Pipe detectors??

[swampydrill]

Whats peoples opinion on these pipe detectors, are they any good, whats a good make as looking to get one.

 

[Gasguru]

Having bought every type on the market (up to £80) a few years ago I found NONE actually worked well enough to give you any confidence before drilling. Most were very susceptable to the type of brick (ie the iron content) and surface condensation.

I did consider buying a proper wall tie locator. These look like a mini metal detector and would no doubt do the job. Since they are about £400 I gave it a miss.

 

[Terrywookfit]

I use two bent welding rods and dowse !!!

 

[D_Hailsham]

The cheap ones from B&Q etc are OK for live electric cables but useless for copper pipe.

You have to be about 2-3cm from the pipe in the open air to get the tracer to register. If the pipe is buried under carpet, underlay, floorboard etc, it won't find a thing. It won't even find pipes behind plasterboard walls.

It is very good at finding gripperod

 

[namsag]

Always found that most people can find them with a simple hammer and nail, no need for expensive bits of kit

 

[swampydrill]

I can imagine a hammer and nail would defintely find it.

 

[Gasguru]

My drill bit found a 1.5mm T&E at 09.00 am putting up a curtain rail and then my bolster found a 2.5mm T&E at 17.00 removing the excess plaster around a doorway.

Both cables were outside the prescribed zones with no protection. It was also the first day of the job.

 

[sooey]

The cheap ones from B&Q etc are OK for live electric cables but useless for copper pipe.

You have to be about 2-3cm from the pipe in the open air to get the tracer to register. If the pipe is buried under carpet, underlay, floorboard etc, it won't find a thing. It won't even find pipes behind plasterboard walls.

It is very good at finding gripperod

Nothing's as good at finding gripperod as my finger tips.