On Oct 3, 2:39*pm, dpb wrote:
Richard Evans wrote:

...

Any suggestions?

I basically start w/ the baseboard and find where it was nailed.
Investigation there generally will find the pattern.

--

A very powerful magnet (about size of end of one thumb) can be
scrapped out of an older style hard drive.

These are are so strong that two will attract and hold through a two
inch diameter tree sapling!

One of these can be gently moved over a plasterboard wall and will
hold 'themselves' in place wherever there is a nail or a screw. It's
like the old expression; "If your underpants fall down use stronger
elastic". In this case a 'stronger magnet'!

Also noticed that one way to determine if there is an electric current
actually flowing in wires (there has to be something plugged in and/or
switched on for current to flow) is to hold one of these magnets
close the wiring and vibration will be felt due to the 60 hertz
alternation of current through the wires. This works even though the
two wires carrying current, live and neutral, are close together, or
even twisted.

One amusing sidelight; is that someone was using one of these strong
magnets on the end of a piece of string, to retrieve something but
avoid moving a heavy metal filing cabinet. The magnet swung slightly
and was attracted to the filing cabinet; where it stuck like glue.
Don't know if they then moved the cabinet anyway or just abandoned the
magnet until some future time!