DEWALT DCT419S1 12V Max Hand Held Wall Scanner

Even though this is a manufacturer discontinued product, it's still a very useful product. Essentially a souped up stud finder it helps find concealed pipe [pvc and metal] and electrical wiring. For anyone interested in "remodeling", tearing out walls, etc. something like this is a big help. A regular stud finder won't help finding pipe or electrical wire. In my home [which was oddly constructed, perhaps even from a "kit"] it's been a big help locating things inside the walls.

It was a gift for my Best friends father. He is using it none stop and loves it. He would give a better review of it since hes a general contractor but from what I was told it does the job well for him.

This really was a disappointment. It does not read up 3" deep either. The only thing it is good for is the visually display of electrical, PVC, metals and maybe studs. It gives erroneous readings so many times I had to go back to my electronic stud finder or the sound method. I would not recommend buying this thing unless you want to look at the cool LCD showing what may be behind the wall. I wasted $400.

Overall it seems to work well. I wish they could of made it fit in a little smaller package though.

DeWalt has never failed to impress me with the quality, durability, and functionality of their tools. The DeWalt DCT419S1 is no exception. The ONLY drawback of this tool is its size - it doesn't fit into really tight spaces.

This clever tool has many limitations and quirks.Where you scan. Requires a clear path on the wall 11" tall (overall length of the tool) and at least 16 1/4" wide. (12" minimum scan width + 4 1/4" tool width) This proves to be very limiting as to where you can use the scanner, in contrast to much smaller Franklin 710 Stud Finder. (The Franklin, of course, only finds wood and doesn't find pipes or wiring.)How you use it. Take the time to practice a lot on some walls you know. It is strict on the rolling speed on the wall during the first "pre-scan" pass of the cycle. However, if you roll the scanner that quickly on the second pass (while it is computing and displaying what it found) you can miss things completely. Second pass needs to be done slowly. If using on a finished surface, carefully clean the four grit-covered wheels - and consider using paper or thin cardboard to protect the finished wall from wheel tracks.Repeatability. The pictorial display implies more precision and repeatability than the electronics can deliver. Be sure to perform at least three two-way cycles on any wall and compare the results - to see if the unit is working within its limitations. Buried in the Specifications section are two key limitations... "Minimum Assumed Spacing Between Embedded Materials 4" (102 mm)" "Position Accuracy 1/2" (13 mm)"What it looks for.The strength of the unit is that it definitely finds cast iron and steel piping. (Didn't test with copper or plastic.)The detection of live electric wiring appears to be an afterthought. You don't notice the indicator in the corner of the display. A $20 Klein Non-Contact Voltage Tester pen works much better to find live wires anyway. (As with most tools that attempt to find hidden wiring, the circuits not only have to be live but also to be carrying significant current. Turn on any switches in the circuits and be sure that there are significant loads, such as lights, on the outlets.)The manual says: "NOTE: The metal sensing is located at the bottom of the unit." but doesn't give any other clues as to where the various sensors are along the 11" unit.What you are scanning. The manual, which is online on the DeWalt website, has many limitations oddly buried amidst the boilerplate "don't use it underwater" legal cautions and warnings..."WALLPAPER The hand-held wall scanner will function normally on walls covered with wallpaper or fabric, unless the materials are metallic foil, contain metallic fibers or are still wet after application;""PLASTER AND LATH Due to the uneven thickness of plaster, it may be difficult to locate studs. It may be easier to identify the metal nail heads in the studs. If the plaster is reinforced with wire mesh, the hand-held wall scanner will not be able to reliably detect embedded materials behind it. ""TEXTURED OR ACOUSTICAL WALLS AND CEILINGS When scanning a wall or ceiling with an uneven surface, place thin cardboard on the surface and scan over the cardboard.""WOOD FLOORING, WOOD SUB-FLOORING AND DRYWALL OVER PLYWOOD Due to the thickness of these materials, it may be difficult to detect a wood stud or joist. It may be easier to detect the metal nails that hold the materials to the stud or joist. ""CARPETING The hand-held wall scanner cannot detect studs or joists through carpeting. It may be easier to detect the metal nails that hold the materials to the stud or joist. ""NOTE: Sensing depth and accuracy can vary due to moisture, content of the materials, wall texture and paint."The supplied transit case is much larger than shown in the photo. Vacuum formed interior. Slot under the top cover for the manual. You can leave the battery on the unit and there are two molded pockets for batteries, plus a pocket for the charger. Didn't try putting the Franklin stud finder and the Klein wiring finder in the case - I doubt that they would fit anywhere.If I were a professional remodeler, I would buy this unit - but use it in conjunction with a Franklin stud finder and a Klein non-contact voltage probe - and expect to replace it within a year as the various makers of these tools improve the technology and usability.Because of the many limitations and quirks, I wound up reluctantly returning it.

it does not read through materials to the depths it claims to - maybe under specific and rare circumstances, but all in all this is just an over-glorified, over-priced stud finder for normal thickness walls. Bought it to look through my flooring to find the studs, didn't work at all - it wouldn't even look through 2 inches of material to identify studs. I also tried using it to look through 3-4 inches of concrete - wouldn't do that either. Very disappointed - usually I love DeWalt tools, but save your money and don't buy this one.

Fantastic. Really helps you see everything behind the wall. Like all technology, you need to be a little patient when learning how it works out of the box. This is a very helpful tool and well worth the price.