There must be a better way to find studs behind stucco than measuring out and drilling a bunch of holes, hoping to hit some wood.
If you have a great method, please do tell.
We were doing this at the end of a 32′ ladder, running cable trays up a wall. Left something to be desired.
The ToolBear
“Never met a man who couldn’t teach me something.” Anon.
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Replies
Not that this helps but I found in my 2 experiences dealing with old houses is that even if the studs are 16 oc, by the time you get to the middle of the board it could be an 1 1/2" off or more!!!
Drove me nuts too.
Wonder what others do?
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WWPD
Sounds like this is on the exterior. What's on the other side of the wall? Could you do your stud finding there, marking the locations on a story stick? Then you'd only need to find one with exploratory holes, and just transfer all the rest. That's assuming the problem is that the layout is irregular or inaccurate.
-- J.S.
Hotel stair well on the far side. Transfering layout would be interesting.The ToolBear
"Never met a man who couldn't teach me something." Anon.
Has anyone heard of the wallscanner from bosch? I bought an sds max hammer and the web address was on the cleaning rag. It looks like a pretty serious studfinder but it doesnt seem to be available in the states. I know the hammer is made in germany so maybe thats why the site was on the cloth.
BTW heres the site: http://www.wallscanner.com
I pretty much gave up on stud finders for plaster, I say something in one of Gary Katz' books about using a rare earth magnet. I tore apart an old computer hard drive and took the rare earth magnets out and just move them across the wall. The magnet will stay right there on the wall when you find the drywall screw. Rare earth magnets are extremely strong, 10x a regular magnet. I don't know how well this might work in your situation with what the stucco is bonded to but I figured I throw it out there. If you don't have any older hard drives, you can get rare earth magnets at Woodcraft, etc.
Besides the accuracy of the magnets, it either sticks or it does not so its always right, I really like how it will stay right on the wall were the stud is so I can shoot nails, drill, etc. On a finished, already painted wall there is no need to make any marks, just leave the magnet hang, do you work and move on.
I bought a big one of those on line, 1" cube. Couldn't find the link, but I found out about it over on the Taunton Knots forum. A guy there uses them for finding metal in old wood that he re-mills. I keep mine in a heavy duty plastic bag. That makes it easy to clean off the tiny metal fragments that want to stick to it. It's plenty strong enough to use inside the bag for that protection.
-- J.S.
Seems to me, if it's real stucco, with stucco wire nailed over the sheathing with roofing nails:That magnet ain't going to do you much good.I have a Zircon stud finder that works well on drywall. However, even on it's "deep scan mode" Lath and plaster is a little dicey.Anybody try those X-ray glasses from the back of the comic books?
Magnets ...
I'd try that inside, but I think we're hosed with all that metal stucco lath waiting.
The ToolBear
"Never met a man who couldn't teach me something." Anon.
That's what I figured but I thought I'd throw it out there.
Got me thinking though. If you have access to the inside finished wall, you could use the magnet to find the studs on the inside, write down the measurements from the corner then use that to find them on the outside. It's a little more work but if your 100% accurate then it will save time by not having to find all the studs blind.
Actually, that probably would work. I will suggest same to Der Boss. See what happens.The ToolBear
"Never met a man who couldn't teach me something." Anon.
We've had a lot of success with the rare earth magnet too. I have a old Zircon studfinder that works good, but the magnet helps establish that it's a stud - not a pipe, wire, etc. I don't have an answer (other than mentioned) to the stucco problem, except trying to establish the pattern from known studs.
Here's a trick that may or may not work...drill one hole, use a piece of stiff wire (coat hanger works well) and bend into a "u" shape..each leg 16 inches long and insert one leg into hole...angle the wire to enter hole in upwards direction. You may have to bend wire temporarily into "L" shape while inserting, and then bend outside leg up into "U." Once in hole , rotate wire left and/or right...if inside leg touches stud, the outside leg will pin-point the location.
Davo
Coat hanger stud finder ...
Hey, that's an interesting idea - and I have saved a few wire coat hangers. Try to find one now a days.
Thanks for the tip.
The ToolBear
"Never met a man who couldn't teach me something." Anon.
Drill your first hole (smallish, maybe 1/4”) and bend a piece of stiff wire in a symmetrical U shape.
Slip one side in the hole and rotate right and left until you hit a stud. Most of the time you’ll find one within one or two holes.
The other side of the U is in the same spot as the edge of the stud when you hit it inside the wall..
Works great every time.