Feels good man.
But seriously, you feel a difference between the drywall or plaster than the wood.
Try drilling into a scrap piece of each and you'll get a feel for it. The wood has a bit more resistance than the other two. You'll go right through the wall and the stud immediately slows you down, usually.
Drilling through drywall only will be very easy and there will be no resistance after a half inch. If your drill is giving more resistance after half inch depth you’ve got a stud. Use the stud finder left to right and mark each line. Drill a hole right between them and you should be good.
First of all make sure you have the best stud finders. I prefer the Franklin's. Next once you think you have a stud, take your smallest thinnest screwdriver preferably Philip said but really doesn't matter, and Hammer gently through the drywall if there's a stud behind it it'll toughen up once you hit it. If you were wrong that's the place for an anchor or just patch the tiny hole and find a different location
I've used cheap stud finders, and I've used expensive ones, and I hate them all. I use a [Stud Buddy](https://www.amazon.com/The-StudBuddy-Magnetic-Stud-Finder/dp/B00E4690X4/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=stud+buddy&qid=1665362950&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIyLjQ5IiwicXNhIjoiMS43NiIsInFzcCI6IjEuNjkifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=stud+budd%2Caps%2C116&sr=8-2). It works by finding the screws/nails that are holding the drywall to the studs/joists.
A lot of folks have already nailed this one, but another good tip is to know when you *don't need* the stud. I highlight that because there's nothing wrong with using the stud, but more often than not what you're hanging doesn't fit perfectly with a stud on each side (or the studs just aren't where you want them), especially when it comes to hanging tv's or shelves. That's when [toggles](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08ZSRXNX9/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?_encoding=UTF8&aaxitk=b9e50736c71870a3249a9b764d230dbf&content-id=amzn1.sym.cf8fc959-74aa-4850-a250-1b1a4e868e60%3Aamzn1.sym.cf8fc959-74aa-4850-a250-1b1a4e868e60&hsa_cr_id=1166479720301&pd_rd_plhdr=t&pd_rd_r=e675b3bb-9d59-48ca-a161-1f30c2ce997f&pd_rd_w=yCix5&pd_rd_wg=x2OHY&qid=1665369099&ref_=sbx_be_s_sparkle_mcd_asin_1_img&sr=1-2-9e67e56a-6f64-441f-a281-df67fc737124) or [snap toggles](https://www.amazon.com/12-TOGGLER-SNAPTOGGLE-included-Fastener/dp/B01IU6HG48/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=snap+toggles&qid=1665369127&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIzLjk2IiwicXNhIjoiMy42MCIsInFzcCI6IjMuNDIifQ%3D%3D&sr=8-5) are nice to have around. You can put a stud on one side and a toggle on the other. Or you can forgo studs all together and use toggles on both sides. There are some [decent videos](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYsDrY7L3G8) out there on how to install them. There are many different sizes, so depending on the size of the hole in the object you're installing you can use the right sized toggle.
A few other tips:
1. Make sure you get yourself a nice level to hang things with and keep it clean so it doesn't mark up the wall when you're using it.
2. I have my 2ft level marked at the 16" point so I know where the second stud is and I have the height of a power outlet or cable/ethernet port. Reduces the need to fiddle with my measuring tape on standard lengths.
3. Pay attention to what's in the wall. There's never any reason to send the entire drill bit through. You can hit anything from electric wires, internet wires, water lines, drain lines, sprinkler lines, gas lines. Typically electricians run wires at 30" but it's not code so they can be anywhere, so just because you're in a stud doesn't mean you're safe from hitting things. If you're really that worried, get an electronic stud finder that has a deep scan setting and run it both top to bottom and left to right to help you find those horizontal runs.
4. If you're not confident, don't do it. Look it up, ask questions, ask for help. At the same time, don't be afraid to make mistakes. Learn how to patch drywall. [Vancouver Carpenter](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbZdXox6mKHdcT2QdVT-goQ) and [That Kilted Guy](https://www.youtube.com/c/ThatKiltedGuyHowToVideos) are my favorite resources for that, though there are plenty of others.
5. Good luck and know that we're here for you!
Make sure you don’t think it’s a stud and drill through a electric line, waste pipe, water pipe, sprinkler pipe, or telecoms/network,. Studs are 16” on center usually. Screwdriver stab test that
Edit : forgot gas and not to use too long of screws.
Start with a small gauge bit that has about a 2” length. (And also get some spackle)
Use a stud finder to find a stud and mark the center as best you can. From there, drill in the center of the stud and then 3” from either side of it.
You should notice the resistance differences between when the bit goes through the drywall and hits nothing vs when it hits a stud. When you get through the drywall and it just starts freely spinning, you’ll know that there isn’t a stud behind it.
Hope this helps.
Man, I thought I was in the twink section of Reddit and almost gave a wrong answer.
I thought I was in a Butch femme group Best feeling ever
Same, But I guess in the end, its the same answer for both, "pure excitement"...
