Distance between studs

Steve S · #1 09-21-2009, 10:32 PM

I'm trying to mount some hangers for my instruments and having trouble finding the studs. How far apart are they?

Balog · #2 09-21-2009, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve S

I'm trying to mount some hangers for my instruments and having trouble finding the studs. How far apart are they?

16 inches is pretty standard, but I wouldn't take it for granted. What is covering the studs, paneling, drywall?

Munjibunga · #3 09-21-2009, 10:36 PM

Typically 16 inches. Get a stud finder.

hover · #4 09-21-2009, 10:37 PM

use the correct drywall anchors and you don't have to worry about no studs.

the hangers usually come with these, and if the 5 instruments I have hanging on the wall in this fashion are any indicator, even after 7 years I don't think you'll have an issue.

T-Bird · #5 09-21-2009, 11:44 PM

Hi.

What Munji said.

While screw-on drywall fasteners may work, there's also a strong possibility that they won't. I wouldn't (and won't) trust them. And yes, fixing stuff to drywall material is a part of what I do for living.

"Butterfly" fasteners would be my choice if the material is drywall.

Regards
Sam

MakiSupaStar · #6 09-22-2009, 12:07 AM

One of the best stud finders I've ever used was my neighbors old fashioned low-tech solution. It's a magnetic piece of metal hung on a thin chain. You run it along the drywall like a moving pendulum. It will stop or waiver on the nails of the studs. Works way better than any of those noise makers.

Stanley Design · #7 09-22-2009, 01:34 AM

Yeah the old fashioned ones work, but they don't tell you if there's electrical behind the wall. 16 inches is standard, but in a lot of houses (especially apartment buildings) the studs are every which way, and crooked and all sorts of craziness behind the wall.

Get a decent electronic studfinder. It'll tell you the exact center of each stud. I wouldn't trust drywall anchors. Either that or use tack nails and guess work. You can usually tell where the seams are in drywall if you look close enough, and the seams always run on a straight stud.

WalterBush · #8 09-22-2009, 01:37 AM

16 inches is standard on a load-bearing, i.e. outside wall. Lots of inside walls (between bedrooms, closets, etc.) are 24 inches apart.

Get a stud finder. Zircon makes some accurate and inexpensive electronic models, some of which detect AC wiring and plumbing in the wall so you don't puncture or crush anything in the stud. Every home should have one.

L-A · #9 09-22-2009, 06:57 AM

+1 on a basic Zircon stud finder. They're cheap and accurate, and you probably don't need more than the "stud" and "AC" light.

MJ5150 · #10 09-22-2009, 07:05 AM

Just set them on the ground, stacked on top of each other and be done with the nonsense of finding somewhere to put up the hangers.

-Mike

hover · #11 09-22-2009, 07:11 AM

trusting the anchors or not is fine, but they are engineered for this purpose. they are usually rated for much higher weight than a typical bass...between that and the wooden block's footprint of the hanger locked against the drywall, I highly doubt anything would fail.

I mean you hang big pictures, heavy mirrors, and shelves in much the same manner...just sayin...

RWP · #12 09-22-2009, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hover

trusting the anchors or not is fine, but they are engineered for this purpose. they are usually rated for much higher weight than a typical bass...between that and the wooden block's footprint of the hanger locked against the drywall, I highly doubt anything would fail.

I mean you hang big pictures, heavy mirrors, and shelves in much the same manner...just sayin...

+1 I have had 7 basses hanging for over 10 years. Not one has fallen off the wall.

jwbassman · #13 09-22-2009, 07:28 AM

I've had no problems with using drywall anchors.

hover · #14 09-22-2009, 07:44 AM

Also to consider many music stores have many times more instruments hung from 1/8" perfboard suspended by wire neck hangers through the tiny holes...

iamlowsound · #15 09-22-2009, 09:35 AM

The best stud finder is your hand, just tap and where is doesn't sound hollow, is a stud. I can usually locate plumbing and electrical with just a little logic and knowledge of how stuff is run.

lowsound

etoncrow · #16 09-22-2009, 09:44 AM

Start looking for the stud to either side of an electrical switch or receptacle. Both should be installed in a box that is mounted directly to a stud. You can also come 16" off a corner and find one.

iamlowsound · #17 09-22-2009, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by etoncrow

Start looking for the stud to either side of an electrical switch or receptacle. Both should be installed in a box that is mounted directly to a stud. You can also come 16" off a corner and find one.

16 off a corner will only work on one end of the wall, 96% of the time a wall will not both start and end on a 16" center. The receptacle thing is a great way to find studs, but it also doesn't always work. Sometimes if there has been cable or other types of wires like that added, they will not be on a stud.

lowsound

L-A · #18 09-22-2009, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hover

trusting the anchors or not is fine, but they are engineered for this purpose. they are usually rated for much higher weight than a typical bass...between that and the wooden block's footprint of the hanger locked against the drywall, I highly doubt anything would fail.

I mean you hang big pictures, heavy mirrors, and shelves in much the same manner...just sayin...

As long as the gypsum holds

There are many good ways of doing it mentioned in this thread, but most of them assume that the house was built according to standards. Choosing to assume it is (or not) will probably be the first step.

playinpearls · #19 09-22-2009, 10:32 AM

i've had great succes with wall anchors. if you think its gonna fall, buy a bigger anchor. I have my flatscreen mounted above my fireplace. I used 6 400lbs. rated wall anchors to secure the mount cause the studs were so far apart for the fireplace. I could hang on that tv, and it isn't going anywhere....

i get the "butterfly" type anchors though....spring loaded. I have accidentally ripped the drywall up using some of those white ones pictured above...

EricF · #20 09-22-2009, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwbassman

I've had no problems with using drywall anchors.

+1. I've had basses and guitars haninging off drywall anchors for years. They're as tight to the wall as they were when I put them up.

As for studs, 16" is the "standard", but it seems to be more of a loose recommendation based on what I've seen.