If you find yourself reaching for a stud finder every week or so, the Franklin Sensors 710 Precision Stud Finder should be in your tool bag. Locating studs isn’t a hard job, but it can be tedious—especially when you’re on the clock. This model speeds through jobs without a hitch; of course, it comes with a price that might not be worth it for the average homeowner. Read on for everything we discovered when we tested this stud finder out during our own DIY project.
Performance: Fast, accurate readings
The Franklin 710 locates studs quickly and accurately. You’re not left waving your hand over the wall for long before the 13 indicator lights start popping. This model is always in deep scan mode, so even if the walls are thicker than a standard .75 inches, you get an accurate reading. My husband and I used this model during the installation of a closet organizer. We had to locate every stud in one wall to attach the organizer’s top rail. Because the top rail is really the backbone of the entire organizer, we wanted to make sure we didn’t miss any studs. We tested three stud finders during this project, and the Franklin 710 was by far the fastest at locating studs. Thanks to its rectangular shape, it was also the only one that could locate a stud in a corner. We had to turn it sideways on its long edge to do it, but once we did, we found a stud we’d missed with all the other models.
Design: Quick visuals but lacks precision
With a single pass, indicator lights give you the location of the stud right away. There’s no question about it. And, if there are studs that are close together or any that are of a wider width, you can see that immediately. The sensors are activated with a button located on the handle, which runs the entire length of the stud finder. It’s not an ergonomic design, but it’s simple and effective. The only downside to the design is that you don’t get a precise location of the stud edge. Though the indicator lights are close together, you still have to estimate the edge location. For most projects, that’s not an issue, but if you’ve got a wide fastener for a picture frame, for example, that could lead to a missed stud once you start hammering or drilling. The last design feature to mention is the ruler on the face of the Franklin 710. It can be useful when marking the location of the stud. However, the plastic ruler is the same yellow as the surrounding casing, which makes it hard to see in dim light. Since we were working in a dark closet, we were unable to use the ruler as we couldn’t make out its markings.
Size: Can fill up an average toolbox
Toolboxes and bags get filled pretty fast and at 7 x 3 x 2 inches, this stud finder takes up more than its fair share of space. Unless you’re a professional who needs quick stud detection, you can get away with a smaller magnetic model that doesn’t eat up as much space.
Price: Appropriate for professionals
As far as tools go, stud finders typically aren’t a big investment—that is unless you’re going for the Franklin 710. The pro-grade model retails for $51.95—a pretty penny more than your average $10 to $20 options. If you work in construction or home improvement, it’s definitely a worthwhile investment. Average homeowners can find a less expensive model that’s smaller and just as precise, however.
Competition: Pay less for similar accuracy
CH Hanson 03040 Magnetic Stud Finder: The CH Hanson stud finder relies on magnets to locate screws in studs. While it’s successful in doing that, it can’t actually locate the studs themselves. This means you can’t pinpoint edges, either. We found this model was far better for verifying stud location as a backup to another stud finder (they can be inaccurate) than it was for finding them on its own. A major plus? It’ll only run you $8. Zircon StudSensor e50 Electronic Wall Scanner: The e50, found here, can’t reach into corners like the Franklin 710, but its accuracy is comparable and it retails for half the price. It also has a sensor that provides a more exact edge location than the Franklin 710. With a more compact design, it’ll also free up space in your toolbox Time is money for professionals and finding studs quickly means moving through jobs at a faster clip. Average homeowners, however, can get by with a smaller, just-as-accurate stud finder for much less.
