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Pro tip: I dropped $500 on a thermal camera for finding studs and wires. Some guys think it's a waste, others say it's a lifesaver.

It saved me from drilling into a live wire on a retrofit job last week. But my partner says a good stud finder and a map is just as good for half the price. Who's right?
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3 Comments
gavin365
gavin3652mo ago
Man, I'm totally with you on the thermal camera. I was running new cable in an old house and that thing showed me a hot spot right where I was about to cut. Turns out it was a junction box from some old knob and tube that wasn't on any map. A stud finder would have missed it completely. For tricky retrofits, the extra cash is worth the peace of mind.
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adams.uma
adams.uma2mo ago
Honestly, how many live wires are people REALLY hitting? Most places the wiring is pretty standard. Feels like buying a tank to avoid a pothole.
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smith.parker
Better safe than sorry with a live wire.
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