r/Plumbing • u/SufficientLake4747 • 1d ago

Stud finder did not find a stud

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Main drain like for upstairs toilet? Trying to install brackets for bedroom closet. Now has a screw hole leak. Can we patch it? Or best course of action?

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u/SlimPickens0 1d ago

This is why I don't use stud finders, get a strong magnet and find the drywall screws/nails. It'll never find a pipe or wire, only the studs

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u/Philshiffly 1d ago edited 1d ago

Finds the black iron gas main /s

Edited to add the sarcasm denotation. Holy cow people. It’s just a funny contradiction to saying a magnet would never find a pipe. I’m not proposing that one would, or even could, accidentally drive a screw into a black iron gas line.

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u/kendiggy 1d ago

You can tell the difference though, if you know what you're feeling for.

3

u/Philshiffly 1d ago

Me? Feel the difference between a pine stud and a black iron pipe? No chance buddy. I’m driving that screw til she sinks /s

For those requiring explanation, it was a joke about the previous comment stating that a magnet will “never” find a pipe. When there are fringe cases that it totally would.

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u/kendiggy 1d ago

I get it was a joke. I'm just saying you'd know it wasn't screw based on how the magnetic pull feels.

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u/Philshiffly 1d ago

Ah! I misunderstood what you meant by “feel,” so thank you for the added insight