A stud is an upright piece of wood that is used to create the frame of your home. Most people really do not ever need to deal with these studs, but when you want to anchor an oversized mirror or picture frame or a piece of furniture such as a book case, it can be extremely valuable to know how you can find these studs when you need them. When you anchor something to the wall, you want to be able to do so using a stud, and so having a stud finder will be particularly useful for this purpose.

There are two different variations of the stud finder:

Magnetic stud finders are inexpensive and they make use of magnetism in order to identify the nails or the screws that are embedded within the studs. These tools tend to work pretty well in more basic situations, however they are generally best used when you supplement them to the use of a regular electronic type of stud finder. One of the troubles that come with the magnetic stud finders, however, is that they are also capable of identifying or detecting metal conduits and pipes, meaning that you will need to be rather diligent about actually marking each location of the real studs as you find them.

Electronic stud finders are the easier stud finders to use, and they also happen to be the most precise means by which you can locate a stud within a wall. The way that these stud finders work is by measuring a wall's relative density. Whenever the stud finder identifies an area where the relative density is higher, it will light up to indicate that there is more than likely a stud present there.

You should be looking for a stud finder that has a scanning depth that is at least 1.5 inches. Many stud finders also come with an automatic recalibration feature, and this is particularly useful when you begin to scan a stud and then accidently move away from it. If you are planning to drill deep or nail deep into the studs, such as 3 inches or even deeper, then it will be worthwhile for you to invest in a stud sensor capable of identifying when there are wires that are embedded within the studs. Most modern stud finders are made from plastic that is light weight and yet extremely rugged. Some even come with special pads that are non-marring to make sure that they do not cause any damage to your walls.

No matter which stud finder you decide to use, you should make sure that you mark the location of the stud using a pencil. If you need to find a number of different studs, pull out a measuring tape and mark 16 to 24 inches from the center of each located stud as wood studs are 16 inches spaced apart and metal ones are 24 inches apart.

Photo Credits: fille_de_photo

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Handy Man, Tools

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book case, electronic type, magnetism, metal conduits, mirror, nails, picture frame, piece of furniture, pipes, relative density, screws, stud finder, stud finders, stud sensor, studs, variations