What stud finder / cable detector to get?

[Geertsen]

I need to do a decent amount for drilling / hanging stuff over the next few weeks including a large TV onto a kitchen wall with potential for pipes and cables hidden. Does anyone have a recommendation for which stud finder / cable / pipe detector to buy. There’s so much choice!

Thank you

[WyrleyD]

I have a Bosche Truvo, bought it when we tore our kitchen apart and removed some walls so needed to trace where the electrics ran and where under the floor the gas pipes were. Worked great tracing the gas pipes in the floor and managed to trace it all the way to the meter cupboard (one end of the house to the other). Not quite the same success with the walls though as I got a lot of false positives due to stud nails and metal edging between plasterboards so it took a lot longer and a number of exploration holes but did manage to trace them all in the end.

[biggiles]

I rate my Franklin one which has many sensors to make it very easy to use. Cheap ones are a false economy I think.

[Actual]

The StudBuddy Magnetic Stud Finder

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B014VJ0ELA

I do have electrical/metal/wood detectors but I use the StudBuddy to find the plasterboard screws in walls and ceilings and it is more accurate and practical compared to the electromagnetic and capacitive types.

[JoshSm]

The Bosch Truvo I've used works pretty well and isn't a bad price, obviously does depend on what you're pointing it at as there can be all sorts buried and some types of wall material just aren't friendly for detectors. It never hurts to already have a reasonable idea of what is lurking where and use the detector more for confirmation.

Any reasonably cheap one is always going to be a compromise because of the way they work so you have to accept they're imperfect & work accordingly - the full fat blue Bosch D-tect 200 C is £600-800+ to get something that will reliably show what's below a surface.

[Collectingbrass]

A drill from what ever battery system you're invested in and the most expensive 6mm masonry bit you have in the tool box find most things quite well I find...