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#1
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where to get a drywall 'nail locator'?
All I need is a simple nail finder/locator for finding the nails in
the drywall. I KNOW where the studs are, but need to find screws/nails behind the taping plaster. I remember years ago using a magnet mounted in a 'gimbal' structure that pointed to a nail. Unsuccessfully tried to make one. the one I made keeps missing the fasteners! If it 'sees' one, it is there, but even though I know there should be a nail somewhere within inches, can't find it. Usually misses screws, finds nails. Closest walkin so far has been Home Depot Zircon whizbang for $49. TOO MUCH!! I don't want to find studs, just the nails Next best has been Harbor Freight, Cen-Tec unit 5 in 1 for $8.99 Sounds great, I once ordered a Cen-Tech Sound Level Meter $14.99 before from them, very satisfied customer, replaced our $100+ unit. But this latest requirement just rankles me to pay 8.99 +6.99 shipping total of 15.98 for a simple little widget. You guys ALWAYS know where to get stuff at great prices. Any help? Anybody got one to send me, or provide a URL to get something? |
#2
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where to get a drywall 'nail locator'?
Robert Macy wrote:
All I need is a simple nail finder/locator for finding the nails in the drywall. I KNOW where the studs are, but need to find screws/nails behind the taping plaster. I remember years ago using a magnet mounted in a 'gimbal' structure that pointed to a nail. Unsuccessfully tried to make one. the one I made keeps missing the fasteners! If it 'sees' one, it is there, but even though I know there should be a nail somewhere within inches, can't find it. Usually misses screws, finds nails. Closest walkin so far has been Home Depot Zircon whizbang for $49. TOO MUCH!! I don't want to find studs, just the nails Next best has been Harbor Freight, Cen-Tec unit 5 in 1 for $8.99 Sounds great, I once ordered a Cen-Tech Sound Level Meter $14.99 before from them, very satisfied customer, replaced our $100+ unit. But this latest requirement just rankles me to pay 8.99 +6.99 shipping total of 15.98 for a simple little widget. You guys ALWAYS know where to get stuff at great prices. Any help? Anybody got one to send me, or provide a URL to get something? The Harbor Freight 92375 is a good one. When I had the floor insulated, the contractor kept poking himself on the nails sticking thru the floor. He solved the problem by pounding a bunch of them back up. I used the HF unit to find the nails thru the carpet and bang them back down before they tore thru the rug. |
#3
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where to get a drywall 'nail locator'?
On Thu, 8 Dec 2011 16:06:21 -0800 (PST), Robert Macy
wrote: All I need is a simple nail finder/locator for finding the nails in the drywall. I KNOW where the studs are, but need to find screws/nails behind the taping plaster. I remember years ago using a magnet mounted in a 'gimbal' structure that pointed to a nail. Unsuccessfully tried to make one. the one I made keeps missing the fasteners! If it 'sees' one, it is there, but even though I know there should be a nail somewhere within inches, can't find it. Usually misses screws, finds nails. Closest walkin so far has been Home Depot Zircon whizbang for $49. TOO MUCH!! I don't want to find studs, just the nails Next best has been Harbor Freight, Cen-Tec unit 5 in 1 for $8.99 Sounds great, I once ordered a Cen-Tech Sound Level Meter $14.99 before from them, very satisfied customer, replaced our $100+ unit. But this latest requirement just rankles me to pay 8.99 +6.99 shipping total of 15.98 for a simple little widget. You guys ALWAYS know where to get stuff at great prices. Any help? Anybody got one to send me, or provide a URL to get something? I've have a couple electronic stud finders. Not sure how they work, except they don't much work at all. Think I read here about using "super magnets" like what's found in hard drives, when I was putting up new trim. So I told my son to get a magnet from an old hard drive I had laying around. Best thing I ever used for finding studs. It'll stick on the wall right over the nail. I put a piece a masking tape on it to keep it from falling out of my fingers. Just move it lightly on the wall in moving circles and it'll stick when it goes over a nail. Couldn't be easier. Somebody posted a store-bought nail finder using these types of magnets, but I don't have the link. I'd buy one of those if I didn't have hard drive magnets handy. --Vic |
#4
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where to get a drywall 'nail locator'?
On Thu, 08 Dec 2011 18:23:13 -0600, Vic Smith
wrote: On Thu, 8 Dec 2011 16:06:21 -0800 (PST), Robert Macy wrote: All I need is a simple nail finder/locator for finding the nails in the drywall. I KNOW where the studs are, but need to find screws/nails behind the taping plaster. I remember years ago using a magnet mounted in a 'gimbal' structure that pointed to a nail. Unsuccessfully tried to make one. the one I made keeps missing the fasteners! If it 'sees' one, it is there, but even though I know there should be a nail somewhere within inches, can't find it. Usually misses screws, finds nails. Closest walkin so far has been Home Depot Zircon whizbang for $49. TOO MUCH!! I don't want to find studs, just the nails Next best has been Harbor Freight, Cen-Tec unit 5 in 1 for $8.99 Sounds great, I once ordered a Cen-Tech Sound Level Meter $14.99 before from them, very satisfied customer, replaced our $100+ unit. But this latest requirement just rankles me to pay 8.99 +6.99 shipping total of 15.98 for a simple little widget. You guys ALWAYS know where to get stuff at great prices. Any help? Anybody got one to send me, or provide a URL to get something? I've have a couple electronic stud finders. Not sure how they work, except they don't much work at all. Think I read here about using "super magnets" like what's found in hard drives, when I was putting up new trim. So I told my son to get a magnet from an old hard drive I had laying around. Best thing I ever used for finding studs. It'll stick on the wall right over the nail. I put a piece a masking tape on it to keep it from falling out of my fingers. Just move it lightly on the wall in moving circles and it'll stick when it goes over a nail. Couldn't be easier. Somebody posted a store-bought nail finder using these types of magnets, but I don't have the link. I'd buy one of those if I didn't have hard drive magnets handy. --Vic Think this is what somebody posted about before. http://tinyurl.com/6re6clq But if you have an old hard drive to get a magnet from, save your money. When the magnet sticks just mark it or put a small piece of tape there. --Vic |
#5
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where to get a drywall 'nail locator'?
