{"id":26173,"date":"2022-12-27T21:19:03","date_gmt":"2022-12-27T21:19:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2022\/12\/27\/are-expensive-stud-finders-worth-buying-review-geek\/"},"modified":"2022-12-27T21:19:03","modified_gmt":"2022-12-27T21:19:03","slug":"are-expensive-stud-finders-worth-buying-review-geek","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2022\/12\/27\/are-expensive-stud-finders-worth-buying-review-geek\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Expensive Stud Finders Worth Buying? \u2013 Review Geek"},"content":{"rendered":"

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It doesn’t have to be a guessing game. <\/p>\n

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While most stud finders are glorified magnets, expensive ones do a better job and scan thicker walls, which is essential. None of them are foolproof, but anything is better than nothing.<\/p>\n

Stud finders are an invaluable tool that everyone should have at home, but do expensive ones work any better? When hanging pictures, mounting that fancy new 75-inch TV to the wall, or working on a DIY project at home, you\u2019ll want a good tool to safely find studs and avoid electric wires behind the wall.<\/p>\n

While you can always use the \u201cknock, listen, and guess\u201d method or get a cheap stud finder at a nearby grocery or home improvement store, putting holes in the wall is risky business. And there\u2019s nothing worse than missing a stud entirely and having to put another hole in your wall.<\/p>\n

You can get cheap stud finders for around $10<\/a> or spend $50-$100 on a high-end stud finder or professional multi-sensor. Below, we\u2019ll go over some important factors and explain if more expensive stud finders are even worth buying.<\/p>\n

What is a Stud Finder<\/h2>\n
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Stud finders are a popular tool you\u2019ll find in commercial construction, and many homeowners have them for mounting pictures, mirrors, and shelves. As the name suggests, this tool can help you find studs hiding behind your painted drywall.<\/p>\n

Before that fresh coat of paint in a house, walls look like the image above. All those lines cover the holes from nails and screws going through the drywall into wooden studs and the house framing.<\/p>\n

When trying to hammer a nail into the wall and hang a heavy picture frame, you\u2019ll want that nail or screw in a wood stud, not just the drywall. And even though drywall anchors and fasteners will work in a pinch, you\u2019re better off finding a stud in your wall. Plus, anchors make huge holes.<\/p>\n

Stud finders are typically sold in two options: a magnetic finder that locates screws or an electric model with a few extra features and sensors. Depending on what you buy, you\u2019ll have an easier time hammering into the wood. Some even promise to show you the \u201cinside of your wall\u201d if you spend enough money<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Do Cheap Stud Finders Work?<\/h2>\n
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Electronic stud finders typically run on a battery, actively detect studs using sensors, and can often find the density of a stud as well. Some can see wood and metal, and more expensive models even have an AC power detection feature.<\/p>\n

I have a $10 stud finder similar to the model pictured above, and after spending a few minutes with it, I\u2019ll quickly get frustrated by all the false positives, beeping, and weirdness. All it does is beep when it senses something, and I\u2019m unsure if I\u2019m about to drill into wood, a metal pipe, or hit some electrical wires. No thanks! And trying to use a magnetic stud finder is even worse and mostly a guessing game.<\/p>\n

The problem is that not all homes are built the same. Some use 5\/8-inch drywall, you could have 1\/2-inch drywall, some have shiplap or decorative wood on top of the drywall, and some homes use other materials entirely. Unless you build a new home, you likely don\u2019t know wall material depth, and cheap stud finders are general-purpose tools lacking in features. Many won\u2019t read through a thick wall, rendering it useless.<\/p>\n

Benefits of Spending More Money<\/h2>\n

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