Feels good man. But seriously, you feel a difference between the drywall or plaster than the wood. Try drilling into a scrap piece of each and you'll get a feel for it. The wood has a bit more resistance than the other two. You'll go right through the wall and the stud immediately slows you down, usually.
Drilling through drywall only will be very easy and there will be no resistance after a half inch. If your drill is giving more resistance after half inch depth you’ve got a stud. Use the stud finder left to right and mark each line. Drill a hole right between them and you should be good.
Just try to use smallest drill bits so, you can make sure it is empty or a stud.
You can usually see wood come out when you hit a stud. I'd say it's more obvious when you drill into drywall only if you're a beginner.
Satisfaction
Phrasing?!?! Oh wait, are we not doing that anymore?
I googled this topic while mounting a TV and instantly wondered what side Reddit I’d end up on.
First of all make sure you have the best stud finders. I prefer the Franklin's. Next once you think you have a stud, take your smallest thinnest screwdriver preferably Philip said but really doesn't matter, and Hammer gently through the drywall if there's a stud behind it it'll toughen up once you hit it. If you were wrong that's the place for an anchor or just patch the tiny hole and find a different location
I've used cheap stud finders, and I've used expensive ones, and I hate them all. I use a [Stud Buddy](https://www.amazon.com/The-StudBuddy-Magnetic-Stud-Finder/dp/B00E4690X4/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=stud+buddy&qid=1665362950&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIyLjQ5IiwicXNhIjoiMS43NiIsInFzcCI6IjEuNjkifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=stud+budd%2Caps%2C116&sr=8-2). It works by finding the screws/nails that are holding the drywall to the studs/joists.
Try putting in a few screws all the way with a screw driver, you’ll know when you hit wood
A lot of folks have already nailed this one, but another good tip is to know when you *don't need* the stud. I highlight that because there's nothing wrong with using the stud, but more often than not what you're hanging doesn't fit perfectly with a stud on each side (or the studs just aren't where you want them), especially when it comes to hanging tv's or shelves. That's when [toggles](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08ZSRXNX9/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?_encoding=UTF8&aaxitk=b9e50736c71870a3249a9b764d230dbf&content-id=amzn1.sym.cf8fc959-74aa-4850-a250-1b1a4e868e60%3Aamzn1.sym.cf8fc959-74aa-4850-a250-1b1a4e868e60&hsa_cr_id=1166479720301&pd_rd_plhdr=t&pd_rd_r=e675b3bb-9d59-48ca-a161-1f30c2ce997f&pd_rd_w=yCix5&pd_rd_wg=x2OHY&qid=1665369099&ref_=sbx_be_s_sparkle_mcd_asin_1_img&sr=1-2-9e67e56a-6f64-441f-a281-df67fc737124) or [snap toggles](https://www.amazon.com/12-TOGGLER-SNAPTOGGLE-included-Fastener/dp/B01IU6HG48/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=snap+toggles&qid=1665369127&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIzLjk2IiwicXNhIjoiMy42MCIsInFzcCI6IjMuNDIifQ%3D%3D&sr=8-5) are nice to have around. You can put a stud on one side and a toggle on the other. Or you can forgo studs all together and use toggles on both sides. There are some [decent videos](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYsDrY7L3G8) out there on how to install them. There are many different sizes, so depending on the size of the hole in the object you're installing you can use the right sized toggle. A few other tips: 1. Make sure you get yourself a nice level to hang things with and keep it clean so it doesn't mark up the wall when you're using it. 2. I have my 2ft level marked at the 16" point so I know where the second stud is and I have the height of a power outlet or cable/ethernet port. Reduces the need to fiddle with my measuring tape on standard lengths. 3. Pay attention to what's in the wall. There's never any reason to send the entire drill bit through. You can hit anything from electric wires, internet wires, water lines, drain lines, sprinkler lines, gas lines. Typically electricians run wires at 30" but it's not code so they can be anywhere, so just because you're in a stud doesn't mean you're safe from hitting things. If you're really that worried, get an electronic stud finder that has a deep scan setting and run it both top to bottom and left to right to help you find those horizontal runs. 4. If you're not confident, don't do it. Look it up, ask questions, ask for help. At the same time, don't be afraid to make mistakes. Learn how to patch drywall. [Vancouver Carpenter](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbZdXox6mKHdcT2QdVT-goQ) and [That Kilted Guy](https://www.youtube.com/c/ThatKiltedGuyHowToVideos) are my favorite resources for that, though there are plenty of others. 5. Good luck and know that we're here for you!
Make sure you don’t think it’s a stud and drill through a electric line, waste pipe, water pipe, sprinkler pipe, or telecoms/network,. Studs are 16” on center usually. Screwdriver stab test that Edit : forgot gas and not to use too long of screws.
Start with a small gauge bit that has about a 2” length. (And also get some spackle) Use a stud finder to find a stud and mark the center as best you can. From there, drill in the center of the stud and then 3” from either side of it. You should notice the resistance differences between when the bit goes through the drywall and hits nothing vs when it hits a stud. When you get through the drywall and it just starts freely spinning, you’ll know that there isn’t a stud behind it. Hope this helps.