Customer Reviews

Zircon StudSensor i65 Center-Finding Stud Finder with DVD How-To Guide

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(16)

 

 

This i65 unit from Zircon works very well, based on my experience. I have been remodeling a very old home for three years, and it included removing and working with existing wood lath with plaster walls.

Conventional wisdom says none of the modern-day Stud Sensors work with wood lath and plaster walls, and the reasons cited include...
1) The rows of wood lath can vary in thickness -- thereby, throwing off the reading depth of the sensor.
2) When plaster is applied, it is forced through the gaps in the wood lath and builds up behind the lath to lock the plaster to the wall upon drying. These varying thicknesses also throw off the accuracy of these stud sensors.

Yes, I agree with all of that on merit -- but I've used the i65 successfully after realizing a few things. First of all, many owners never bother to read the instructions, and try to use these devices too quickly. Here are a few tips that might help...
a) Set the unit flat against the wall and press and hold the left-side button. This will result in a flash of its red locator light and a short beep. This sets the initial depth reading.
b) Keeping the unit pressed against the wall, continue pressing that button (do not release it after setting the depth)-- then start sliding it slowly on a horizontal line parallel to the floor. When you reach the leading edge of a stud it will show the gauge on the device, and when you reach the center of that stud the red light will come on indicating that centerline.
c) If the device fails to locate a stud within 16 inches of your starting point (typically, more like within 8 or 12 inches) a few possibilities could have occurred: 1) You started off directly on a stud by chance. 2) You moved the device too quickly. 3) You hit large pockets of plaster by chance.

Solution?
Move the device down (or up) about an inch from your original level, reset the depth reading as described earlier -- and try again.

Using this method, my i65 read accurately thru a layer of 1/2" drywall on top of cracked deteriorating plaster of about 3/4" thickness, and that was on top of 3/8" thick wood lath -- finding the studs accurately nearly every time. Do you get the occasional misread? Yes. But the device acts differently when that happens.

For instance, the red light may never come on.
This is a sign of moving too quickly, or of hitting an odd pocket of very dense plaster during the initial read -- in my opinion.

Or it may show a narrow gauge reading on the screen, which quickly disappears. Again, slow down and maintain an even horizontal movement as best you can, shifting its position.

Believe me. I've been working on this old house for 3 years. This device definitely works! And if you ever hear me mention the word "remodel", again, please SHOOT ME!! 8-) I'm sure I'll be happy once this ordeal is through. But there have been a few tools which I've bought during this time that actually WORK -- and this is one of them.

The other, invaluable remodeling tools I've purchased include DeWalt battery-operated circular saw and drills, Milwaukee Sawzall for ripping out pipes (corded is best, with the rotating handle), and my Makita combination saw. Give credit where credit is due! Zircon builds a good product.

I was researching these things like crazy. Everytime I found a good one, there would be a review saying it sucked. I finally went into the nearby Lowes to see them in person.

Once there, I was just as lost. Then I noticed a display case Zircon had set up. They had a piece of drywall with a wooden stud behind it. Hanging below it dangled this Zircon unit begging to be tested. I ran it over the drywall and it found the stud every time. I did it at least 10 times and it gave perfect results. Even better, it shows you in 'real time' via the LCD display where the edges and center are. The LCD literally shows the stud moving across it while you slide the unit past the stud. When it reaches the center, it gives a loud beep and a red laser lights up showing you the exact center spot.

I bought it and headed home. I ran all over the house. It found studs every time. I should note my home was built in 1996 and contains smooth normal drywall and gypsum walls. I'm very satisfied with this simple studfinder.

Note: Move it slowly for best results.

This is a nice little (not so little, though) tool to have. I could find my studs with good accuracy. The drywalls in my house (5/8 inch thick) had a textured surface, so i used a manila folder on top while scanning (as said in the video manual). One problem i have seen so far is that if you press the stud finder lightly on the wall, it may not detect anything. You have to move it slow and pressed a little hard to the wall. But if i dont use any cardboard underneath while scanning, i dont have to press that hard.

I thought this device would tell me if it is a metal stud or wood stud. But this one does not have that feature. it will detect anything (metal or wood) underneath, but it wont tell you what is beneath the wall. for that, you have to buy the higher end models.

Having used plenty of the edge stud finders, I have to say that this center stud finder is what you want to use. I know that edge stud finders have their use, but I think most people are really looking to find the center of the stud. Remember to place on the wall before pressing the on button, so that it will calibrate to the wall.

I bought the i65 to see where the studs were in my wall so i could rip off the plywood (I live in a house built in about 1910 and remodeled around 1950 in a perpetually wet area, so there ain't no drywall) and repair the electrical connections to my washer and dryer. this thing is great at detecting electrical currents, which is GREAT, but when it comes to detecting studs through thick paint (or worse, plaster) covered plywood more than 3/4" thick, it's at a loss. Lucky it comes with a dvd, 'casue the instuctions suck. After watching the dvd (and cracking jokes about it and laughing the whole time)
it suggests using a thin piece of cardboard or chipboard to run the unit across while scanning. This totally works (when you use deepscan), but seems to affect accuracy. As a rough guide, it's awesome, but if you need to find a stud without destroying your wall, maybe the i500 (the model that turned me on to zircon) or a more advanced model is a better idea.

This thing REALLY works !!!!!!

I have a few partially exposed walls covered with plaster and paneling so I was able to visually verify it's accuracy. It was DEAD ON CENTER every time.
I had purchased a cheaper Zircon called the "SS Pro" model for $19.97 from Home Depot 3 weeks ago and returned it because I proved it to be 1" off in either direction 100% of the time using the method I mentioned above.
I just ordered 2 more of the Zircon i65 Onestep Models (# 61960) for my 2 sons as birthday gifts. It's well worth the money !!!
Have a Great Day !!!
Stan

I bought this to put up an articulating wall mount for a LCD tv on lathe and plaster walls. Being such a heavy item i wanted to make sure to find the center of the stud. While the item isn't perfect, and in fact the instructions specify it doesn't work on lathe and plaster walls, i had little difficulty finding a stud and its center. It wasnt perfect, but i feel confident that i was pretty near center by just going slowly and making several marks all along the stud. There were a few outliers (an inch off) but the vast majority seemed to line up perfectly. I'd buy it again.

The word SLOWLY that was mentioned in an earlier review is the key!!!!!!!!!!!!! Before I did this I could not get proper readings but once I went very SLOWLY it worked great!!!

On occasion you might get an improper indication of a stud but it is clear that it is not a stud because the display will show side of stud on the wrong side, i.e. when moving finder from right to left and display shows the left side of a stud popping up--you should see the right side, then middle and THEN left side.

If you see a reading of a very thick stud it could be a horizontal stud that is very long and there is a stud there but it is a horizontal brace. If in doubt take readings above and below area.

When I spent the extra money for this LCD display I thought that I may have spent extra $10 just for a display but it turns out that the display really gives you the extra information to know what is behind the wall. I highly recommend this finder but you have to know how to use it!!!! The written instructions are not long and are well worth the few minutes to read. Useful information like holding finder with one hand and don't touch wall with your body is included--nothing complicated but steps that make the finder work.

It is exactly what you are expecting and need in a stud finder. i don't understand how anyone has a problems with it.

Zircon 60369 Studsensor I65 Onestep Center Finding Stud Finder with "How To" Video Included

It will locate the stud (eventually), but you better double check the reading. The center of stud may not be there, even with the deep sensor mode. It instructs you to move the stud finder slowly over the surface. This will take some time.
I am a new user. To me, it could, and should work better sensing studs, and wires.