Customer Reviews

Zircon MultiScanner® i500 Center-Finding Stud Finder with Metal and AC Electrical Scanning and DVD How-To guide

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

The One Step attempted to derive an image on the display of a stud. Under ideal conditions, this would work, but ideal walls are rare. Unless you are a novice, get a simpler one with a robust signal strength meter and deep scan.

The One Step tries to produce a display of the image of a stud. This simulated "x-ray" image of studs was erratic and useless in walls that were full of more than wood studs spaced at ideal intervals covered with simple drywall. I recommend you buy a more basic model. Pipes, double studs and walls/floors covered with thick wood paneling/flooring will be problematic for the One Step Display to resolve. The human brain is superior to the One Step display driver in interpreting the content of a wall. Using a robust signal strength display on non-One Step models, as you move the scanner, the user can use his or her mind to "map" an image of the varying densities of what is behind the wall.

Perhaps Zircon was innovating too much for their own good in an effort to distinguish itself. Here the old technology is more reliable.

Get any other deep scanner with a robust signal strength display. I returned this unit and bought the Multiscanner Pro SL (similar to ASIN: B00004TRBC). For me, even the basic $20 deep scanner with LED would have been better than the One Steps.

Recognizes the existence of studs about half the time I try to use it. I can scan the same wall twice and find 2 different pattern of studs. AC mode doesnt work, it tells me their is live AC in a wall with no wiring at all. Overall, stick with hammering nails in the walls or banging on the wall to find the studs. I was thoroughly disappointed with this product.

The repeatability of this instrument is very questionable. Repeating the sequence for determining the location of a stud results in the stud being at a slightly different location. The stud obviously does'nt move however the stud finder shows that its not in the same identical spot.For that reaon I'm not to happy with this piece of equipment.

You spend 20 - 30 minutes trying to calibrate and get nowhere.

It just does not work.

P.S. I tried finding screws or nails in sheetrock, but the machine just says "restart in another location"

Junk

Re-did my attic and knew for a fact there were beams about a foot apart. Had to attach something to do the wall and rather than pulling off the wooden panels, I bought the Multiscanner to find the beams. Spent an hour yesterday and another hour today and the Zircon picked up one beam, but when I went over it again it read nothing. I scanned back and forth and you would think there was only one beam. Finally got fed up and decided to read the Amazon reviews. Well, just as I suspected, this unit's a dud.

Will read other reviews to find something that works.

I absolutely love the MultiScanner i500. I just purchased a house and used it to hang new cabinents in the kitchen, pictures on the wall, and install curtain rods. It found the studs easily and it shined a light right on the center of the stud.

I tried using it on my mother's house and found that it wasn't working. When I called Zircon, they explained that the unit doesn't work on lathe and plaster. They suggested that I use the metal mode to find the nail head as long as the walls had only wood lathe not metal lathe or mesh. I tried that I was able to find the studs.

I haven't tried the AC mode, but everything I have tried works great. I would definately recommend this product especially to women like myself that find themselves doing home repairs.

I am completely bemused at why reviewers seem to be largely split into those finding the i500 useless and others finding it excellent. Let's assume that Zircon isn't producing 50% of these items defectively. Personally I found the device to be excellent, accurate and gave reproducible results on both internal walls and exterior walls including where drywall was affixed to studs with concrete on the other side. So why do so many people find the i500 useless? I can only assume that they are not reading the instructions, or worse still, not watching the excellent DVD that accompanies the unit. If you just slap the studfinder on the wall and wiz it along expecting to get an accurate location of a stud, pipe or electrical wire, forget it. You need to calibrate the instrument (takes 2 seconds) then move it fairly slowly along the wall keeping it in contact with the wall the whole time. Take your time. You will get good results, far better than with most other studfinders I have tried. But, the more sensitive an instrument is (and this one is very sensitive) the more careful you have to be or you will end up with erroneous answers.
Finally, if your wall is covered with metallic wallpaper, or you have some other form of metallic (aluminum) foil covering one or the other side of the drywall, then you are unlikely to get decent studfinding results from any device other than an old fashioned pivoting magnet type of studfinder - and good luck with that!
Zircon MultiScanner i500 Center-Finding Stud Finder with Metal and AC Electrical Scanning and DVD How-To Guide

I read the reviews and purchased this anyway from Lowes; my big mistake. I spent over an hour carefully marking for a 7 foot shelf standard bracket. I re-checked the findings several times and had consistent readings using the scanner left-right and right-left. I even used the metlal mode because the house has some aluminum studs and got the same readings. I drilled five holes and missed the stud every time. As I prepared to insert toggle bolts I peered into the hole and saw the stud. The scanner missed the center of the stud by 7/8 inch and was therefore totally useless.

[...] I like the laser which indicates APPROXIMATE center of stud and the LCD screen which indicates when you are approaching the edge of the stud. However, this unit doesn't seem to be as sensitive as my 10-year-old stud finder. This new one seems to have a hard time finding studs that the old model will call out without any hesitation. Also, it seems that the new model only likes to operate in the left-to-right direction...at least that has been my experience (I have to admit that I haven't read all the fine print on the instruction sheet so maybe this is normal). When I move the unit from left-to-right I can find studs. Move the unit right-to-left over the same spot - or any other spot - and it doesn't make a peep. So I still find myself reaching for the trusty first-generation Zircon stud finder.

Decent product, just need to spend time with it; stud finding is a bit more art than science. Have used it for about 3-4 years and I just don't count on it 100 percent. And yes, you do have to go over an area 2-3 times. Tester holes with a drill can help, just go easy. Until I hear of something better, it's the best type of this device I have come across.