(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best scanners & testers

No problem! Some people get things like this https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005T4720I/ref=psdcmw_553270_t1_B001FADJ2A

I’ve never had any luck with it. I just stick my finger deep in the soil, if there’s any moisture, I wait. If I have any doubts, I wait a couple days. It’s always better to underwater than over water :) Another thing to look for is if the leaves start getting wrinkly, it most likely wants a drink!

Also, your plant looks like a sempervium, possibly hen and chicks. They grow pretty fast and like to spread out, also the name means “lives forever” since they’re pretty hardy!

Assuming it's mounted to an inside wall, it's probably not insulated, meaning it's extremely easy to feed the wires inside the wall.

Using a keyhole saw, cut a small hole behind the monitor. I suggest using a stud finder with A/C detection to make sure you're not cutting into a stud or wires. Then cut another hole somewhere directly below that hole and just run the wires in one and out the other. It's super easy. You can get nice bezels to make the holes look pretty too:

keyhole saw

stud finder

bezel

• Metal locking cabinet
  
  
• Stud Finder
  
  
• Some lag screws with washers
  
  Use the stud finder to locate a stud in your wall (closets can be a good place), mark it above the top of the safe. Take your safe, find the holes in the back (or drill some) Mark the top of the safe in line with the holes in the back. Line up both marks, getting the safe as close to the wall as possible (you might need to put it up on some plywood if there is a kicker board). Drive the bolts into the stud anchoring it in place.
  
  This is easy to remove and patching 4 or 5 screw holes in drywall is something that most apartment dwellers will be doing anyway.

Where did you buy the one for $5? Cheapest I found was $12 w/shipping. I want one lol.

Edit: found one for $10, getting closer....I'm guessing this is the one but you just didn't include shipping in the price. Ima have to pick one up, thanks!

Know of a good cheap ppm meter too?

Buy this Franklin Sensors stud finder or something higher, nothin lower. You will have it for life. I own one and it's the tits.

Also buy a roll of paper drywall tape. That mesh stuff is crap. You need to rebuild those holes with paper and gypsum (spackle). Any will due.

Clean holes with stiff bristle brush. Try to save any chunks that have intact, contiguous paper that are flapping around, they will increase strength.

Fill, mud and tape. Let dry. Light wet sand (wet dish rag). Let dry. Mud again if you see edges. Let dry. Wet sand. Dry sand. Paint. Dry times are 24 hours to be safe.

It is the only way!

Reference: Parent of 2 children under 5.

thats why i ended up buying a bunch of these then use an sdr, rpi, and a docker container to graph it all including the floating one in the pool and dump it to mqtt which gets picked up by node-red and into influxdb.

i also have the accurite weather station with the hub thing, but it has a device limit, and you can't get data out of it so that sucks. just much easier sniffing 433mhz if you want the dockerfile i built for it i'll be happy to send it.

Stud Finder Sensor Wall Scanner - 4 in 1 Electronic Stud Sensor Beam Finders Wall Detector Center Finding with LCD Display for Wood AC Wire Metal Studs Joist Detection https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F6RZM43/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_bERzDb3GP0FKD

This one is rated pretty high.

EDIT: Ok, I’ll get a manual one or use a magnet! Seems like no one likes these electronic ones.

I strongly recommend the magnetic strap. it is wonderful https://www.amazon.ca/Fluke-TPAK-Meter-Hanging-Kit/dp/B000GFI9RA

Honestly I've tried a bunch of different stud finders with bad results like you indicated. I bought this one https://www.amazon.com/ProSensor-T6-Professional-Stud-Finder/dp/B071LF2BRY a few years back and have never missed a stud for anchoring or cutting in new electrical boxes.
The magnet method works good as well. My pops used to use it with a little device like this one https://www.amazon.com/Pack-Stanley-47-400-Magnetic-Finder/dp/B002YCSIJC

Lots of good ideas in here, but it just looks over watered at first glance. Gotta really let it dry out between watering. I find these cheap probes do a fantastic job.