On Thu, 8 Dec 2011 16:06:21 -0800 (PST), Robert Macy
wrote: I don't want to find studs, just the nails Use a rare earth magnet. |
#6
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where to get a drywall 'nail locator'?
On Thu, 08 Dec 2011 18:30:48 -0600, Vic Smith
wrote: Think this is what somebody posted about before. http://tinyurl.com/6re6clq But if you have an old hard drive to get a magnet from, save your money. When the magnet sticks just mark it or put a small piece of tape there. --Vic Make the tool, Bore the wood handle and use rare earth magnets. They click and stick on the nail / screw head. |
#7
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where to get a drywall 'nail locator'?
On Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:41:33 -0800, Oren wrote:
On Thu, 8 Dec 2011 16:06:21 -0800 (PST), Robert Macy wrote: I don't want to find studs, just the nails Use a rare earth magnet. Another thing that works is a small metal detector like the electro-metalalloscop 850. |
#8
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where to get a drywall 'nail locator'?
Robert Macy wrote:
All I need is a simple nail finder/locator for finding the nails in the drywall. I KNOW where the studs are, but need to find screws/nails behind the taping plaster. I remember years ago using a magnet mounted in a 'gimbal' structure that pointed to a nail. Unsuccessfully tried to make one. the one I made keeps missing the fasteners! If it 'sees' one, it is there, but even though I know there should be a nail somewhere within inches, can't find it. Usually misses screws, finds nails. Closest walkin so far has been Home Depot Zircon whizbang for $49. TOO MUCH!! I don't want to find studs, just the nails Next best has been Harbor Freight, Cen-Tec unit 5 in 1 for $8.99 Sounds great, I once ordered a Cen-Tech Sound Level Meter $14.99 before from them, very satisfied customer, replaced our $100+ unit. But this latest requirement just rankles me to pay 8.99 +6.99 shipping total of 15.98 for a simple little widget. You guys ALWAYS know where to get stuff at great prices. Any help? Anybody got one to send me, or provide a URL to get something? Have an old harddrive laying around. Take it apart, remove the magnet, and you have a perfect locator. The magnet will actually stick to the nails in the drywall. |
#9
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where to get a drywall 'nail locator'?
Robert Macy wrote:
All I need is a simple nail finder/locator for finding the nails in the drywall. I KNOW where the studs are, but need to find screws/nails behind the taping plaster. I remember years ago using a magnet mounted in a 'gimbal' structure that pointed to a nail. Unsuccessfully tried to make one. the one I made keeps missing the fasteners! If it 'sees' one, it is there, but even though I know there should be a nail somewhere within inches, can't find it. Usually misses screws, finds nails. Closest walkin so far has been Home Depot Zircon whizbang for $49. TOO MUCH!! I don't want to find studs, just the nails Next best has been Harbor Freight, Cen-Tec unit 5 in 1 for $8.99 Sounds great, I once ordered a Cen-Tech Sound Level Meter $14.99 before from them, very satisfied customer, replaced our $100+ unit. But this latest requirement just rankles me to pay 8.99 +6.99 shipping total of 15.98 for a simple little widget. You guys ALWAYS know where to get stuff at great prices. Any help? Anybody got one to send me, or provide a URL to get something? You can get more nails, pretty cheaply, at the box stores... |
#10
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where to get a drywall 'nail locator'?
Vic Smith wrote in
: So I told my son to get a magnet from an old hard drive I had laying around. Best thing I ever used for finding studs. It'll stick on the wall right over the nail. I happen to have two old hard-drive magnets handy, so I just tried this. And IT ACTUALLY WORKS! Provided I use the half of the magnet assembly which is flat, the magnet does indeed stick to the wall right over the screw. (The other half of the magnet assembly has a few tangs rising up from the backing plate, creating an air space between wall and magnet which greatly reduces the attraction of the magnet to the screw.) However, it is a bit time-consuming finding studs this way, since with the magnet you're locating a point (the screw), whereas with a proper stud- finder you're looking for a line (the wood). -- Tegger |
#11
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where to get a drywall 'nail locator'?
"Bob F" wrote in :
Have an old harddrive laying around. Take it apart, remove the magnet, and you have a perfect locator. The magnet will actually stick to the nails in the drywall. It sure does! If you don't have any old hard-drives available, you can call around to the little hole-in-the-wall computer-repair places. They often have old hard drives left over from upgrades. If the drive is old and small enough, they might give it to you for free, or for really cheap. Sometimes people leave old computers at the curb, hoping somebody will take them away. Usually they're stripped of the hard-drives, but next time you see one, have a peek inside; you might get lucky. I just counted mine: I have at least 20 old hard-drives lying around, not counting the really ancient ones with stepper motors and hand-written test stickers on them... -- Tegger |
#12
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where to get a drywall 'nail locator'?
