Stud-Finder User's Guide and Tool Review

The stud-finder... also know as a stud detector or stud sensor is an awesome handyman tool. Before this handyman tool came along you had to measure from a known stud over 16 or 24 inches and begin to hammer a nail into the wall hoping to contact the stud before you put a series of holes that would eventually need repair. For the handyman or handy-woman it makes hanging pictures, shelves or even flat panel TV mounts (where you MUST connect to a stud) much easier.

There are 3 types...

1. The first and probably the least desirable is the magnetic detector. This unit detects the screws or nails placed into the studs to determine the location of the studs put there during the construction of the walls. The problem with this one is that if you're not directly over the nail or screw... you won't find the stud

2. The second uses an internal capacitor plate to detect the changes in the dielectric constant of the wall... WHAT??? That's some big brain stuff there, basically as the user moves the tool over the surface of the wall, A change in the dielectric constant indicates a dense object behind the wall... most of the time it's the stud! These types are the most common and are generally known as "edge" finders. They have to be moved from side to side to find both edges and then the center of the stud can be determined.
The "High Speed" center finders have multiple sensors and can find the stud's center by moving from one direction to the other. The Center Finder stud-finders are also known as "One Step" finders.
You can find these with all kinds of "add-on" features that locate metal and live AC voltage.

3. The third uses a small radar system (cool!) to show exactly where the edges of the studs are behind the drywall.