+1 on the level. I also recommend a good stud finder too. I use this one and it works really well. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019HKNO1A/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Nice! I found much cheaper ones too. Thanks for the tip!

I was typing up my list of shit for my second grow. Lets see if I got my Reddit Formatting Correct. :)

The Details

Seeds

• 1 x Fem White Widow
  
• 1 x Fem Hash Plant
  
• 2 x Fem Super Silver Haze - Scrogged
  
• 1 x Reg Cannasol Durban Poison Bag Seed
  
  Gear
  
  Veg/Flowering
  
  
• 48x48x80 Tent
  
• iPower 1000w
  
• iPower Carbon Filter
  
• Duct Fan One
  
• Duct Fan Two
  
• Fan Controller One
  
• Fan Controller Two
  
• Insulated Ducting
  
  Seedlings
  
  
• Power Cord for Seedlings
  
• Light Splitters
  
• Socket Adapters
  
• CFL's - Way, way cheaper at Home Depot
  
  Medium and Nutes
  
  
• Pro-Cal
  
• Growstones
  
• General Hydroponics Nutes - Lucas Formula
  
• Coco Coir
  
  Meters
  
  
• Light Meter
  
• Infrared Thermometer
  
• TDS Meter
  
• PH Meter
  
• PH Contol Kit
  
• PH Buffer Solution
  
  Pots
  
  
• 5 Gallon Smart Pots
  
• 14 inch Plant Saucers
  
• Scrog Screens
  
• Plastic seedling and one gallon pots
  
  Misc
  
  
• Foil Tape
  
• Ossilating Fan
  
• Snippers
  
• Assorted 4 and 6 inch fans
  
• Assorted thermometers
  
• Garden stakes, Twist ties, etc.
  
• Duct Clamps and duct tape
  
• 2 Timers
  
• Ratchets
  
• Distilled Water
  
• Various sizes of water mixing buckets
  
  
  

a few key points:

• somebody fucked up, this shouldn't happen to a 3yr old roof
  
  
• how your gutters look? in some homes, clogged gutters can backfeed water into the edge of the roofline.
  
  
• in like 99% of cases, water comes in from above (some edge cases like concrete wicking it upward) - its simple but keep that in mind when you're looking for the source.
  
  
• amazon sells moisture meters that might help you trace the source, something like this or the pin prick type.

It sounds like you need a stud finder with a deep scan function for thicker walls. Beyond that the models with an LCD screen like this one for $30 tend to be easier to use for actually finding the center of the stud.

1. Get the plans to your house. You can often get this from city hall. Keep these, you'll want them for so many projects.
   
   
2. Get an electric testing device, find out if there's any hidden electrical or pipes in the way. Both for safety, and so you can know you need to move it, which might require more drywall removed and an electrician and/or plumber. I don't actually own one, so can't recommend any specific device.
   
   
3. I would hire a structural engineer to tell you if it's possible. He'll probably want to look at the plans. If he needs to come out, ask if he needs to see inside the wall, if he does, have the drywall where the window is going cut out nicely. Try to keep it intact, as best you can, just in case you need to move the window and need to replace a portion of the wall.
   
   
4. After you have the permits and the go-ahead, it should be fairly easy. For the aluminum siding, you might make it look ugly, but just a $30 angle grinder should cut the hole easily. Otherwise, you do it properly and remove the entire length of the siding, cutting it, and replacing it.

Electronic stud finders are cheap, and they're not limited to detecting nails/screws. They tell you exactly where the stud begins and where it ends.

This is the exact model I have, and I've had it for almost 20 years. If you're about to move, get one. If you like home improvement projects, get one. If you like blinking toys, get one.

edit: holy shit this one is awesome, if a bit pricey.

