Zircon StudSensor i65 Center-Finding Stud Finder with DVD How-To Guide

 (57 customer reviews)

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...Read more

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...Read more

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.