CH Hanson 03040 Magnetic Stud Finder
by CH Hanson
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List Price: Our Price: $5.42 You Save: $10.57 (66%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Category: Tools See more product details |
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of CH Hanson 03040 Magnetic Stud Finder
Customer Review: Amazing Stud Finder!
Summary: 5 Stars
As a very handy guy, I have always relied on the tried and true knocking trick to locate studs behind the wall and then approximate their center. But when the time came to mount over 100 lbs on the wall (50 inch plasma TV and surround bar speaker with an Omnimount cantilever mount) I didn't want to take any chances.
I ordered this on Amazon figuring if it didn't work I'd just return it. To my astonishment it worked like a charm. It literally sticks to the wall (without your help) when it magnetically connects with a nail (which are typically driven directly into the middle of a stud behind your wall). Using the embedded level (which was a genius addition) you can mark a point directly beneath the located nail.
To be certain the nails were lined up, I would find a few up and down a given stud using this tool and then use my longer level to make sure they were all in the same place. After a few minutes, I was very confident that I had the center and I proceeded to drill the holes into the wall.
This product will definitely impress you. It's incredibly strong and accurate and its very small and easy to use. I highly recommend this tool and urge you to try it so that you can see how great it is too. You will not be disappointed. Don't waste any money on electric or expensive stud finders until you try this. If you've always used the knocking method than this will only make life easier because the tool stays on the wall which makes marking very easy.
Customer Review: Easy to use when looking for studs behind drywall
Summary: 5 Stars
This little magnet device is exactly 3 inches long including the protruding ring, and a little over 2.5 inches otherwise. It's 1.25 inches wide. The magnet seems fairly strong.
The packaging says it contains rare earth material and while that's an interesting selling point, I doubt it has more than an irrelevant amount of rare earth metals. Rare earth metals would be too expensive to use in a material way.
In general, magnet stud finders are for locating studs behind drywall, and battery powered stud finders are for finding studs in any situation including behind plaster. If a house is genuinely old, it probably has plaster and you wouldn't be able to use this little stud finder.
There are limitations to using this stud finder even with drywall. Namely, this stud finder actually finds nails. Those nails will be in a stud to be sure, but they might not be in the middle of the stud and they are vertically spaced. Even so, this is a reliable way to locate studs. Moreover, this unit actually does stick to the wall when the magnet locates a stud, freeing up the hands to use tools, screws and such.
I think this is a great tool for its purpose. It may be overpriced considering its size, but it would not benefit from being any bigger. I recommend it for the purpose I outlined.
Customer Review: Good with some limitations
Summary: 4 Stars
Pros:
-Very small and compact. Measures 3"H x 1"W.
-Hands-free ability to stick on wall which frees both hands to do whatever it is you need to do.
Limitations compared to a typical stud finder:
-Can't locate edges of studs. There are some situations where you might need to screw as close to the stud edge as possible (e.g, hanging 2 things onto one stud, something not quite long enough to completely cover 2 studs, hanging closet tracks with predrilled holes).
-Your desired drilling spot might be too far from the drywall screws that the magnetic stud finder can find. In order to be precise, you will need to use a vertical leveler or locate 2 drywall screws and use a straight edge to connect them. Not a major issue but it is an added step.
-If you are hanging drywall onto bare studs, this magnetic stud finder won't help.
BOTTOM LINE:
I was initially skeptical, but this stud finder works well for most situations. Being so small and hands-free really is a nice benefit. However, many people will want to have a standard stud finder around as well.
Customer Review: A Building Contractor's Dream
Summary: 5 Stars
Simple, straightforward, and pretty much idiotproof, this little tool is a delight to use - not only because it works, but because it's actually *fun*! The tiny little magnets are amazingly strong, and can locate the nails or screws used to hold sheetrock or lath to studs every time. Once the stud is located, the tool can be left to hang magnetically from the fastener it found and act as a guide to locate the stud in the wall using the built in level vials. I used to hate trying to locate studs in walls - now I love it! An added bonus is that the tool is small, and won't fall out of your tool box, thanks to those magnets. Also, forget about finding your stud finder can't be sued because of a dead battery, since this doesn't use any. Only possible drawback is that the small size, coupled with the fact that it will hold against the wall while you work, means the chance that it'll get left behind or covered over by a cabinet being installed. No matter - these are inexpensive enough to lose and not cry over. Great idea, CH Hanson!!Customer Review: CH Hanson 03040
Summary: 5 Stars
This stud finder was marked down to $5 the other day in a local big box store but no one was buying it. I'm such sucker for tools, and for $5, I gave it a try. Wow this is really nice! The magnets are super strong and had no problem finding nail heads right away. I have another type of magnetic detector, two other electronic stud finders and a metal detector wand for extracting nails in recycle wood but this one is my favorite for now.
To find a stud sometimes you need to use every trick in the book - magnetic, electronic, old school tapping for sound, drilling small holes and/or sticking in an inspection camera.
Both electronic stud finders, even setting for deep penetration, were useless in old buildings with lath and plaster but this Hanson 03040 did not have any problems finding iron nails attached to the studs.
Its just couple of small strong magnets in a plastic housing but it works! For $5 each, I'm going back to get a few more to leave at various job sites.