Hey bro, I felt the same about every single stud finder for decades until this one came out.

https://www.amazon.com/Precision-Sensors-ProFinder-Scanning-Finder/dp/B019HKNO1A/ref=sr_1_11?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1501259435&sr=1-11&keywords=stud+finder

I've never missed a stud since then. It's the only that works and the price is pretty reasonable since there are many more expensive ones that doesn't work. All you have to do is hold the button and move the thing around. The LEDs will tell you the shape and size of the stud.

I am not sure if this will work, I just looked on amazon for a soil ph tester it’s really cheap and it will give you an idea is you have to something or not.
You may want to get a good fertilizer either way if the land was covered in weeds before.

Try this one. Seems to have a favorable review.

Do you know what kind of moisture meter they use?

Like this: https://www.amazon.com/General-Tools-MMD4E-Moisture-Digital/dp/B00275F5O2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1505249720&sr=8-3&keywords=moisture+meter

or this: https://www.amazon.com/General-Tools-MMD4E-Moisture-Digital/dp/B00HARYVUQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1505249720&sr=8-3&keywords=moisture%2Bmeter&th=1

A moisture meter for wood is cheap $15. 12% is good. In the sun they may get even drier and shrink more

It's pretty much impossible to find seasoned firewood... people say its seasoned but their full of BS. Build a rick and buy in the spring.

Save yourself some trouble and get a wood moisture tester for $15 - https://www.amazon.com/Proster-Moisture-Handheld-Detector-Measuring/dp/B01MV3PSF6/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=firewood+tester&qid=1571346892&sr=8-1

If it reads above 20% just walk away.

http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00RG8M72S/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=OB6BOCT9I1SQ&coliid=I11LNRMF9R1NC4

Blasted. My computer clock is definitely fast. :|

I'm learning so much! Thanks everyone.
Any devices that y'all recommend to get an accurate reading of Ph levels?
This from Amazon looks good, but some of the reviews make me hesitate to purchase.

http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-GMS120-Digital-Multi-Scanner/dp/B004TACMZ8

This detects live wires in walls, I have an older version of this and it works.

Do you even studfinder?

https://www.amazon.com/Precision-Sensors-ProFinder-Scanning-Finder/dp/B019HKNO1A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1492231100&sr=8-1&keywords=led+stud+finder

With a moisture meter.

https://www.amazon.com/Bosch-GMS-120-Digital-Multi-Scanner/dp/B004TACMZ8/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1540874404&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=bosch+stud+finder

Maybe this? I bet it doesn't detect pvc

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07F6RZM43/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This is the one I have

> professional to look at it?

Probably not, but you'll want to get it dried up ASAP. It can mold if it stays wet for a day or two. Especially if you have sawdust in the cavities. Drywall can dry out pretty quickly, or it can grow nasty mold if it doesn't have moving air to dry it.

I had a similar leak and I drilled several 1.5" holes in the downstairs wall and pointed a fan into the holes. I read that insulation doesn't dry out and I freaked out and pulled out the whole drywall panel a day later — but it was completely dry by then. You just need to force air through any wet cavities. You can rent high volume blowers at big box hardware stores or tool rentals.

Consider removing the affected baseboards to facilitate airflow.

If you like tools, you can get a moisture meter to verify that things are drying out.

I've been a homeowner/handyman for almost 30 years and have quite a collection of stud finders.

Cheap stud finders are literally worse than having nothing at all. after incrementally spending more and more trying to find one that worked worth a crap, eventually just said screw it and bought the most expensive Zircon model Home Depot had. It works ok...just ok.

Eventually I picked up one of these type at costco and it's been my goto stud finder ever since. There's a lot of value in knowing where the center of the stud is, not just "somewhere in here".

I'm not a fan of magnetic stud finders...they do work, but you don't know how precisely a screw/nail was put in the stud...maybe the center, maybe barely nicking a side.

whatever you do, don't buy a cheap electronic one...it'll just make you angry.