[Shop-talk] Stud finder work with metal siding?

[Bill Rabel]

Wayne -

I would figure out the what height to mount the bracket and measure  
the height of one of the mounting holes. Locate a stud on the inside  
and mark the appropriate height. Then drill a 1/4" hole from the  
inside, clear through the stud and through the metal. You could drill  
any additional holes from the outside. Now just use 5/16" or 3/8" lag  
screws to mount the bracket. Strong, weathertight, and accurate.

Some stud finders will help locate electrical wires ("deep scan"), but  
I've never been totally sure of them, so I might even open up the  
sheetrock and peek before proceeding.


- Bill Rabel
   Anacortes, WA



> My shop is of pole building construction (t-girt/perlin). I finished  
> the
> inside which included putting in vertical studs on 16" centers,  
> sheetrock
> etc. These studs do not have the exterior metal siding fastened to  
> them so I
> can't just go by where screws are located to id the stud locations.
>
> I have a situation where I need to mount a fairly stout bracket to the
> exterior of the building and I need to find one of those studs to do  
> so. I
> anticipate needing to sink some good sized lag-screws to mount the  
> bracket.
> Further, the approximate area of where I need to mount this bracket  
> includes
> an area of the wall that has a bunch of electrical wiring running  
> through it
> (romex through holes in the studs).
>
> I was wondering if the stud finders would work through the metal  
> skin to
> find the studs? Do some of the stud finders also detect electrical  
> wires?