On Thu, 8 Dec 2011 16:06:21 -0800 (PST), Robert Macy wrote:
I remember years ago using a magnet mounted in a 'gimbal' structure that pointed to a nail. http://www.acehardware.com/product/i...Id=53934538544 or http://tinyurl.com/cvjce3l True Value also has them. |
#13
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where to get a drywall 'nail locator'?
On Dec 8, 7:06*pm, Robert Macy wrote:
I remember years ago using a magnet mounted in a 'gimbal' structure that pointed to a nail. Unsuccessfully tried to make one. *the one I made keeps missing the fasteners! If it 'sees' one, it is there, but even though I know there should be a nail somewhere within inches, can't find it. *Usually misses screws, finds nails. You need something more than a cheap refrigerator magnet. Get RARE EARTH magnets, which you can find at Radio Shack. They're much stronger and more sensitive to the small bits of metal you're trying to find. Why are you trying to find the nails? You can't remove them without destroying the drywall, so if your intent is to remove them why not just rip down the drywall and put up new? |
#14
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where to get a drywall 'nail locator'?
On Dec 8, 6:38*pm, wrote:
On Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:41:33 -0800, Oren wrote: On Thu, 8 Dec 2011 16:06:21 -0800 (PST), Robert Macy wrote: I don't want to find studs, just the nails Use a rare earth magnet. *Another thing that works is a small metal detector like the electro-metalalloscop 850. Thanks, I did envision a 1/4 inch diameter coil, electronics powered by LR42, and piezo speaker squeeling as the coil goes over ferro material. I can design, just don't want to. Search for electro-metalalloscop 850 turned up this group Search for electro-metalloscop 850 turned up all non-English sites Is product sold in US? How much? |
#15
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where to get a drywall 'nail locator'?
On Dec 9, 4:48*am, "HeyBub" wrote:
Robert Macy wrote: All I need is a simple nail finder/locator for finding the nails in the drywall. I KNOW where the studs are, but need to find screws/nails behind the taping plaster. I remember years ago using a magnet mounted in a 'gimbal' structure that pointed to a nail. Unsuccessfully tried to make one. *the one I made keeps missing the fasteners! If it 'sees' one, it is there, but even though I know there should be a nail somewhere within inches, can't find it. *Usually misses screws, finds nails. Closest walkin so far has been Home Depot Zircon whizbang for $49. TOO MUCH!! *I don't want to find studs, just the nails Next best has been Harbor Freight, Cen-Tec unit 5 in 1 for $8.99 Sounds great, I once ordered a Cen-Tech Sound Level Meter $14.99 before from them, very satisfied customer, replaced our $100+ unit. But this latest requirement just rankles me to pay 8.99 +6.99 shipping total of 15.98 for a simple little widget. You guys ALWAYS know where to get stuff at great prices. *Any help? Anybody got one to send me, or provide a URL to get something? You can get more nails, pretty cheaply, at the box stores... LOL! I'm cheap, not that cheap.! ...But I confess to saving the screws. |
#16
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where to get a drywall 'nail locator'?
On Dec 9, 6:48*am, Tegger wrote:
Vic Smith wrote : So I told my son to get a magnet from an old hard drive I had laying around. Best thing I ever used for finding studs. It'll stick on the wall right over the nail. I happen to have two old hard-drive magnets handy, so I just tried this. And IT ACTUALLY WORKS! Provided I use the half of the magnet assembly which is flat, the magnet does indeed stick to the wall right over the screw. (The other half of the magnet assembly has a few tangs rising up from the backing plate, creating an air space between wall and magnet which greatly reduces the attraction of the magnet to the screw.) However, it is a bit time-consuming finding studs this way, since with the magnet you're locating a point (the screw), whereas with a proper stud- finder you're looking for a line (the wood). -- Tegger Again, I can SEE the studs, just can't find the nails/screws buried beneath tape/plaster jobs. Yesterday, I KNEW there were two each somewhere within one inch diameter and COULD NOT FIND THEM!! |
#17
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where to get a drywall 'nail locator'?
Tegger wrote:
Vic Smith wrote in : So I told my son to get a magnet from an old hard drive I had laying around. Best thing I ever used for finding studs. It'll stick on the wall right over the nail. I happen to have two old hard-drive magnets handy, so I just tried this. And IT ACTUALLY WORKS! Provided I use the half of the magnet assembly which is flat, the magnet does indeed stick to the wall right over the screw. (The other half of the magnet assembly has a few tangs rising up from the backing plate, creating an air space between wall and magnet which greatly reduces the attraction of the magnet to the screw.) In my experience, you can carefully knock the magnet off the assembly. Be careful. the magnets are brittle, and can break. However, it is a bit time-consuming finding studs this way, since with the magnet you're locating a point (the screw), whereas with a proper stud- finder you're looking for a line (the wood). But, they are dependably accurate, which I haven't found with "stud finders". I have a couple of those which I now never use. .. |
#18
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where to get a drywall 'nail locator'?
