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Pro Tool Reviews tested six stud finders on a mock-up lath-and-plaster wall and reported that the Franklin ProSensor M210/X2100 correctly located the center of every tested stud. The less expensive Franklin M70/X700 missed none and produced no false stud readings, but it identified the center less often and does not detect live AC.
Pro Tool Reviews tested six stud finders on a mock-up wall with a lath-and-plaster section and reported that the Franklin ProSensor M210/X2100 correctly identified the center of every stud it encountered in that test. The report also found that the cheaper Franklin M70/X700 missed no studs and recorded no false stud detections, though it marked the center less often and does not offer live-AC detection.
The test wall, built by Tom Gaige, included single-layer drywall, double-layer drywall and lath and plaster, with gaps that let the testers see what was behind each surface. The objects placed behind the sections included a standard stud, a stud with live AC, a metal stud, electrical conduit carrying live AC, PVC pipe and a water-filled copper pipe. The supplied report focuses its recommendations on performance in the plaster section.
Pro Tool Reviews says the M210/X2100 achieved 100% on-center detection in its plaster test, with no missed studs or off-center readings. It also correctly detected live AC every time, while registering false stud detections in 33% of the test observations. The report lists its price as $59.99 at the time of testing and advises taking repeated readings to check whether a suspected stud is actually another object.
The M70/X700 recorded 67% on-center detection, 33% off-center detection, no missed studs and no false stud detections. Its reported price was $21.99, nearly $40 below the M210, but it has no AC-detection feature. Other models the report says could work included the Zircon HD70 and JAXWQ 139-FYELLOW, though both had missed and false readings in the test. The supplied source excerpt does not include the full discussion or results for all six models.
Choosing a Finder for Plaster
The results matter to people mounting shelves, cabinets or televisions on older lath-and-plaster walls, where a wrong reading can put a fastener into empty space or lead someone to mistake a pipe or another object for framing. The test suggests that performance is not captured by a single score: the M210 had the best center-location result and AC detection, while the M70 offered fewer false readings at a much lower listed price.
Those distinctions affect how a reader might use the tools. For a project where precise placement or live-wire awareness matters, the M210’s reported features may be relevant, but its false readings mean users still need to verify marks. For lighter-duty locating, the M70’s no-miss and no-false-detection results in this test are encouraging, though its less consistent center marking and lack of AC detection are limitations. These are findings from one test setup, not a guarantee for every wall or installation.
stud finder for lath and plaster walls
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How the Wall Test Worked
Pro Tool Reviews says it assessed each finder using repeated passes from opposite directions, allowing the tool to reset or recalibrate and comparing the marks to locate a likely center. The report notes that stud-finder readings can vary even on drywall, and that lath, plaster thickness and wall construction can make detection harder. It recommends averaging multiple readings, with extra passes when marks do not agree.
The report’s categories separated on-center detection, off-center detection, missed studs, false stud detections and AC detection. These percentages describe the outcomes in the publication’s test, rather than a universal probability that a device will perform the same way in a particular home. The source also cautions that spacing in lath-and-plaster walls may be inconsistent, so measuring from one presumed stud at a standard interval can be unreliable.
“Only one nailed the center of every stud.”
— Pro Tool Reviews
stud finder with live AC detection
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Limits of the Published Results
The supplied source does not give the number of trials behind each percentage, the exact test dates or the full results for all six models. It also does not establish how the devices would perform across different plaster mixes, wall thicknesses, lath types, repairs or framing layouts. The listed prices may change, and the report does not provide a current price check.
The test describes a controlled mock-up, so its reported percentages should not be read as guarantees for a specific house. The findings also do not establish that any stud finder can reliably identify every pipe, wire or other obstruction behind a wall. A reading that appears to mark a stud may instead reflect another object, as the M210’s false detections in this test illustrate.
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Verify Before Drilling
The report’s practical next step is to take repeated measurements from opposite directions and compare the marks before choosing a fastening point. If readings disagree or a suspected stud behaves differently from others, treat that result cautiously; the test authors say an apparent stud may be a pipe or another object. Readers should consult the tool’s instructions and use appropriate checks before drilling or cutting, especially where electrical wiring or plumbing may be present.
No further testing or follow-up publication is specified in the supplied material. The report’s recommendations remain tied to its mock-up and stated results; additional trials across varied real-world plaster walls would be needed to establish how broadly those findings apply.
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Key Questions
Which stud finder performed best at locating the center of studs?
In Pro Tool Reviews’ lath-and-plaster test, the Franklin ProSensor M210/X2100 had 100% on-center detection, with no missed or off-center studs recorded. It also produced false stud detections in 33% of observations.
Which tested model had no false stud detections?
The Franklin M70/X700 recorded no false stud detections and no missed studs in the reported plaster test. It marked the center in 67% of observations and does not have AC detection.
Did the test show that one finder works on every plaster wall?
No. The results come from a single mock-up wall test described by Pro Tool Reviews. The source does not establish performance across all plaster thicknesses, lath types or older-home framing.
How should I check a stud-finder reading on lath and plaster?
The report recommends taking multiple readings from opposite directions and comparing the marks. It also cautions that a false reading may indicate a pipe or another object, so do not treat one signal as conclusive before drilling.
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