Customer Reviews

Zircon 56892 Triscanner Stud & Joist Locator

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I have tried a lot of these scanners. This one really works. It is easy to operate. When you place it against the wall, if it is placed wrong, that is if you are already on top of the Stud, all the LEDs begin to flash-Like and idiot indicator. This tells you to try anotother place on the wall where there is no stud. When you find that place you know it, because the unit calabrates itself by lighting up the green LED. From that point you can begin scannning. It will find the beginning edge and the ending edge. Soooo Easy.

Finds the edges of a studs within 1/8 inch. Also detects up live wires within approx 2-3 inches.

I thought it was junk when I first tried it out....But that all changed after I figured out how the sensitivity levels work. In the directions, it tells me to mark a line when it first senses a stud or pipe or electrical wire in one direction. This I did. I crossed over the stud until the lights went off, went back the opposite direction and made a mark on the other side. The center of the stud etc is half-way between the two marks, it didn't matter if the marks were two inches apart or five. It was important for me to make marks every time.
It seemed to read a further distance from one edge to the other, depending on the thickness, and makeup of the surface I was scanning, at first, this frustrated me. I have a variety of surfaces in my house, 1/2 in sheetrock, 5/8 sr, 1x8 carsiding and old barnwood amongst others. All the readings were different, except for the fact the stud was in the center of the two marks I made. As a test, I took a scrap piece of 5/8 sr and nailed a scrap 2x4 to it. I made my marks, and was completely satisfied with the results. It was within an 1/8 of an inch, every time. I repeated this test with a few different surfaces.
With a little practice, I was able to use it with excellent results. I had to do tests on the metal scan setting as well, with the same results. At first, a lot of frustration, but as time went on, I understood what it was trying to tell me.
It would be great to pull a gadget out of it's box and have it take all the guesswork out immediately, but as with most (remote controls and video games come to mind), it takes a bit of time to figure it out. I kept an open mind, and figured out it was human error that stopped me from getting the results I wanted. This thing does everything it says it does.......I only gave it 4 stars instead of five, because it feels [flimsy] in my hand. If they would have put a rubberized surface on the area where you'd grip it, 5 stars.....oh well...

I was very disappointed to learn that the "Triscanner cannot scan through . . . , in most cases, lath and plaster." (This, by the way, was in the instructions fine print under "Textured Ceilings"!)

All 4 homes I have owned have lath and plaster walls. I think the manufacturer should have been a lot more up front with this information. To find out this important limitation you have to buy it and then read the small print at the end of the instructions.

You'd think something that could scan through concrete could handle lath and plaster.

Like most of the other reviewers, I am Really impressed with this product. Quantum leap over the old magnetic stud-finder! I was somewhat reluctant to spend ... dollars for a stud finder but must concede this is probably the best tool I've purchased recently. IT REALLY WORKS! It's really convenient to find studs, and not have to search-around until you're over a nail. Only problem (now) is I have to rehang the towel hooks I hung last week (missed the stud by about 1/2inch...$%#@!). Beware though: Your spouse will begin laughing as you walk through the house playing with this thing (checking all the walls); better to use it while he/she's out somewhere. If you buy it and find it doesn't work well, try installing a battery (works MUCH better).

It works! The only problem is that it needs glasses because in an open wall test we found that it found the stud sometimes one inch before it started and stopped seeing it one inch after it stopped. In the case of metal, it saw even wider (cross-eyed maybe) and saw a 3/4 copper pipe as 4 inches wide. My old Zircon was more precise and so was the newer Pro SL.

I've already got a stud finder that I bought from Home Depot that scans studs through 3/4" wallboard as well or better than this thing does. And it only cost me in the neighborhood of [price] and fits in my shirt pocket like a ball point pen.

I wanted something that would find studs behind 3/4" siding and paneling. This thing advertises that it can, but it's hardly more accurate than guessing. And, yes . . . I got myself a magnifying glass and read the directions just to see what I was doing wrong, if anything.

Like I said, it's reasonably accurate on 3/4" wallboard in standard mode. But go to deep scan mode on ANYTHING and FORGET IT ! ! ! No matter how you try to calibrate it, it will both miss studs that do exist and find phantom studs that don't exist.

Considering it doesn't do what they say it will and it's cost, I'd call it a rip-off. Don't buy it.

We want to give the explanation for why Zircon stud finders are not well suited for lath and plaster applications.

Zircon (and all) stud finders measure "density" or "capacitance" behind a wall, floor or ceiling. For them to function correctly, they need to move from a point of lower density to one of higher density. You can think of it as going from a place that is more hollow to a place that is less hollow. Stud finders don't work well in lath and plaster for that exact reason -- because there are multiple pieces of wood (lath), coupled with the fact that plaster inconsistently leaks through the laths to create varying depths (or densities). So, because of the constantly varying depths, the stud finder is constantly trying to recalibrate, and therefore will not find the studs.

They do work in concrete, by the way, because the material is of a more consistent density than lath and plaster.

This is NOT something that is particular to Zircon stud finders, however. Any manufacturer's product will produce the same results. And we do try to alert users to this in the operating instructions.

There is a work-around. If you turn the TriScanner on "Metal" scan, you can locate nails behind your wall. By locating a vertical row of nails, you have a pretty good, although not certain, idea that you've found a stud. Then switch back to "Stud" scan to verify. As I said, this isn't foolproof, but many owners of lath and plaster walls have found it effective.

Dan Harrell, Director of Marketing, Zircon Corporation

I was very disappointed with this product. I thought that if I spent the money on a quality tool that I wouldn't have to worry about buying another one to do the job. I tried using this "contractor grade" studfinder on two different applications; a wall with drywall and a tiled wall. The readings for both jobs were very inconsistent. Needless to say, that tiled wall ended up with a lot more holes than necessary. You would think that a tool that could go through concrete, drywall and plywood would work through tile. This tool sits in my toolbox unused now. This is no better than using the old-style magnet, the only difference is that this item is much more expensive.

I have tried using this unit for almost a yearbut I have finally given-up. It is usually off by around 4 inches. If I had known that I could get more accuracy with a cheapo no-name brand, I would not have bought this unit from this professional-wanna-be manufacturer.