On 2/9/2013 8:16 AM, Greg Guarino wrote:

Their house is plaster on lath if memory serves. Wood strips, I think,
not wire. [This is an ancient memory. My parents had a larger closet
made when I was a very young boy and I was allowed to bash away at the
plaster for a little while. I remember being disappointed when I came
back from school and found that the rest of the demolition had already
been completed. ]

Anyway, I have no experience finding studs in that kind of
construction. The walls are too rigid for me to just sound them out
with my fist. I don't own a stud finder, but I might buy one if it's
of any use in that kind of wall. I'm not eager to drill a series of
holes that I'll need to repair, and then match the paint. If it comes
down to it, I suppose I could remove the base molding and drill holes
at the bottom of the wall, but the molding is finished oak, and a
little complicated, and would be very hard to replace if an oaf like
me were to damage it.

Know anyone with a ground penetrating radar unit? Call the Feds and tell
them you "think" you might have a lead on Jimmy Hoffa.g

Seriously, two things to consider:

1) Use heavy duty Molly anchors. Drill a pilot for them first and if if
you hit a stud, shift gears and start measuring for the rest of them.

2) stay with the Molly's if you don't hit a stud first thing, if you
eventually hit one, just switch gears for THAT mount.

3) Go down to the Borg and buy a Zircon Stud Finder. Not the most
expensive one, but not the cheapest either. I had their original one, a
black thing with LED's that looked like a TV remote. Didn't work all
that well. Took another bite of the apple several years later and got
one that cost me about $20 - $25 and love it. WTH, if it doesn't work
out, you can always return it for a refund, right?