I'd like to hang a 42" plasma TV on a knotty pine paneled wall. The plasma is pretty heavy for a 42", so I need to find the studs, but am having a difficult time. My electronic studfinder doesn't work and there are no electrical boxes on the wall. Crawl space reveals nothing, and there's no room above this one and no access to the space above the ceiling. The paneling is tongue-in-roove and is vertical. Using a magnet I can find rows of nails every 6-8" in the panel joint that are horizontal, but the horizontal rows are 20" apart. Is that some sort of furring strip to mount the panneling to or it is possible the studs are horizontal?

I highly doubt that they are horizontal studs. Most likely they put in blocking between the studs since the paneling is vertical.

The studs will be 16in on center. Try measuring 16.5" from the corner and that should be the center of the first stud. The center of every other stud should be 16" from there.

Good luck!

A 1/16" drill bit would work. Stagger the holes so they are not in an obvious line. Drilling through a bit of blue painters tape will help you find the holes later. A smear of wet potting soil will fill the holes, creating that coveted antique look.

I recently had the same problem on the wall the garage shares with the house. If memory serves: I have that problem with that wall on both sides.

I've two stud finders. Neither of them is even remotely dependable. I wonder if there's one that actually works--at least most of the time?

You may have my problem. I can't use stud finders because they all go off if I get within 10' of them.

I used a strong magnet to find drywall screws in the wall.

I am guessing that the knotty pine wall is plenty strong and will hold the TV without finding the studs. You may be guilty of over-engineering.

quote:

Originally posted by GaryBF:
I am guessing that the knotty pine wall is plenty strong and will hold the TV without finding the studs. You may be guilty of over-engineering.

He called it paneling though. If individual planks, I would throw some screws through it into the furring strips behind where the TV would be mounted and mount the TV directly to the wall. I wouldn't use an arm type mount that lets you pull the TV away from the wall thos way. For one of those I'd find the studs. I have two 42" plasmas and they are heavy.

Two ideas

1) If it is paneling, find a spot and gently pull the paneling off. Take a look and then nail it back in. I used to do that at my grandpa's house, a storage area was behind it.

2) Ditch the plasma and get a newer much much lighter TV

It's probably on 1" furring strips and that is why it appears to be horizontal.

If you can remove the baseboard you may be able to find the studs

quote:

Originally posted by Shaql:

The studs will be 16in on center. Try measuring 16.5" from the corner and that should be the center of the first stud. The center of every other stud should be 16" from there.

Good luck!

I wouldn't trust that at all. What if the wall is not a length that would have exact spacing for studs? I have seen walls where a stud might only be a few inches in on one end.
And when was it built? If old enough the studs maybe as much as 24" apart.

Lots methods to find the studs, as mentioned. Something else to consider is what's behind the pine wall? It may very well be on thin furring strips with a block wall behind it. The TV's that I've hung use about a 3" bolt, you may be punching through the concrete block if that is what's behind the pine.

More importantly, what are you plugging in to.

My wife and I use three methods.

1. The stud finder.

2. Start at the corner and mark off every 16" and then confirm with the stud finder.

3. Use the smallest diameter nail you can find and poke it through the wall until you find the stud. This works well with drywall, might not be so good with panel.

Good luck.

I have something similar to this.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Zi...nder-68240/300072345

I've used it a bunch of times and it has worked well.

if you are going to hang the TV, are you going to have the power and cable connections behind the TV?
as in the TV will cover them?

if so,

mark the spot for the TV on the wall, and pick the spot for the cable/power to come thru (likely best to have them separate to shield on from the other, if that matters anymore)

then once you have the hole(s) for the box(es) us a feeler to find the studs on either side

quote:

Originally posted by GaryBF:
I am guessing that the knotty pine wall is plenty strong and will hold the TV without finding the studs. You may be guilty of over-engineering.

This^^^^
Assuming this is what you have is the circa 1950 - 60's, 3/4 inch thick tongue and groves planks. The horizontal bits should be blocking between the studs.

Is this what you have?

quote:

Originally posted by gjgalligan:

quote:

Originally posted by Shaql:

The studs will be 16in on center. Try measuring 16.5" from the corner and that should be the center of the first stud. The center of every other stud should be 16" from there.

Good luck!

I wouldn't trust that at all. What if the wall is not a length that would have exact spacing for studs? I have seen walls where a stud might only be a few inches in on one end.
And when was it built? If old enough the studs maybe as much as 24" apart.

I had a house where the distance between the studs was variable. I am not kidding.


I can usually find studs by tapping. Is the paneling too thick for that?

I agree with pulling the baseboard if you have one, as well as maybe drilling or nailing tiny test holes way down by the floor where no one will notice after the fact.