within the next few days, something that can relatively reliably defect studs, live wires, metals. I know none of them are perfect but something generally reliable. Screwfix & Goodwin's don't have any with these 3 features.

I had a loan of a Tacklife DMS03 & found it good but it's v difficult to find online without waiting weeks.

Seeing very mixed to poor reviews on all detectors on Amazon with many of them paid reviews (€5 incentive for writing a positive review).

Open to recommendations based on experience. Thanks.

kadman

Stays miles away from the cheap ****e. They are unrelaible, and you will find this out
the hard way.

Go for the proven branded makes, do your due diligence before you part with your denaries.

Paremon

kadman wrote: »

Stays miles away from the cheap ****e. They are unrelaible, and you will find this out
the hard way.

Go for the proven branded makes, do your due diligence before you part with your denaries.

Thanks, that's what I'm trying to do, to find something even remotely reliable but even the big brand, big cost models get very mixed reviews. Screwfix have a Bosch that gets reasonable reviews but it doesn't detect studs (AC & metals only). I could get that & a dedicated stud-only finder but surely there's something out there that detects AC, metals & studs reliably for reasonable money.

Cerco

kadman wrote: »

Stays miles away from the cheap ****e. They are unrelaible, and you will find this out
the hard way.

Go for the proven branded makes, do your due diligence before you part with your denaries.

Even with the branded makes you need to be ultra careful. Read the specs and understand the limitations. Much depends on the makeup of the area you are scanning, depth of objects and hidden materials…eg foil backed insulation boards can give erroneous readings.
When I use them I will treat them as showing the presence of wood , steel, copper pipe and electric cables etc but not the absence of same. A bit like using a phase tester…..if it lights then there is voltage, if it doesn’t light then it may be live or not. 🥵.

CoBo55

Can anyone actually help the op instead of talking bollox? It would be far more helpful if people made recommendations. I'm looking for one myself and it's a nightmare trying to get one.

kadman

CoBo55 wrote: »

Can anyone actually help the op instead of talking bollox? It would be far more helpful if people made recommendations. I'm looking for one myself and it's a nightmare trying to get one.

If ever there was a post that should be reported, its your one. It adds nothing only insults to those who have posted, and it warrants an apology.:mad:

the_pen_turner

I have tried the cheap one. All crap.
Tried and used a few middle of the road ones. Bosch, stanley, dealt etc . All ok for studs and wires etc but you couldn't trust them so pointless.
A magnet is much better for studs so that's what I use use
I have a fancy bosch one that cost 600 . It's great but a pain to use. There are wheels that have to be rolled across the wall and then going back it shows what's in there

CoBo55

kadman wrote: »

If ever there was a post that should be reported, its your one. It adds nothing only insults to those who have posted, and it warrants an apology.:mad:

I'm sure like myself and yourself the op has figured out that the cheap ones are rubbish. I think it would be more helpful all around if somebody actually came along and said, I'm using brand X and it actually works etc.

CoBo55

the_pen_turner wrote: »

I have tried the cheap one. All crap.
Tried and used a few middle of the road ones. Bosch, stanley, dealt etc . All ok for studs and wires etc but you couldn't trust them so pointless.
A magnet is much better for studs so that's what I use use
I have a fancy bosch one that cost 600 . It's great but a pain to use. There are wheels that have to be rolled across the wall and then going back it shows what's in there

Probably out of the price range for many including myself, it sounds very fancy though:D

the_pen_turner

CoBo55 wrote: »

Probably out of the price range for many including myself, it sounds very fancy though:D

it can find rebar in concrete suposidly

Lumen

As far as I know stud finders don't find studs, they find fixings.

Unless the studs are metal.

Wolftown

I bought a cheap one a year or so ago, and have used it to hang 6/7 things at this stage. While it's not the most reliable, I still find it very handy.

Always take a few runs to get a consistent reading, then verify by measuring the studs spacing. Has served me well so far and was €10-€15 if I remember right.

kadman

CoBo55 wrote: »

I'm sure like myself and yourself the op has figured out that the cheap ones are rubbish. I think it would be more helpful all around if somebody actually came along and said, I'm using brand X and it actually works etc.

Like you did you mean??

I am gone from this, as I dont want to derail it with any arguments over being called a bollox.

Good day..

CoBo55

Wolftown wrote: »

I bought a cheap one a year or so ago, and have used it to hang 6/7 things at this stage. While it's not the most reliable, I still find it very handy.

Always take a few runs to get a consistent reading, then verify by measuring the studs spacing. Has served me well so far and was €10-€15 if I remember right.

What make is it?

CoBo55

kadman wrote: »

Like you did you mean??

I am gone from this, as I dont want to derail it with any arguments over being called a bollox.

Good day..

Oh stop being a baby I didn't call you a bollox, I said people were talking bollox, there's a huge difference. If you read my post properly I said I was looking for a stud finder too so obviously wasn't in a position to make recommendations.

Wolftown

CoBo55 wrote: »

What make is it?

No proper make or branding on it, bought on Amazon for £15. Checked my order history and brand is listed as 'Tavool'

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B08G1NLCTY/ref=ppx_yo_mob_b_inactive_ship_o0_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

ozmo

Ive a Flir thermal camera and it can sometimes see features behind the wall. Works best with outside walls as there is a bigger temperature difference.

I also use small magnets from a toy -search for buckyball. They stick to the nails in wall showing the stud outline.

dodzy

I have one of these years now. Good piece of kit. The self leveling laser is a great addition. Mad money now though. I paid 50€ for it many moons ago.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000B8LLH2?psc=1&th=1&ascsubtag=4155616%7Cnc8d6cda5bd6f40649c4b96cc2a44349610&linkCode=gs2&tag=dotdash21-21

awec

Lumen wrote: »

As far as I know stud finders don't find studs, they find fixings.

Unless the studs are metal.

No, they find studs. They should even be able to tell you where the centre of the stud is.

I have a cheapo one from Amazon, it's ok. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07JLFJN2L/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

If I was buying one now I'd get a proper branded one from a known brand like Stanley or whatever, you'll get the use out of it.

Paremon

Thanks for the replies all. So after a lot of research online I ordered an electronic Zircon A250 4-in-1 stud finder which has reasonable reviews and for good measure a dedicated magnetic stud fixing finder by
CH Hanson which has very good reviews & supposedly is very reliable. I intend using both for d measure.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07JP67TL8/ref=cm_sw_r_u_apa_glt_fabc_dl_HXRVZG7D1ZR7CJGX3N32
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000IKK0OI/ref=cm_sw_r_wa_apa_glt_fabc_XXNA03QZJE057EA6CR23

I considered the Franklin Sensors FSPRO10+ after very good reviews but settled on the cheaper & allegedly just as good CH Hanson, albeit with less features.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0195K8OT4/ref=cm_sw_r_u_apa_glt_fabc_VTWY16T9XYX7YBQ1X9EV

Fingers crossed they do the trick. I'll report back here if so.

Btw, 2 good YouTube vids that I came across during my research & which I'd recommend to anyone who is either frustrated with their existing stud finder (you're not using it correctly apparently) or looking to buy one (good shoot out).

https://youtu.be/cTnlU-4cP0w

https://youtu.be/sWMJhfMPWn4

rob316

I found the stud finders rubbish to be honest, just knock on the wall and get a magnet I still find the best method.