Hard to locate wall studs

[Quattro Pete]

Trying to locate studs so I can mount some hefty shelves in the garage. The wall is between the garage and the living area of the house, which means it's a firewall consisting of drywall and probably OSP or plywood behind it. Because the overall thickness is about 1-1/8" and density is high, 3 different stud finders can't locate the studs. I also tried a magnetic stud finder (to locate the screws/nails) but even that is failing - maybe the drywall is glued, not nailed down?

I guess I could start making a bunch of small holes hoping to eventually find the studs, but that's kind of destructive.

Any other reliable way to find studs behind such thick wall?

Thanks!

 

[Highboy]

You can try using a strong magnet maybe it’ll pick up a screw head or a nail.

 

[Kestas]

Before stud finders, my dad taught me to lightly hammer on the wall until you find a solid area. Then with a small drill bit start drilling until you hit the stud. Keep drilling holes until you find each side of the stud. Mount your shelves using the middle of the stud. The other studs should be 16" apart.

 

[Nukeman7]

This Franklin ProSensor MAX is very pricey for a stud finder, but it will penetrate 2-1/2" deep through the wall.

 

[dishdude]

All the gang boxes for the receptacles and light switches will be mounted to a stud. You can take the plate off to see which side it is nailed to and measure from there in 18" increments

 

[The_Jeff]

What's on the other side of the wall? Siding? See how they nailed that in.

 

[Leo99]

Before stud finders, my dad taught me to lightly hammer on the wall until you find a solid area. Then with a small drill bit start drilling until you hit the stud. Keep drilling holes until you find each side of the stud. Mount your shelves using the middle of the stud. The other studs should be 18" apart.

18"? I thought 16" was standard.

 

[demarpaint]

Before stud finders, my dad taught me to lightly hammer on the wall until you find a solid area. Then with a small drill bit start drilling until you hit the stud. Keep drilling holes until you find each side of the stud. Mount your shelves using the middle of the stud. The other studs should be 18" apart.

That works, if you don't mind the holes, carefully drill them where the shelf will go. Most quality residential construction places the studs 16" on center.

 

[AZjeff]

18"? I thought 16" was standard.

It is.

 

[shortyb]

This Franklin ProSensor MAX is very pricey for a stud finder, but it will penetrate 2-1/2" deep through the wall.

I have a Franklin M210 scanner. I have always found even the deepest buried wall studs and saved countless patched holes. About $60 on Amazon.

 

[SammyChevelleTypeS3]

Before stud finders, my dad taught me to lightly hammer on the wall until you find a solid area. Then with a small drill bit start drilling until you hit the stud. Keep drilling holes until you find each side of the stud. Mount your shelves using the middle of the stud. The other studs should be 18" apart.

Your way , tapping is exactly how we used to find them all the times before all sorts of special stud finders started popping up on the store shelves. Tricky when one can not find them with one of those! Not likely but possible they used glue gun for inside wall. Still, the tap tap tap method should work.

 

[GaryMX5]

I have a Franklin and a couple of Zircons. One zircon is a cheapo and the other mid range. In reality both measure about the same depth. The Franklin is a 210 (about 50.00). The franklin is better for deeper scans but anything over 1.5" can be a crap shoot. The Franklin does a much better job of displaying the stud width. When using any stud finder for a deeper scan just go really slow!!

 

[Hall]

16"? I thought 16" was standard.

It's 16". Other poster is wrong.

 

[Hall]

I guess I could start making a bunch of small holes hoping to eventually find the studs, but that's kind of destructive.

In a garage, I wouldn't lose sleep over using this method....

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Trying to locate studs so I can mount some hefty shelves in the garage. The wall is between the garage and the living area of the house, which means it's a firewall consisting of drywall and probably OSP or plywood behind it. Because the overall thickness is about 1-1/8" and density is high, 3 different stud finders can't locate the studs. I also tried a magnetic stud finder (to locate the screws/nails) but even that is failing - maybe the drywall is glued, not nailed down?

I guess I could start making a bunch of small holes hoping to eventually find the studs, but that's kind of destructive.

Any other reliable way to find studs behind such thick wall?

Thanks!

Thermal camera

 

[oldcodger]

Working off outlet and switch boxes will be the most inexpensive method.

 

[Pablo]

Neodymium magnet stronger the better

 

[Rand]

Franklin studfinder from HF at $37 ?
https://www.harborfreight.com/prosensor-m150-stud-finder-57219.html
or buy once cry once with the max model
https://www.amazon.com/Franklin-Sensors-ProSensor-13-Sensors-Detector/dp/B0D3MDJWVC

 

[SammyChevelleTypeS3]

Working off outlet and switch boxes will be the most inexpensive method.

Yes, one can measure from a switch or outlet that are tied to studs. Doing that should get one in the close proximity to the next stud.

 

[Quattro Pete]

What's on the other side of the wall? Siding? See how they nailed that in.

On the other side of the wall is my kitchen.