How do i find studs without a stud finder

Q: What can I use instead of a stud finder?

If you dont have an electronic stud finder, you can locate studs with nothing more than a table lamp. Remove the shade, turn on the lamp and hold the bare bulb 10 to 12 inches away from the wall.

Hanging mirrors and art is a way to showcase your artistic taste. Hanging other items, like your framed college degree or special certificate you received, is a way to display your achievements from going the extra step.

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What Are Studs, and Why Do They Matter?
How to Find Wall Studs
Further Reading
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What Can I Do Without a Stud Finder?
How Far Apart Are Studs in a Wall?
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What can I use instead of a stud finder?
Can I use my phone as a stud finder?
How do you find a stud manually?

Walls can also provide space for extra storage — think of shelves in a pantry or along the garage’s perimeter.

Beyond decorating and storing, you also need to secure heavy pieces of furniture to a wall to prevent them from tipping.

Of course, to keep these items hanging on your wall in place, you must first find a secure place to fasten them.

What Are Studs, and Why Do They Matter?

Whenever you’re fastening anything to a wall, you need to find the stud. A stud is the upright support of the wall to which the drywall is attached. The distance between studs varies from home to home.

When hanging heavy objects, you must hammer your nail into the stud. If you don’t, you risk having that object’s weight rip open your drywall.

At this point, you might be wondering: Since studs are hidden by drywall, how can you know where they are?

Well, you could purchase an electronic stud finder, but they’re not always reliable.

Here’s a simple trick that you can use with items you might already have lying around your home.

How to Find Wall Studs

1. Tape a 1-inch-diameter rare-earth magnet to a piece of string.

2. Measure, from the floor, up 4 feet, which is where there’s likely a horizontal seam between two drywall sheets. Then slide the magnet along the wall at 4 feet high, moving it up and down.

3. Wait for the magnet to pass a nail or screw. You’ll know when this happens because it will stick in place.

Watch the video above for the demonstration!

Joe Truini is a seasoned contractor, accomplished author and hosts Simple Solutions on Today’s Homeowner TV. He also hits the airwaves every week alongside Danny Lipford as co-host for Today’s Homeowner Radio. Joe is a handy guy, who’s always on the lookout for ways to make the job of home improvement easier and more efficient.

If you don't have an electronic stud finder, you can locate studs behind drywall with nothing more than a table lamp.

By Gary Branson

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When you're putting up shelves or hanging large pictures or mirrors on a wall, it's important to drive the nails or screws into wall studs. The challenge is finding those studs.

What Can I Do Without a Stud Finder?

If you don't have an electronic stud finder, you can locate studs with nothing more than a table lamp. Remove the shade, turn on the lamp and hold the bare bulb 10 to 12 inches away from the wall. Look for the silhouettes of nailheads or drywall tape as the side light skims the surface of the wall; you should find a stud directly behind the nailheads or tape. Then, look for the additional studs nearby.

How Far Apart Are Studs in a Wall?

Look for other studs spaced either 16 or 24 inches on center.

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What can I use instead of a stud finder?

If you don't have an electronic stud finder, you can locate studs with nothing more than a table lamp. Remove the shade, turn on the lamp and hold the bare bulb 10 to 12 inches away from the wall.

Can I use my phone as a stud finder?

Transform your Android device into a magnetic stud finder with the Stud Finder 2021 app. The useful tool allows you to see through walls and locate any metal in the desired area. Simply move your phone close to the wall and see if it finds something.