I've used the Zircon middle of the road model for the past three years with
no problems- of course I've only used it on drywall and concrete backer
board. Ceilings, floors, walls have not been a problem. Mine has a column of
six lights- as the center of the finder crosses the edge of a stud, more
lights alight. You have to calibrate before moving the finder, as others
have mentioned. And you have to be patient...wait for it....wait for it...
until all six lights are lit- make a little mark- continue moving across
until the top light goes out-make a little mark. I almost always get a
perfect stud mark. You do have to be careful as you get near windows and
doors as builders sometimes stack studs together. I had a problem once
because I drove a screw between sandwiched studs.

PhilD, NC
"skunkybeast" wrote in message
t...
I needed to find studs above my garage door to install a much needed
automatic garage door opener. I went out to home depot and bought a stud
finder. I figured that I'll get the cheapest one they have thinking I'll
only use it a few times, I bought the Zicron StudSensor SL.
JUNK! found out it can only read on smooth surfaces not like the
finished wall above my garage door. Then I go return it, and decide to buy
a
Stanley (top of the line) for $30 instead of $10 I paid for the other one.
I bought the Stanley IntelliSensor Digiscan Stud Sensor and again
JUNK!.
I try to test it at home in my basement on a wall with a finished side and
an unfinished side with the studs showing. I measured the distance to the
stud and marked it on the finished side. I ran it across the wall and it
showed I had a 7-1/4" stud. After 15 or 20 more tries I still could not
get
anywhere near an accurate reading. I was ****ed.
My question is: are stud finders supposed to find studs in the walls
or
find that there is wood in the walls somewhere. If they are real and
somebody knows a good one please tell me what where and how much. This is
just too much just to find one or two lousy studs, especially with my
short
fuse. thanks, chris