Electronic Stud Finder W/AC Detection

I bought this product at Fry's not knowing the negative reviews. I used it in two different houses to locate studs behind plaster walls. It mostly worked just fine, occasionally only giving false readings. Rescanning helped. With gypsum wall about 1/2 inch thick, this device detects studs fairly reliably. I used it so I could find good spots to attach little lamps, shelves, etc.Sometimes I saw electrical line indicator lit up, and I suspect it was bogus.As a test I tried to scan through the pine table, about 1/2 inch thick, and it was impossible to detect supporting plank below this wooden surface (even with deep scan). With plaster boards I sometimes need to either slow down a bit, and slide it more carefully, or just try again. Each time I was able to precisely locate a framing element. Just hold it tight, and slide with button depressed till it finds the edge of a stud.I use this product once in a while, to find a place to hang something heavier, and I didn't want to spend more for a professional scanner. With gypsum walls it works just fine. 4 starts only for occasional hiccups.

This thing is so hard to use! I dug it out of my husband's tool box to use for hanging curtain rods. I struggled to get the end cap off to change the battery, but finally did. Tried to figure out what kind of battery it took, cause there was no sticker on there. Tried a few before it dawned on me, "Oh, it's a 9 volt!" Got a working battery and the cap back on. Calibrated and was confused by the multiple displays and beeps. Watched a video on how to use it. Twice. Tried again. Watched video again. Tried again. If this wall just one giant stud? Not likely! Tried to put into deep scan mode, but that required literally using a screwdriver. I swear I'm not a super weakling, but this thing was apparently designed to keep poor little women who don't want to break a nail (or a thumb!) from using it. "Make it harder to get the cap off! Make it really hard to switch from regular to deep scan!" And why do I have to hold the power button the whole time I'm scanning for studs? Why can't it just stay on until you turn it off? My thumb is already tired from trying to switch to deep scan before I resorted to a screwdriver, and after a minute I can't hold the button pressed in anymore, and I don't have a reliable reading yet. Too weak to press down more. Oops, power went off. Turn it back on and recalibrate. Again. More annoying beeps and what looks like a wall full of electrical wires and studs, but who knows. Put it on the table and decide to make my husband use it later, though that probably means another month until the curtain rods are up. Hey, at least I didn't throw it across the room!

I've had this for several years, and I agree with most everyone, this can be difficult or impossible to use. It can work, but you have to use common sense when seems to beep too often or too little, despite calibration. Since the newer models have better reviews, I am assuming the technology has improved and I will buy a different Zircon model.

This stud denser does an excellent job and I recommend it .

This is an absolutely horrible device for finding studs. I actually tested it on a hollow wooden door where it would always come up with a wire detection and several studs. Replaced the battery with the same results.....totally worthless!

The normal stud scan mode won't hold calibration worth a damn... and in the 1 and 10 chance you can move it 5 inches without it blinking due to "bad calibration" you get inconsistent hits all over the place."Deep scan" mode seems to work better but thats only because it disables the calibration feature but it has the same problems the other scan mode has. Totally inconsistent hits!I'm trying to finish a quick project before I return this product... I wish I could say it was DIFFICULT to use, but its IMPOSSIBLE to use! I can't find a single stud with any certainty! Its back to the 'ol hammer and ear method until I can find something better. Doesn't this company do any sort of Quality Control??

This product is a waste of space. 1 star is too generous but I dunno how to remove the star and at least it finally worked. I should have read the reviews here before I bought this thing. Like others, this thing needs to reset itself, but as soon as you try to move it across the drywall, it loses it and starts buzzing an error and you need to stop, reset, and try again. I tried moving my hand really slowly and made sure the device maintained full contact with the wall. Took several trial and errors but it did finally detect a stud. Very irritating to use and requires a LOT of patience. Too sensitive to motion, not worth the price.

I bought this unit from Home Depot because it's the only brand of stud-finder they seem to carry in my area. It simply does not function. When I held the unit to the wall and pressed the button to "calibrate", all I got was a flashing screen and absolutely no stud-finding. I thought perhaps the batteries that it came with were poor so I changed them. Same result. Stay away from this POS.