Stud finder
Photo: Betterinventions / CC BY-SA 3.0
A stud finder saves you from guessing where to hang a shelf, a TV bracket or baseboard. The videos here compare electronic finders with simpler methods: tapping, a magnet that finds nails, and drilling a small test hole. Our guide to how to find a stud gives the full comparison.
Always find both edges of the stud, mark them and measure from there, since studs are usually spaced evenly. Electronic finders can be fooled by pipes, wires and thick paint, so check the result by a second method. Walls can hide cables and plumbing. Do not drill deep near outlets, switches or a bathroom wall. Studs matter when you build built-in bookshelves or install baseboard.
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