What Is A Stud Finder?
A stud finder is a carpentry tool used in buildings to locate wood or steel uprights within the walls. The walls could be dry walls or plaster.
These uprights or studs as they are called could be made of wood or steel. The studs are placed in a perpendicular position with a spacing of 16 or 24 inches apart.
You may be planning to wall mount a picture on your wall or hanging a picture or making repairs to the drywall or even laying a new electrical outlet. In all these cases you have to first locate where your studs or uprights are located. These are the only areas on which you can drive a nail or screw. The stud finder tool helps you to locate the studs.
Types of Stud Finders
There are two types of stud finders and they are the following:
Stud Finder using Magnets
The first model of the stud finder is the one that uses magnets. It was introduced in the early part of the last century. These could detect metal in the studs or uprights. These use magnets to locate the metal in the studs. This stud finder is of two types.
- Stationary Magnetic Stud Finder 2. Moving Magnetic Stud Finder.
Stationary Magnet Stud Finder
This stud finder uses a small fixed magnet to detect the nails and screws in the upright. The user has to depend on his feeling to locate the metal. Based on the intensity of attraction the user identifies the metal in the upright. The effectiveness of this type is limited.
Moving Magnetic Stud Finder
This product uses a rare earth magnet that is suspended in a confined space. When not in use it is held in place within this space. As you move the equipment and if it detects metal it will move out of that location with a strong force. In this case, the user does not have to feel the intensity of the attraction. The movement of the magnet will indicate the presence of metal.
Stud Finder using Electronic technology
Electronic sensors are used to identify changes in the wall. These sensors are capable of identifying the difference in the density of the materials and the electrical waves within the wall. By identifying these differences, you can detect a stud. Some of the newer versions that use internal capacitors can detect metal and also live AC voltage.
Present appliances use radar technology to perform this function. For additional information, you can log into studfindertool.com.