"Kuskokwim" wrote in message ... On Thu, 8 Dec 2011 16:06:21 -0800 (PST), Robert Macy wrote: I remember years ago using a magnet mounted in a 'gimbal' structure that pointed to a nail. http://www.acehardware.com/product/i...Id=53934538544 or http://tinyurl.com/cvjce3l True Value also has them. I remember having one of those myself. Sears sells them too. http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...block Type=G1 .. |
#19
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where to get a drywall 'nail locator'?
On Dec 9, 1:00*pm, "
wrote: Finally someone asked the question I had. *I've always been interested in finding STUDS. *Why the need to find nails when you know where the studs are? The world will never know the answer... OP completely ignored my question. At least he didn't come back with some overcomplicated, overpriced, half-assed, hair-brained way to deal with a simple issue, and eleventy- dozen excuses why the simple, straightforward, accepted way to go about it. |
#20
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where to get a drywall 'nail locator'?
On Dec 9, 11:00*am, "
wrote: On Dec 9, 9:35*am, wrote: On Dec 8, 7:06*pm, Robert Macy wrote: I remember years ago using a magnet mounted in a 'gimbal' structure that pointed to a nail. Unsuccessfully tried to make one. *the one I made keeps missing the fasteners! If it 'sees' one, it is there, but even though I know there should be a nail somewhere within inches, can't find it. *Usually misses screws, finds nails. You need something more than a cheap refrigerator magnet. Get RARE EARTH magnets, which you can find at Radio Shack. They're much stronger and more sensitive to the small bits of metal you're trying to find. Why are you trying to find the nails? You can't remove them without destroying the drywall, so if your intent is to remove them why not just rip down the drywall and put up new? Finally someone asked the question I had. *I've always been interested in finding STUDS. *Why the need to find nails when you know where the studs are? to remove fasteners, remove drywall |
#21
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where to get a drywall 'nail locator'?
On Dec 9, 8:48*am, Tegger wrote:
Vic Smith wrote : So I told my son to get a magnet from an old hard drive I had laying around. Best thing I ever used for finding studs. It'll stick on the wall right over the nail. I happen to have two old hard-drive magnets handy, so I just tried this. And IT ACTUALLY WORKS! Provided I use the half of the magnet assembly which is flat, the magnet does indeed stick to the wall right over the screw. (The other half of the magnet assembly has a few tangs rising up from the backing plate, creating an air space between wall and magnet which greatly reduces the attraction of the magnet to the screw.) However, it is a bit time-consuming finding studs this way, since with the magnet you're locating a point (the screw), whereas with a proper stud- finder you're looking for a line (the wood). -- Tegger You don't have to search the entire wall for those "points". Find one nail/screw in a corner and measure 16" from there. Now all you have to do is find pints along vertical lines. |
#22
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where to get a drywall 'nail locator'?
On Fri, 9 Dec 2011 13:59:09 -0800 (PST), DerbyDad03
wrote: On Dec 9, 8:48Â*am, Tegger wrote: Vic Smith wrote : So I told my son to get a magnet from an old hard drive I had laying around. Best thing I ever used for finding studs. It'll stick on the wall right over the nail. I happen to have two old hard-drive magnets handy, so I just tried this. And IT ACTUALLY WORKS! Provided I use the half of the magnet assembly which is flat, the magnet does indeed stick to the wall right over the screw. (The other half of the magnet assembly has a few tangs rising up from the backing plate, creating an air space between wall and magnet which greatly reduces the attraction of the magnet to the screw.) However, it is a bit time-consuming finding studs this way, since with the magnet you're locating a point (the screw), whereas with a proper stud- finder you're looking for a line (the wood). -- Tegger You don't have to search the entire wall for those "points". Find one nail/screw in a corner and measure 16" from there. Now all you have to do is find pints along vertical lines. Yep. And most people can "measure'" 16" close enough without a tape. I find it much faster to use the magnet than an electronic stud finder, which has to be moved slowly. Besides that the electronics can give false readings in some places. Don't know why, but happens mostly near corners or doors, maybe because of headers or doubled studs. Also noticed they can pick up a stud at one point in the wall but then it's tricky to pick it up higher or lower. Might be different mass or something, might be the electronic stud finders I've used are crap. I always drilled with an 1/8 bit to confirm when using them. Anyway, when the drywall was nailed or screwed up the installer put them in the studs, so there's no question with those nails, and I don't drill. The trick is to use a piece of masking tape on the back of the thin magnet so it doesn't pop out of your fingers every time it hits a bump. Grasp the masking tape and use a finger to lightly press the magnet against the wall Then you can move it very fast in a 6" circle across the wall. If it doesn't dead stop over a nail it'll pull enough to take you right to it. When I did baseboard and crown molding I stuck a little piece of masking tape over the 2 low and high nails, and the ceiling joist nails closest to the wall. Eyeballed the centerline of the 2 pieces of tape to nail. In close to 200' of nailing not a single nail missed the stud/joist. --Vic |
#23
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where to get a drywall 'nail locator'?
