Customer Reviews

Irwin 6041705CD Strait-Line 150 Live Wire in Wall Sensor

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I have tried 3 devices like this over the years. All of them were a pain to "calibrate" and did not work well. I bought this out of frustration a week ago when trying to find a stud with a Stanley unit which was very unrepeatable. This Straitline worked easily and very accurately first try. Also the marker is great! Highly recommend.

When my old stud finder finally stopped working, I looked around for a replacement. I definitely wanted one that had a hot wire sensor on it. The Strait-Line unit felt solid and got good reviews so I picked one up. It also had a separate On/Off switch that looked like it wouldn't get turned on in my tool bag like the side button ones can. But here's the problem: After you turn the unit on with the switch, there's a small spring loaded button on the back that must contact the wall for calibration and use. This works fine if the surface is smooth. It's a real pain in the *** if you want to use it over grooved paneling or textured ceilings. The button loses contact and turns off the tool. I finally gave this thing up and bought another brand. On the plus side, I really liked the little "dimpling" marker.

I have used many before, but this one is the best. Simple and effective, the lcd screen is great and it's great for the money.

I used a friend's Zircon stud finder in February and did not like it. It gave sporadic indications, however it was their least expensive model and I don't know what kind of treatment it was subjected to before I used it (it was not new).

I bought the Straight-Line 150 LCD since it seemed to have the best overall reviews and it was in my price range. Simply stated, if you READ and FOLLOW the directions, the tool works splendidly (I am not connected in any way to the Straight-Line manufacturing company). I have only used it on drywall so I can not comment on how it works on paneling or flooring. One reviewer had a good point that if used on a rough surface, the spring-loaded contact switch on the back won't stay engaged and therefore cause it to operate intermittently. I'd suggest putting a piece of tape over the contact switch to hold it closed when working on a rough surface to eliminate that problem.

The only complaint I have is that it runs on a 9V battery. They are the least common of the standard battery types and can be a bit pricy.

Despite the high praise heaped on this stud finder by some reviewers this stud finder is not that great (some reviews must be written by the manufacturer). The directions are poorly written and the device is unreliable. I found it difficult to use and no better than others. Look elsewhere for a single purpose device.

I used this to install surround sound speakers and had no issues.

I first tried it on several walls around the house. It found wooden studs, metal studs as well as AC wiring easily. It gives a clear visual indication on the large LCD display as well as a beeping sound.

I was specially concerned about AC wiring but it detects it without any problems, something the magnet based stud finders cannot do.

Strait-Line was also offering a 10 dollar mail-in rebate on all of its products on its website (no matter where you buy) which was not listed on Amazon's website, so check Strait-Line's site too before you buy.

I've tried a number of different stud finders in different price ranges and from different manufacturers. This one worked no better than the others, which in a word is awful. It will "identify" a stud location on one pass and give no indication over that same location on the next pass. So if you don't mind playing "guess where the stud is" and punching multiple holes in your wall you'll love this baby.

Not very reliable. You have to try a few times before you can be sure that the locate you got is the right one. Push pin type marker is novel and useful.

Good for finding lost wire in the ceiling, located wire first try. However it has a wide range of sensitivity and meter indicator showed A/C when I was 6 inches away so it was difficult to pinpoint exactly.

I was terribly disappointed with this wall scanner. It doesn't find studs any better than the other two I own. This one is a pain to use and I cannot recommend it.