How can I find a stud in a wall?

Question

I am a 21 year old girl... so if you answer this... please understand that I have no tools except a hammer and some nails. And I have no experience with this... so I may not understand the carpenter "lingo" lol. I have a small bar area where I want to hang some stuff... the stuff isnt too heavy. The space is only about 1 foot wide... I dont even know if there would be any studs in it. Would it be ok to hang my stuff without finding the studs... since it isnt that heavy?

But if I do need to find the studs... then I need my original question answered... how do i find studs in the walls???

thanks for your help!

Answer 1

If you have an electric razor simply hold it to the wall and slide it along the area your looking at. If you hear a change in pitch...there is a stud! Hope that helps! ^_^

However, since the item IS light you probably dont need to find a stud...but this kinda depends on the wall...if its paneling...find the stud, other wise you are fine just mounting the item wherever you please.

Answer 2

In a quality home, by code regs, studs are 16 inches apart ON CENTER.

Finding one can be by tapping, but the problem there is that the sound difference in tapping extends a bit beyond each side of the stud,,and that stud is only 1 1/2 thick at best.

A "Stud Finder" is a tool you might try, but that depends on actually finding a NAIL, with the magnet in the tool.

Your solution is really far more simple than all that.

Decide WHERE you want this HANGING to take place. Measure up from the floor, and make a small dot with a pencil.
Then if you truly don't care about hitting a stud, measure right or left, from the closest adjoining wall. Using simple math, determine 16 inches extended.

If you have no studs to concern with, use EZEE anchors. They are plastic, have a pointed end, threads, and a hole in the center to accomodate a screw. Using a screw driver at the point you want them, tap them in until the thread contacts the wall, then using the screw driver, turn them in until flush with the wall, then install screws and hang whatever you want.

Rev. Steven

Answer 3

Wall studs are generally located 16 inches apart, on center. That is the center of each stud, (2x4), is on a 16" center. If the space you're going to hang things on is only 12" wide, there probably aren't any studs in the middle of it, Just on each end. What you might consider, depending on what it is you want to hang, is to attach a small board at each end of the wall area, that will give you a fairly substantial surface to attach your hangers. If you need to find studs in another wall, (wider than 12"), take the hammer you mentioned, or the handle end of a screwdriver will also work, and tonk the wall along a horizontal line. As you move the hammer or screwdriver handle an inch or so at a time you will hear a rather hollow sound until you get right over a stud, then the sound turns more to a dead THUD!. That's your stud. Continue tapping lightly back and forth over it till you can identify both edges, then you should be able to drive a nail or a screw with some certainty that you're going to hit something besides drywall.

Answer 4

This may seem too simple but it works for me. If what you are hanging isn't very heavy {like a picture frame} try heavy straight pins. The kind that normally comes in packaged shirts works really well. Put them in the wall at an angle and they will support the weight of the frame. This works really well when you decide that you don't want it there any more just remove the pin and you can't even see the hole! The kind with the plastic head don't pull out easily because the head comes off. If that happens just use a pair of pliers. Lots O Luck! Oh, yea, If you hit a stud while doing this then use whatever you desire in place of the pin. It may be difficult to push the pins in at an angle so if you need to tap on them with the hammer, not too hard because it will bend the pin. If this happens start over ~ if you try to use the old pin it will not be too strong~ even if you straighten it out. After doing this a few times you learn how much of an angle to use.

Answer 5

depending on what you are hanging will determine your anchor needs. If you are hanging a picture you can get a variety of picture hangers from a local retail outlet. These usually consist of a nail with a bracing piece that the nail goes through allowing quite a bit of support using only drywall as the anchor.

The other options consist of toggle bolts used for stuff like shelving.

Metal or plastic screw in anchors-these resemble a corkscrew and you screw in the metal piece then screw a screw into these(they work fantastic for pictures or heavier items) etc.

To find a stud you simply rap on the wall and work your way along it until it sounds differently. If your wall space is narrow you might not have a stud since a common width is 16" on center (probably only have studs at the edge of the drywall to mount the drywall to. Another method is to get a strong magnet that is attached to a string. You drag it over the drywall until it finds a nail or screw. This will be where the stud is. The last option is of course a electronic stud finder. Zircon makes a pretty decent one for about 20 bucks that will last for years.

I personally recommend the metal screw in anchors. You use a philips screw driver to put them in and provided you don't hit wood they hold really well. If you buy the kind that will screw into wood then even better.

Answer 6

I setting up flat exhibit screen television's particularly in lots of situations and devoid of too many dramas. there's no concern in any appreciate mountuing to a stud wall. in certainty that's less complicated to get an exceptionally sturdy fixing right into a stud than to 3 masonry partitions. Mark the place you go with for the television bracket to flow so which you will bang a nail into the wall to discover the studs. you're able to as properly be waiting to tell the place they're type of by using tapping the wall or finding on the skirting boards to be certain if the nail holes are seen (if the painter didnt do a large interest of filling/sanding them) you would be wanting to repair the brackey to as many studs as attainable. If it in basic terms falls on one stud you ought to shrink plasterboard out as stated and insert greater timbers. in any different case attempt the wall anchors stated on the internet site under, listed so as of the main effective first. the 2d link under has photos exhibiting the thank you to get wood into the wall to enhance it.

Answer 7

Use molly bolts or picture hangers in drywall.
To locate a stud just head to Gold's Gym, no wait, knock on the wall and listen for the hollow sound between the studs and a solid sound when you are over a stud.

http://www.factsfacts.com/MyHomeRepair/drywallfasteners.htm

Answer 8

without the cost of fancy gadgets, use a ruler measure a mark every 16 inches from end of partition or corner. There should be a stud at the mark, and some framing is 24 inches on center.

Answer 9

Buy a stud finder, they are inexpensive and good to have.

Answer 10

stud finder