On Fri, 9 Dec 2011 13:55:23 -0800 (PST), Robert Macy
wrote: On Dec 9, 11:00Â*am, " wrote: On Dec 9, 9:35Â*am, wrote: On Dec 8, 7:06Â*pm, Robert Macy wrote: I remember years ago using a magnet mounted in a 'gimbal' structure that pointed to a nail. Unsuccessfully tried to make one. Â*the one I made keeps missing the fasteners! If it 'sees' one, it is there, but even though I know there should be a nail somewhere within inches, can't find it. Â*Usually misses screws, finds nails. You need something more than a cheap refrigerator magnet. Get RARE EARTH magnets, which you can find at Radio Shack. They're much stronger and more sensitive to the small bits of metal you're trying to find. Why are you trying to find the nails? You can't remove them without destroying the drywall, so if your intent is to remove them why not just rip down the drywall and put up new? Finally someone asked the question I had. Â*I've always been interested in finding STUDS. Â*Why the need to find nails when you know where the studs are? to remove fasteners, remove drywall Why? Are you re-using it? If not, just use a knife, then a flatbar to pop it off, then take out the nails/screws. If you want to re-use it though, I guess you could go after the screws. Wouldn't work with nails. Too much gouging. Use a super magnet to locate the screws. --Vic |
#24
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where to get a drywall 'nail locator'?
Buy a stack of fifty or so super magnets. The best thing going for locating
drywall nails or screws, and will give you a superior image of the studs location. (Use one at a time, not the whole stack, Elmo.) Even those that are doubled, or in positions that you would not expect them to be in. Cheap, easy, and they work very well. Steve |
#25
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where to get a drywall 'nail locator'?
On Dec 9, 4:56*pm, "Steve B" wrote:
Buy a stack of fifty or so super magnets. *The best thing going for locating drywall nails or screws, and will give you a superior image of the studs location. *(Use one at a time, not the whole stack, Elmo.) *Even those that are doubled, or in positions that you would not expect them to be in. Cheap, easy, and they work very well. Steve The key so far has been 'super' magnets. Seems reasonable. I have a magnet from an eddy current breaking system that is so strong that if you hold your hand out palm side up holding a Canadian dime with the magnet under the back of your hand (out of sight) the magnet is strong enough to pop the Canadian dime up onto its edge in the palm of your hand. Very spooky to do this, just seems weird the field being that strong. Even waving non-magnetic material by the magnet, like 1/4 inch slab of aluminum generates sufficiently stron eddy current fields that the AL block is 'attracted' to the magnet! Go slow, nothing. Go fast and it rips the block out of your hand. |
#26
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where to get a drywall 'nail locator'?
Finally someone asked the question I had. I've always
been interested in finding STUDS. Why the need to find nails when you know where the studs are? Un, because we want to nail into and support stuff on studs, and not into the nails, and the nails tell us where the studs are? What do I win? You can get all sorts of readings from beeping devices that are not a good thing to shoot a 3" drywall screw into. Pipes, conduit, live wires, lots of fun stuff. I have puzzled for a very long time, reading two or three very good stud finders, and finding studs and all types of unidentifiable things behind the drywall, not being sure of exactly where the STUDS are. Yet, with a row of magnets along a line, I can get a mental picture that is 95% accurate as to where the studs are. Because they ONLY REACT TO STEEL NAILS OR SCREWS. You continue to use whatever works for you. For me, a bunch of little super magnets will find the studs for me by showing where the nails or screws are. It is SOOOOOOOO sweet when you drill into something unknown to anchor, and hit solid wood. Whatever winds yer clock. Steve |
#27
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where to get a drywall 'nail locator'?
"Robert Macy" wrote in message ... On Dec 9, 11:00 am, " wrote: On Dec 9, 9:35 am, wrote: On Dec 8, 7:06 pm, Robert Macy wrote: I remember years ago using a magnet mounted in a 'gimbal' structure that pointed to a nail. Unsuccessfully tried to make one. the one I made keeps missing the fasteners! If it 'sees' one, it is there, but even though I know there should be a nail somewhere within inches, can't find it. Usually misses screws, finds nails. You need something more than a cheap refrigerator magnet. Get RARE EARTH magnets, which you can find at Radio Shack. They're much stronger and more sensitive to the small bits of metal you're trying to find. Why are you trying to find the nails? You can't remove them without destroying the drywall, so if your intent is to remove them why not just rip down the drywall and put up new? Finally someone asked the question I had. I've always been interested in finding STUDS. Why the need to find nails when you know where the studs are? to remove fasteners, remove drywall reply: A 100 % sure way to locate studs, just a little ineffective. And labor intensive. Steve |
#28
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where to get a drywall 'nail locator'?
On Dec 9, 11:53*pm, "Steve B" wrote:
"Robert Macy" wrote in message ... On Dec 9, 11:00 am, " wrote: On Dec 9, 9:35 am, wrote: On Dec 8, 7:06 pm, Robert Macy wrote: I remember years ago using a magnet mounted in a 'gimbal' structure that pointed to a nail. Unsuccessfully tried to make one. the one I made keeps missing the fasteners! If it 'sees' one, it is there, but even though I know there should be a nail somewhere within inches, can't find it. Usually misses screws, finds nails. You need something more than a cheap refrigerator magnet. Get RARE EARTH magnets, which you can find at Radio Shack. They're much stronger and more sensitive to the small bits of metal you're trying to find. Why are you trying to find the nails? You can't remove them without destroying the drywall, so if your intent is to remove them why not just rip down the drywall and put up new? Finally someone asked the question I had. I've always been interested in finding STUDS. Why the need to find nails when you know where the studs are? to remove fasteners, remove drywall reply: *A 100 % sure way to locate studs, just a little ineffective. *And labor intensive. Steve- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - Excuse me, but apparently you didn't pose the original question, so how would you know the answer to why he's doing it? It's not to locate studs, because he clearly said in the post that he "already knows where the studs are". That's why some of us asked the question. He replied above that he wants to locate them to remove the drywall. Which is a new one to me, as removing the drywall seems like a losing proposition to me. If you don't plan on trying to re-use it, then you just rip it off. If you try to re-use it, first it's going to take a long time to screw around locating the screws, then unscrewing it, removing it, etc. And then the taped joints are probably going to come apart a big mess, with the paper tearing, etc. And they will still be covered with the old mud, uneven, etc and will not be a clean new joint to tape and cover. All in all, given the cost of drywall, the time involved, and how new drywall will be easy to mud up and deal with, it sure doesn't seem like a good idea to me. |
#29
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where to get a drywall 'nail locator'?
