How to Calibrate a Stud Finder
Stud finders are designed to make it easy to find studs in your walls. Studs are usually the best places to mount the brackets for hanging shelves, heavy frames or tapestries. Because they work by sensing the thickness in the surface of the wall, they beep or light up to indicate the presence of a stud. They are inexpensive tools every handyman should have. Some smart phones even have stud finder applications. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Hold the back of the stud finder against the wall and press the "on" button. Stud finders try to sense the thickness of the wall to determine where the studs are. The stud finder may calibrate badly if you turn it on before touching the back to the wall. Make sure not to pull it away.
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Allow it to go through the calibration cycle. The amount of time might differ between manufacturers and models, but it should only take a few seconds.
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Watch for a "ready" light to illuminate or the stud finder to beep, indicating it has finished calibrating. Hold it against the wall until you need to use it. A stud finder will need to recalibrate after each time you pull it away from the wall.
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Slide the stud finder across the wall slowly until it beeps or lights up, indicating it has found a stud. Mark the spot on the wall with a pencil. If the stud finder does not find a stud, you may have calibrated it over a stud rather than over the space between the studs. Move the stud finder over a few inches on the wall and turn it off. Repeat all of the steps.
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Tips & Warnings
Some stud finders have a built in level, metal detector or other tools for convenience. The manufacturer includes instructions for using any other integrated tools.
