Is there a reliable stud finder for locating Rafters?

[Jim1968]

Yeah, I'd just rather know that I'm lagging into the center for sure. Plus I'll just seal that hole up with M1 and it's under my flashing, so I'm not worried about leaks

[inetdog]

Great if you do not mind drilling extra hole in the roof that you have to reseal.

[Jim1968]

A guy I know saw this tool at the NABCEP conference in San Diego, and it's worked like a charm for me doing residential installs.
Wire tip lines up with that hole in the key head. Drill a hole to the side, insert it, and rotate til it's stopped. Key head's got a 3/4" radius (for most rafters that's half the width), so you make a mark off the edge, rotate back the other way and make another mark. connect the two and you get a centerline above the rafter. Easy.
You do have to be within 3 inches of the rafter to reach it, so you've gotta have general idea where the rafter is
Had been using copper wire to find rafters for years and this is basically that process made way easier. Check them out here: chiptoolz.com

[Brian53713]

The smooth surface they're talking about, similar to the photo above. a piece of cardboard or thick paper so as to have a smooth surface to rub it across

[Phato46]

We have had a Bosch D-tect 150 now for a couple months and give it two thumbs up. I had given up trying out stud finders for roofs, but gave the Bosch a try after reading about it here. it flat out works. Only trick you have to know is to provide a smooth surface (like card stock paper) for it to run on.

What do you mean a smooth surface ? If your on a roof ? I

[solarix]

We have had a Bosch D-tect 150 now for a couple months and give it two thumbs up. I had given up trying out stud finders for roofs, but gave the Bosch a try after reading about it here. it flat out works. Only trick you have to know is to provide a smooth surface (like card stock paper) for it to run on.

[JFinch57]

I posted a thread on this a while ago. Borrowed a Hilti PS38 from a local Hilti salesman, it was his demo. It has since been replaced by another model. It worked perfectly for about 95% of my holes. A couple were at the edge, don't know why. Hilti PS38.jpg
Hilti PS38a.jpg

[rsilvers]

Seems like the $700 Boshe is still best.

[ATLpower]

bump for 2016 answers. any better stud finders out there?


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[inetdog]

I did my own 30 panel installation and a friends also, in the process I struggled over finding the center of the rafters. I designed a tool that attaches to the rafter in the attic and a "window" that floats on the roof showing the exact center of the rafter. The process takes two people about 15 seconds per rafter. I did 40 penetrations on my install and 30 on his with no misses. It does require attic access so it is not for every situation but on the positive side it is extremely accurate and there are no potential leaks. It would be inexpensive, I estimate under $50.00. I have no time to produce and market the design and was wondering where to find a tool, solar, racking company that might be interested.

Nice to see invention is still happening!
Did you end up using an electronic signal or just a great strong magnet?
I have no idea where you might find someone interested in developing it commercially though.

PS: Welcome to Solar Panel Talk!

[centerfind]

I did my own 30 panel installation and a friends also, in the process I struggled over finding the center of the rafters. I designed a tool that attaches to the rafter in the attic and a "window" that floats on the roof showing the exact center of the rafter. The process takes two people about 15 seconds per rafter. I did 40 penetrations on my install and 30 on his with no misses. It does require attic access so it is not for every situation but on the positive side it is extremely accurate and there are no potential leaks. It would be inexpensive, I estimate under $50.00. I have no time to produce and market the design and was wondering where to find a tool, solar, racking company that might be interested.

[roofrins]

Bosch D-Tect 150 Seems to Be Best Answer

The Bosch D-Tect 150 (Available for about $720 from Engineer Supply) seems to be the best answer. They said that that is the main product used by solar installers to detect rafters.

[roofrins]

I just bought the Zircon i520

Look for a Zircon i520

I just bought the Zircon i520, and when I did a trial run on shingles, it located the rafters at totally different places every time I tried it. Therefore, I returned the product to Home Depot from whence I had purchased it.

[Sunking]

Look for a Zircon i520

[Heynow999]

We have the Bosch Dtech. It works fairly well but I still miss sometimes. I cant imagine finding rafters any other way. Buy one, you are not in business for one day.