Robert Macy wrote in
: Again, I can SEE the studs, just can't find the nails/screws buried beneath tape/plaster jobs. Yesterday, I KNEW there were two each somewhere within one inch diameter and COULD NOT FIND THEM!! That's the point of the neodymium magnet. It will find those nails/screws even under the tape and mud! Read my entire reply, not just the last sentence. If you know where the stud is, just put the neodymium magnet on the wall in that location and slide it gently up or down. The magnet is so powerful that when it gets close to a screw, it will suddenly stop on top of it, and usually sticks in that spot. If you have two screws within an inch of each other, you should be able to locate them easily using the neodymium magnet. -- Tegger |
#30
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where to get a drywall 'nail locator'?
"Bob F" wrote in :
Tegger wrote: However, it is a bit time-consuming finding studs this way, since with the magnet you're locating a point (the screw), whereas with a proper stud- finder you're looking for a line (the wood). But, they are dependably accurate, which I haven't found with "stud finders". I have a couple of those which I now never use. I have found stud-finders to be remarkably accurate. For instance, my wife put one on my chest, and said, "Yup, it found a stud!". So they /do/ work. -- Tegger |
#31
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where to get a drywall 'nail locator'?
On Dec 11, 7:04*am, Tegger wrote:
Robert Macy wrote : Again, I can SEE the studs, just can't find the nails/screws buried beneath tape/plaster jobs. *Yesterday, I KNEW there were two each somewhere within one inch diameter and COULD NOT FIND THEM!! That's the point of the neodymium magnet. It will find those nails/screws even under the tape and mud! Read my entire reply, not just the last sentence. If you know where the stud is, just put the neodymium magnet on the wall in that location and slide it gently up or down. The magnet is so powerful that when it gets close to a screw, it will suddenly stop on top of it, and usually sticks in that spot. If you have two screws within an inch of each other, you should be able to locate them easily using the neodymium magnet. |
#32
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where to get a drywall 'nail locator'?
Robert Macy wrote in
: So, I'm doing a GOOD idea carried out BADLY. Just need a strong magnet, not the 'toy' I've been using. Right. You need a neodymium ("rare earth") magnet. Hard-drive magnets are neodymium. You may be able to find such magnets at a hardware store, I don't know. I just thought the rod magnet in a security door latch which has to keep a relay closed, would be strong enough, but guess not, or maybe this is a reject magnet. That's probably just a regular ferric magnet. You need the other kind. -- Tegger |
#33
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where to get a drywall 'nail locator'?
"Kuskokwim" wrote in message : On Thu, 8 Dec 2011 16:06:21 -0800 (PST), Robert Macy wrote: I remember years ago using a magnet mounted in a 'gimbal' structure that pointed to a nail. http://www.acehardware.com/product/i...Id=53934538544 or http://tinyurl.com/cvjce3l True Value also has them. Amazon.com has the same thing for a little cheaper. -- Steven L. |
#34
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where to get a drywall 'nail locator'?
On Fri, 9 Dec 2011 09:12:10 -0800 (PST), Robert Macy
wrote: On Dec 8, 6:38Â*pm, wrote: On Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:41:33 -0800, Oren wrote: On Thu, 8 Dec 2011 16:06:21 -0800 (PST), Robert Macy wrote: I don't want to find studs, just the nails Use a rare earth magnet. Â*Another thing that works is a small metal detector like the electro-metalalloscop 850. Thanks, I did envision a 1/4 inch diameter coil, electronics powered by LR42, and piezo speaker squeeling as the coil goes over ferro material. I can design, just don't want to. Search for electro-metalalloscop 850 turned up this group Search for electro-metalloscop 850 turned up all non-English sites Is product sold in US? How much? I bought mine at a woodworking show 10 or more years ago. I think it cost less than $50 at the time. Used by woodworkers and saw operators to locate embedded metal in lumber. |
#35
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where to get a drywall 'nail locator'?
