Product Description

Stud Sensor I65 Onestep, Finds Center & Edges Of Studs & Joists, Finds Copper & Other Non-Ferrous Metal Pipes Up To 1-1/2" Deep, Finds Rebar & FerrousMetal In Concrete Up To 3" Deep, Also Detects Hot AC Wires, Includes DVD How To Guide, Uses 9V Battery, Included.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #542 in Home Improvement
• Color: YELLOW
• Brand: Zircon
• Model: SS i65
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 1.14 pounds

Features

• Locates the edges and center of wood or metal studs up to 1 1/2-Inch (38 mm) deep
• Easy-to-read LCD display, audio tone and the patented spotLite pointing system indicate stud center
• WireWarning detection indicates the presence of live, unshielded electrical wiring up to 2-Inch (51 mm) deep
• Should scanning begin over a stud, Zircon's patented "over-the-stud" indicator alerts the user to start the scan in a new location
• Have questions? Need more information? Call the Zircon Customer Service department at 1-800-245-9265, Monday-Friday 9am - 5pm PST. We'll be happy to help!

From the Manufacturer
Zircon's StudSensor i65 OneStep quickly and easily locates the edges and center of wood and metal studs and joists behind walls, floors and ceilings. Patented CenterVision technology finds the center of studs in a single pass. Its easy-to-read display screen indicates directions, edges and center of studs, while WireWarning detection indicates the presence of live AC voltage. FEATURES: Stud Scan mode locates the edges and center of wood or metal studs up to 3/4-Inch (19 mm) deep -- DeepScan mode doubles the scanning depth to 1 1/2-Inch (38 mm) -- LCD display indicates direction, edges and center of studs -- Patented SpotLite Pointing System and audio tone signals when the stud center is reached -- WireWarning detection indicates the presence of live, unshielded electrical wiring up to 2-Inch (51 mm) deep -- ACT (Auto Correcting Technology) automatically corrects common user errors, such as when scanning begins over a stud

Customer Reviews

A Few Tips for Wood Lath & Plaster Walls
This i65 unit from Zircon works very well, based on my experience. I have been remodeling a very old home for three years, and it included removing and working with existing wood lath with plaster walls.

Conventional wisdom says none of the modern-day Stud Sensors work with wood lath and plaster walls, and the reasons cited include...
1) The rows of wood lath can vary in thickness -- thereby, throwing off the reading depth of the sensor.
2) When plaster is applied, it is forced through the gaps in the wood lath and builds up behind the lath to lock the plaster to the wall upon drying. These varying thicknesses also throw off the accuracy of these stud sensors.

Yes, I agree with all of that on merit -- but I've used the i65 successfully after realizing a few things. First of all, many owners never bother to read the instructions, and try to use these devices too quickly. Here are a few tips that might help...
a) Set the unit flat against the wall and press and hold the left-side button. This will result in a flash of its red locator light and a short beep. This sets the initial depth reading.
b) Keeping the unit pressed against the wall, continue pressing that button (do not release it after setting the depth)-- then start sliding it slowly on a horizontal line parallel to the floor. When you reach the leading edge of a stud it will show the gauge on the device, and when you reach the center of that stud the red light will come on indicating that centerline.
c) If the device fails to locate a stud within 16 inches of your starting point (typically, more like within 8 or 12 inches) a few possibilities could have occurred: 1) You started off directly on a stud by chance. 2) You moved the device too quickly. 3) You hit large pockets of plaster by chance.

Solution?
Move the device down (or up) about an inch from your original level, reset the depth reading as described earlier -- and try again.

Using this method, my i65 read accurately thru a layer of 1/2" drywall on top of cracked deteriorating plaster of about 3/4" thickness, and that was on top of 3/8" thick wood lath -- finding the studs accurately nearly every time. Do you get the occasional misread? Yes. But the device acts differently when that happens.

For instance, the red light may never come on.
This is a sign of moving too quickly, or of hitting an odd pocket of very dense plaster during the initial read -- in my opinion.

Or it may show a narrow gauge reading on the screen, which quickly disappears. Again, slow down and maintain an even horizontal movement as best you can, shifting its position.

Believe me. I've been working on this old house for 3 years. This device definitely works! And if you ever hear me mention the word "remodel", again, please SHOOT ME!! 8-) I'm sure I'll be happy once this ordeal is through. But there have been a few tools which I've bought during this time that actually WORK -- and this is one of them.

The other, invaluable remodeling tools I've purchased include DeWalt battery-operated circular saw and drills, Milwaukee Sawzall for ripping out pipes (corded is best, with the rotating handle), and my Makita combination saw. Give credit where credit is due! Zircon builds a good product.

Works flawlessly.
I was researching these things like crazy. Everytime I found a good one, there would be a review saying it sucked. I finally went into the nearby Lowes to see them in person.

Once there, I was just as lost. Then I noticed a display case Zircon had set up. They had a piece of drywall with a wooden stud behind it. Hanging below it dangled this Zircon unit begging to be tested. I ran it over the drywall and it found the stud every time. I did it at least 10 times and it gave perfect results. Even better, it shows you in 'real time' via the LCD display where the edges and center are. The LCD literally shows the stud moving across it while you slide the unit past the stud. When it reaches the center, it gives a loud beep and a red laser lights up showing you the exact center spot.

I bought it and headed home. I ran all over the house. It found studs every time. I should note my home was built in 1996 and contains smooth normal drywall and gypsum walls. I'm very satisfied with this simple studfinder.

Note: Move it slowly for best results.

Good for the price
This is a nice little (not so little, though) tool to have. I could find my studs with good accuracy. The drywalls in my house (5/8 inch thick) had a textured surface, so i used a manila folder on top while scanning (as said in the video manual). One problem i have seen so far is that if you press the stud finder lightly on the wall, it may not detect anything. You have to move it slow and pressed a little hard to the wall. But if i dont use any cardboard underneath while scanning, i dont have to press that hard.

I thought this device would tell me if it is a metal stud or wood stud. But this one does not have that feature. it will detect anything (metal or wood) underneath, but it wont tell you what is beneath the wall. for that, you have to buy the higher end models.