You can also hang a small magnet from a string. There are small magnetic stud finders with a pivoting magnet that dips when over a nail.
Zircon is a good brand.Īnother way to find the nails is with a small magnet. It may be possible to search for the nails that attach the wood lath to the studs either with a detector that has a metal mode or one that is designed to detect only metal. Be aware that there might be horizontal or diagonal bracing in the wall. If it is wood lath a stud finder will sometimes work but it may be fooled by the inconsistent density of the plaster and the additional density of the wood lath but its worth a try. If it is metal lath you might be able to use the trial and error method but if the material is sound you can use moly bolts that are inserted in a drilled hole and expand when you tighten them. Your contractor should know or you can tell by removing an electrical box cover plate. To use a detector you must determine if the lath is wood or metal. An electrical receptacle might give you the location of one stud to sue as a reference point. This might only get you to within a few inches of the stud. Hanging directly at the studs will also provide the most strength for holding up televisions and other large objects.The simplest way is to knock on the wall until it doesn't sound hollow. For heavier items, screws with masonry anchors are your best bet.
These work because the lath pieces between the studs are made of wood and typically strong enough to hold small pieces. You can even use drywall screws for lighter items. It is better to use screws than nails for hanging on plaster walls. How do I hang heavy things on plaster walls? Hammer the nail in over the tape, and then remove the tape. You can help keep the plaster from cracking by taping the wall with masking tape at the spot the nail goes. This option is better than using a hammer and nail, where you run a large risk of cracking the plaster walls.However, it is possible that you do not have a nail gun and need to use a hammer. If you do need nail something into plaster walls, a finish nail gun is the best option for protecting plaster. If you are hanging something light, like a photo, use mounting tabs to avoid damaging your wall. Related Questions How do I nail into plaster walls without damaging them? When you measure the distance between the two studs you found, hopefully, it will be 16 inches. Rotate the other way to find the side of that stud, too. You can measure in ¾” to find the center of the stud. This barrier is the side of one of your studs. It should spin part of the way around before hitting a barrier.
Then, rotate the probe in a circle behind the wall. Put the probe in the wall just past the ninety-degree angle. If you were to, coincidentally, drill your hole centered exactly between the studs, a probe of 7” would miss the studs completely. This is because the distance between the studs, as noted above, is 14-1/2” (for standard 16” studs). Make sure that the length of the probe after the bend is 8 inches. Next, cut the probe and curve it at a ninety-degree angle. Your probe does not have to be a metal coat hanger: any inflexible material will do. Obviously it would be best to do this where your hanging will cover the spot. For this creative solution, you will need to drill a small hole in the wall.