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#136860 05/08/03 05:05 PM
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 177
B
Belgian Offline OP
Member
I am looking to buy a new tool to detect metal in walls made of brick or plaster. Do any of you have such a tool or can you advise a good brand or advice on a brand which I should not buy? Your input, please would be greatly appreciated.

#136861 05/09/03 11:11 AM
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,498
Likes: 1
C
C-H Offline
Member
I have a cheap metal and electricity detector that I regret I bought. I can't indicate both metal and electricity at the same time and the precision is miserable. Only advice I can give is not to buy the cheapest one you can find.

#136862 05/09/03 11:26 AM
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,691
S
Member
I bought a Zircon stud-finder that was touted as being able to live cable inside walls. I planned on using it to trace the crumbling armored cables insde my walls. And it wasn't cheap.

However there's so much wood joist and wood lath under the mud and plaster that the device goes bonkers.....it's completely useless even for finding a frigging joist in the wall or ceiling!!

All these things seem like they're designed for sheetrock panels like what's used in new construction suburban houses. [Linked Image]

#136863 05/09/03 10:29 PM
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 8,443
Likes: 3
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Belgian,FWIW,
If you are willing to build one from scratch, there are kits available from Electronics Supply Stores for devices like this.
I built one a few years ago that came from Jaycar in Australia and it hasn't missed a beat since, I've used it on heaps of jobs!. [Linked Image]

#136864 05/10/03 06:08 PM
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 177
B
Belgian Offline OP
Member
Thank you all for your input. I think what c-h and Sven are talking about is a cheap version. I'm prepared to buy something expensive but only want more info or experience in a certain brand. Trumpy, what does FWIW mean? How deep and in what type in the walls can it detect? And does it detect only metal or also wooden beams?


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