Wall Scanner Cable / Metal / Wood Detector

Bammer · Joined: 21 Nov 2005 Posts: 46 Location: United Kingdom

Hi,
Anybody got any ideas as to what Wall Scanner Cable / Metal / Wood Detector I should buy having a budget of about £60uk. I have seen the Bosch DMF 10 Zoom Wall Scanner Cable / Metal / Wood Detector but not too sure. Have a pot rack and magnetic knife rack to hang in the sculery-lol-so any help appreciated as to what is best to buy. The items will be hung on a gable end of a kit house (bungalow) which is not a traditional build but kit...so p/board and breeze wi harlin on the exterior
Thanks in advance

xerxes · Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 6:32 am

This topic has been much discussed in DIYnot, as a search will reveal.

A number of people recommend the Bosch DMF10; I have an earlier Bosch detector which works well. However, I'm baffled when I read a claim that a detector can find a timber stud: surely it's the metal fixings in the stud that they find? Perhaps someone can enlighten me.

That said, if you're just trying to find studs I'd use the traditional method of tapping for differences in sound, probing with an awl, perhaps drilling trial holes if you need to. The studs should be equidistant, so once you've found one the rest aren't difficult to locate.

If you're checking for cables or pipes under the surface, then a detector is a good thing to have, along with looking at where the electrical accessories etc. are fitted.

Plasterboard and breeze block construction means you can drill anywhere (anywhere you're not going to drill through a cable) and use suitable fixings.

FDJ · Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 1:58 pm

Bammer wrote:

Hi,
Anybody got any ideas as to what Wall Scanner Cable / Metal / Wood Detector I should buy having a budget of about £60uk. I have seen the Bosch DMF 10 Zoom

I have the Bosch DMF 10.
It seems to be totally incapable of detecting wooden studs behind plasterboard.
What it can do however, is detect the nails and hence find the studs that way.
It is also quite sensitive in detecting cables in walls so it is not completely useless.

Frank

Bammer · Joined: 21 Nov 2005 Posts: 46 Location: United Kingdom

Many thanks for the replies and the information. The sockets are just above the worktop and look to be feed in a loop. The only exception being the extractor isolator above the hood which should have been taken vertically from the cooker supply. So very little likelihood that cables on the wall that being drilled. Think I will go with the old traditional method as suggested as give the wall a few taps to located the studs and then measure out.
Again, thanks

Fangorn · Joined: 23 Oct 2008 Posts: 1 Location: Kent, United Kingdom

Hi have a look at this one from Zircon

http://www.toolbank.com/p/C4007/ZIRZ62116

CenterVision technology finds the centre of studs and joists in a single pass so this takes the guess work out of where the center of the stud is. It also detects metal and power Nice piece of kit!

Mark Br · Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 2:50 pm

It does indeed look good. Have you (or anyone else) tried the Zircon. I need to replace my detector and would be interested if it does "what it says on the tin"

Bilioustrumpstaine · Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 3:22 pm

I have ordered one today, the metalliscanner m40, from York tools.

I will report back over the weekend as it is promised for tomorrow.

Mark Br · Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 5:30 pm

Cheers - I hope it turns out to be as good as promised.

Bilioustrumpstaine · Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 2:20 pm

It's here !

I have given it a road test on my walls at home and it seems to be doing the business.

This is a metal detector only and identifies studs by picking up on the nail heads.

More after the weekend but first impressions are good.

Bammer · Joined: 21 Nov 2005 Posts: 46 Location: United Kingdom

Bilioustrumpstaine
That's great. Thanks for the update and might well consider this from Santa as I have a few jobs from ma lady-lol.
Regards

Bilioustrumpstaine · Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 1:45 pm

Well it earnt its money over the weekend

I have been working in some offices where there doesn't seem to be any logic to where the pipes and cables run and this bit of kit performed really well. It cost me just over £60 but well worth it.

I got it here
http://www.yorksurvey.co.uk/tools/zircon/2099/zircon-metalliscanner-m40-metalfinder.html

More info here

http://www.zircon.com/products/metal_m40.html

Mark Br · Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 2:45 pm

Good to hear it's as good as advertised. I'm putting in an order for the i520.

neds · Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 6:40 pm

I bought the DMF 10 as it was going cheap on the bay. Does the job, detects studs OK, a little over sensitive to live wires though, could be a good thing though!

DrEvil · Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2011 9:21 am

Does anyone have any opinion after using the Zircon i520, or indeed the i700?