I'm looking for advice on what strength of magnet would be best for finding drywall screws. The "magnetic stud finder" I purchased online doesn't pick up on screws very well – it barely sticks to my fridge! I just need something strong enough to locate the screws but not excessively powerful. The previous owner of my house probably used very few screws per drywall sheet, so I'm hoping for something effective without being overkill.
3 Answers
Consider using small rare earth magnets. They’re handy for this type of work, and you can easily find them online. Just keep in mind that they can be a bit dangerous if you have pets or small kids around. I've taken apart old hard drives just to repurpose their magnets – super effective!
If you're on the hunt for a reliable magnet, I highly recommend getting a neodymium magnet. They're really strong and work well for finding screws. A buddy of mine has one from a black and yellow stud finder, and he swears by it – he even has to keep it away from other tools! Just search for something similar if you want one that really sticks!
I have the same one! It's fantastic and makes locating screws super easy.
Yeah, I've seen that one; it looks great!
You might also want to think about using a stud ball or similar tools made for that purpose. They’re designed specifically for finding screws and should help you out. It’s useful to have something that can actually help you unscrew when needed.
Yeah, those can be risky if you’re not careful. Just letting you know!