I realize apartment complexes sometimes use hack construction technicques, but I'm have the worst time trying to locate studs to mount my 42".

I was getting kind of inconsitent readings with the stud finder (didn't get a really high end one, but got a decent $20 one with deep scan mode and electrical warnings). So after reading a few posts about this topic, I decided to get the drill out with a small bit.

I was able to (I think, didn't puch right through, and appeared to be wood on the bit) locate one stud, drilling in one of the few spots I was actually getting a semi consistent reading, but I'm having a really hard time, finding others.

Tried drilling over 12", 16", 24" and nothing!!!
Then I got so fed up, I just puched a million holes along the same path spaced about 1" apart, and nothing. I'm starting to think this wall is being held by the force.

The only other spot that didn't just puch right through (and I thought may be a stud) was 11"! But then 11" over from that spot is nothing.

What hell, did they just randomly place studs wherever!

Any suggestions!

Move?:D

yeah not really much you can do but keep trying. Move the stud finder slowly, it sounds like I have the same one as you. Bright yellow thing? Deep scan setting?

I had a hard time finding my wood studs and I framed the place!! haha.

You could give up and just use the stand.

I know this might sound crazy but go over to Home Depot and get some Hilti heavy duty togglebolts (not the kind that is spring loaded and will drop into the wall if you remove the bolt, the kind that has a solid metal piece with a 6 inch piece of plastic sticking out of it with an achoring cap). They are rated for about 150 lbs each on 1/2 inch sheetrock. Since you found one stud, use that and put these togglebolts on the other side.

I hung one 42 inch plasma using just 5 of these togglebolts for someone cuz the stud layout didn't allow for the location they wanted -- centered over a piece of furniture. Been up there for about 4 years now with no problem. My 42 inch in my bedroom fell into a similar situation as yours. Found a stud for the left side of the mount, used togglebolts for the right side.

I used a small hole saw bit ~0.75" and then took a piece of 12gauge electrical wire and curve fed it through the hole (horizontally) until it hit a stud.
Wire hanger would do as well and you can get an idea of how far either way the two studs you want to mount on are from the hole.
I used the hole later for my HDMI cable run through the wall.

Move?:DNo s***, but in the meantime I need to get this thing on the wall until tht happens.

yeah not really much you can do but keep trying. Move the stud finder slowly, it sounds like I have the same one as you. Bright yellow thing? Deep scan setting?

I had a hard time finding my wood studs and I framed the place!! haha.

You could give up and just use the stand.Yup that's the one. Got it at Home Depot.

It's actually on the stand right now (on top of an old POS coffee table, but really want to get it up on the wall).

Do you know for sure that you have wood studs & not metal? Metal studs can often be spaced on 2' centers, & because of thin wall construction, be easily missed when drilling holes.

The use of several toggle bolts as noted in the post above is a good alternative if all else fails.

Edit: another suggestion for finding studs from the many holes you have already drilled...

Take a wire metal coat hanger & form it into a slightly curved "L" shape, insert it in sh rock hole & rotate.

They're definitely wood studs.
I actually found them!!!
I now have 2 of the 4 holes drilled...amazingly, exactly 16" apart.

It took a lot longer than expected and I had to use a combination of stud finder, wire hanger method, finish nails, and just randomly drilling horizontally across the wall.

Now I just need to wait for all the spackle and pain to dry, before I finish the job.

I used a small hole saw bit ~0.75" and then took a piece of 12gauge electrical wire and curve fed it through the hole (horizontally) until it hit a stud.
Wire hanger would do as well and you can get an idea of how far either way the two studs you want to mount on are from the hole.
I used the hole later for my HDMI cable run through the wall.



BINGO!!!