On Dec 9, 11:45*pm, "Steve B" wrote:
Finally someone asked the question I had. I've always been interested in finding STUDS. Why the need to find nails when you know where the studs are? Un, because we want to nail into and support stuff on studs, and not into the nails, and the nails tell us where the studs are? What do I win? You can get all sorts of readings from beeping devices that are not a good thing to shoot a 3" drywall screw into. *Pipes, conduit, live wires, lots of fun stuff. He said he's specifically looking for drywall nails. I've hung lots of pics, shelves, brackets, made openings, etc and never went looking for nails. I've looked for studs and I've had zero problems as a result. Imagine all the hour saved over decades by not looking for those nails. Also, a magnet for finding nails isn't going to find the most common wiring, ie Romex. Seems not many folks are interested in the nails, because the stud finders I've seen find exactly that, studs, via ultrasonic, not nails. BTW, he finally told us his purpose in finding the nails was to remove the drywall, which seems a wasted effort. It's cheap enough to buy, not worth the time to try to remove and salvage it, and even if you do, instead of nice clean new joints to mud, you're gonna have screwed up ones where it was previously taped and mudded. I have puzzled for a very long time, reading two or three very good stud finders, and finding studs and all types of unidentifiable things behind the drywall, not being sure of exactly where the STUDS are. *Yet, with a row of magnets along a line, I can get a mental picture that is 95% accurate as to where the studs are. *Because they ONLY REACT TO STEEL NAILS OR SCREWS. You continue to use whatever works for you. *For me, a bunch of little super magnets will find the studs for me by showing where the nails or screws are. It is SOOOOOOOO sweet when you drill into something unknown to anchor, and hit solid wood. Whatever winds yer clock. Steve He clearly said in the first post that he already knows where the studs are. |
#36
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where to get a drywall 'nail locator'?
On Dec 16, 6:21*am, "
wrote: On Dec 9, 11:45*pm, "Steve B" wrote: Finally someone asked the question I had. I've always been interested in finding STUDS. Why the need to find nails when you know where the studs are? Un, because we want to nail into and support stuff on studs, and not into the nails, and the nails tell us where the studs are? What do I win? You can get all sorts of readings from beeping devices that are not a good thing to shoot a 3" drywall screw into. *Pipes, conduit, live wires, lots of fun stuff. He said he's specifically looking for drywall nails. *I've hung lots of pics, shelves, brackets, made openings, etc and never went looking for nails. I've looked for studs and I've had zero problems as a result. *Imagine all the hour saved over decades by not looking for those nails. Also, a magnet for finding nails isn't going to find the most common wiring, ie Romex. *Seems not many folks are interested in the nails, because the stud finders I've seen find exactly that, studs, via ultrasonic, not nails. BTW, he finally told us his purpose in finding the nails was to remove the drywall, which seems a wasted effort. It's cheap enough to buy, not worth the time to try to remove and salvage it, and even if you do, instead of nice clean new joints to mud, you're gonna have screwed up ones where it was previously taped and mudded. I have puzzled for a very long time, reading two or three very good stud finders, and finding studs and all types of unidentifiable things behind the drywall, not being sure of exactly where the STUDS are. *Yet, with a row of magnets along a line, I can get a mental picture that is 95% accurate as to where the studs are. *Because they ONLY REACT TO STEEL NAILS OR SCREWS. You continue to use whatever works for you. *For me, a bunch of little super magnets will find the studs for me by showing where the nails or screws are. It is SOOOOOOOO sweet when you drill into something unknown to anchor, and hit solid wood. Whatever winds yer clock. Steve He clearly said in the first post that he already knows where the studs are. True, I said remove the drywall, I did NOT say salvage, or re-use, you added that. But is ok, because those that know me would have assumed that. |
#37
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where to get a drywall 'nail locator'?
On Dec 16, 12:16*pm, Robert Macy wrote:
On Dec 16, 6:21*am, " wrote: On Dec 9, 11:45*pm, "Steve B" wrote: Finally someone asked the question I had. I've always been interested in finding STUDS. Why the need to find nails when you know where the studs are? Un, because we want to nail into and support stuff on studs, and not into the nails, and the nails tell us where the studs are? What do I win? You can get all sorts of readings from beeping devices that are not a good thing to shoot a 3" drywall screw into. *Pipes, conduit, live wires, lots of fun stuff. He said he's specifically looking for drywall nails. *I've hung lots of pics, shelves, brackets, made openings, etc and never went looking for nails. I've looked for studs and I've had zero problems as a result. *Imagine all the hour saved over decades by not looking for those nails. Also, a magnet for finding nails isn't going to find the most common wiring, ie Romex. *Seems not many folks are interested in the nails, because the stud finders I've seen find exactly that, studs, via ultrasonic, not nails. BTW, he finally told us his purpose in finding the nails was to remove the drywall, which seems a wasted effort. It's cheap enough to buy, not worth the time to try to remove and salvage it, and even if you do, instead of nice clean new joints to mud, you're gonna have screwed up ones where it was previously taped and mudded. I have puzzled for a very long time, reading two or three very good stud finders, and finding studs and all types of unidentifiable things behind the drywall, not being sure of exactly where the STUDS are. *Yet, with a row of magnets along a line, I can get a mental picture that is 95% accurate as to where the studs are. *Because they ONLY REACT TO STEEL NAILS OR SCREWS. You continue to use whatever works for you. *For me, a bunch of little super magnets will find the studs for me by showing where the nails or screws are. It is SOOOOOOOO sweet when you drill into something unknown to anchor, and hit solid wood. Whatever winds yer clock. Steve He clearly said in the first post that he already knows where the studs are. True, I said remove the drywall, I did NOT say salvage, or re-use, you added that. But is ok, because those that know me would have assumed that. - Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - If you're not trying to salvage the drywall, why do you need to locate the nails to remove it? You just punch a hole in it between studs and rip it off. After the drywall is off, you easily pull the nails with a hammer. I could have it off in a fraction of the time it's gonna take to just locate the nails. |
#38
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where to get a drywall 'nail locator'?
