On Feb 9, 9:43*am, Swingman wrote:
On 2/9/2013 8:16 AM, Greg Guarino wrote:

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.

Tough to do with an inexpensive stud finder or other inexpensive
electronics, and even Leon's favorite earth magnet trick won't work with
some of the lath behind plaster walls.

The only way we've been successful is to start on a corner, measure the
usual 16 OC, then pray/sound with a 1/16" drill bit ... small enough to
cover up with a close match of putty.

IME, and no matter how much you spend on a Borg stud finder for a
plaster wall, you end up doing that anyway.

--
eWoodShop:www.eWoodShop.com
Wood Shop:http://www.e-WoodShop.nethttps://plu.../by/ewoodshop/
KarlCaillouet@ (the obvious)

OK. Was 16" "standard" before there was sheetrock? (and yes, I'm aware
that even if it was, I might not find that spacing) The house was
built in 1939, I think. My house has plaster walls as well, but over
"plasterboard"; like sheetrock, but with a grid of holes for the
plaster to grab onto. Their house is just plaster on lath.