On Sat, 17 Dec 2011 05:43:10 -0800 (PST), "
wrote: On Dec 16, 12:16Â*pm, Robert Macy wrote: On Dec 16, 6:21Â*am, " wrote: On Dec 9, 11:45Â*pm, "Steve B" wrote: Finally someone asked the question I had. I've always been interested in finding STUDS. Why the need to find nails when you know where the studs are? Un, because we want to nail into and support stuff on studs, and not into the nails, and the nails tell us where the studs are? What do I win? You can get all sorts of readings from beeping devices that are not a good thing to shoot a 3" drywall screw into. Â*Pipes, conduit, live wires, lots of fun stuff. He said he's specifically looking for drywall nails. Â*I've hung lots of pics, shelves, brackets, made openings, etc and never went looking for nails. I've looked for studs and I've had zero problems as a result. Â*Imagine all the hour saved over decades by not looking for those nails. Also, a magnet for finding nails isn't going to find the most common wiring, ie Romex. Â*Seems not many folks are interested in the nails, because the stud finders I've seen find exactly that, studs, via ultrasonic, not nails. BTW, he finally told us his purpose in finding the nails was to remove the drywall, which seems a wasted effort. It's cheap enough to buy, not worth the time to try to remove and salvage it, and even if you do, instead of nice clean new joints to mud, you're gonna have screwed up ones where it was previously taped and mudded. I have puzzled for a very long time, reading two or three very good stud finders, and finding studs and all types of unidentifiable things behind the drywall, not being sure of exactly where the STUDS are. Â*Yet, with a row of magnets along a line, I can get a mental picture that is 95% accurate as to where the studs are. Â*Because they ONLY REACT TO STEEL NAILS OR SCREWS. You continue to use whatever works for you. Â*For me, a bunch of little super magnets will find the studs for me by showing where the nails or screws are. It is SOOOOOOOO sweet when you drill into something unknown to anchor, and hit solid wood. Whatever winds yer clock. Steve He clearly said in the first post that he already knows where the studs are. True, I said remove the drywall, I did NOT say salvage, or re-use, you added that. But is ok, because those that know me would have assumed that. - Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - If you're not trying to salvage the drywall, why do you need to locate the nails to remove it? You just punch a hole in it between studs and rip it off. After the drywall is off, you easily pull the nails with a hammer. I could have it off in a fraction of the time it's gonna take to just locate the nails. Makes a LOT more mess though. If you remove drywall screws (nails are a bit more trouble) and remove full sheets of trywall there is not much mess involved, compared to the "mike holmes" method of smashing a fist through the drywall and pulling it down in chunks. |
#39
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where to get a drywall 'nail locator'?
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#40
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where to get a drywall 'nail locator'?
On Dec 17, 10:34*am, wrote:
On Sat, 17 Dec 2011 05:43:10 -0800 (PST), " wrote: On Dec 16, 12:16*pm, Robert Macy wrote: On Dec 16, 6:21*am, " wrote: On Dec 9, 11:45*pm, "Steve B" wrote: Finally someone asked the question I had. I've always been interested in finding STUDS. Why the need to find nails when you know where the studs are? Un, because we want to nail into and support stuff on studs, and not into the nails, and the nails tell us where the studs are? What do I win? You can get all sorts of readings from beeping devices that are not a good thing to shoot a 3" drywall screw into. *Pipes, conduit, live wires, lots of fun stuff. He said he's specifically looking for drywall nails. *I've hung lots of pics, shelves, brackets, made openings, etc and never went looking for nails. I've looked for studs and I've had zero problems as a result. *Imagine all the hour saved over decades by not looking for those nails. Also, a magnet for finding nails isn't going to find the most common wiring, ie Romex. *Seems not many folks are interested in the nails, because the stud finders I've seen find exactly that, studs, via ultrasonic, not nails. BTW, he finally told us his purpose in finding the nails was to remove the drywall, which seems a wasted effort. It's cheap enough to buy, not worth the time to try to remove and salvage it, and even if you do, instead of nice clean new joints to mud, you're gonna have screwed up ones where it was previously taped and mudded. I have puzzled for a very long time, reading two or three very good stud finders, and finding studs and all types of unidentifiable things behind the drywall, not being sure of exactly where the STUDS are. *Yet, with a row of magnets along a line, I can get a mental picture that is 95% accurate as to where the studs are. *Because they ONLY REACT TO STEEL NAILS OR SCREWS. You continue to use whatever works for you. *For me, a bunch of little super magnets will find the studs for me by showing where the nails or screws are. It is SOOOOOOOO sweet when you drill into something unknown to anchor, and hit solid wood. Whatever winds yer clock. Steve He clearly said in the first post that he already knows where the studs are. True, I said remove the drywall, I did NOT say salvage, or re-use, you added that. But is ok, because those that know me would have assumed that. - Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - If you're not trying to salvage the drywall, why do you need to locate the nails to remove it? * You just punch a hole in it between studs and rip it off. *After the drywall is off, you easily pull the nails with a hammer. *I could have it off in a fraction of the time it's gonna take to just locate the nails. * Makes a LOT more mess though. If you remove drywall screws (nails are a bit more trouble) and remove full sheets of trywall there is not much mess involved, compared to the "mike holmes" method of smashing a fist through the drywall and pulling it down in chunks. You got it! Less mess. And I've not found anything more 'fun' to try and get rid of than drywall dust buried in carpet. |
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