Magnetic Wall Finder

Chapter 1: The "Z-Pattern" Protocol - Locating Drywall Fasteners

Drywall is typically attached to studs using steel screws or nails. While the wood or aluminum stud itself might have low magnetic permeability, the Fastener is a beacon of high-intensity signal. To find a stud using this Canvas tool, you must think like a surveyor.

1. The Calibration Phase

Hold your phone in open air, away from any electronics or metal furniture. Click "Zero Baseline." This allows the software to ignore the Earth's natural magnetic background (usually between $30 \mu T$ and $60 \mu T$) and focus purely on the Delta ($\Delta$) created by the wall's contents.

2. Executing the Sweep

Place the top of your phone flat against the wall. Move it in a wide "Z" pattern—left to right, then diagonally down, then right to left. When the Microtesla Reading spikes and the orange bar turns red, you have found a screw. Mark this spot. Continue moving vertically; if you find another spike directly above or below the first, you have confirmed the vertical line of the stud.

Chapter 2: Identifying Live Wires and EMF Hazards

Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) are produced by the flow of current through hidden wiring. While the Magnetic Wall Finder is primary a metal detector, it acts as a secondary Voltage Sentinel. Live wires carrying significant load (like those feeding a running air conditioner or space heater) will produce a rapidly vibrating, fluctuating reading on our meter.

The Signature of a Wire

Unlike a steel screw, which provides a steady "peak" in a fixed location, a live electrical wire often produces a "broad" signal that stretches horizontally across the wall. If you see a sustained reading of $+20 \mu T$ over a baseline that covers a large area without specific peaks, you are likely scanning near a main conduit. Safety Protocol: Never drill into an area showing high-variance magnetic flux without first de-energizing the circuit at the breaker box.

Chapter 3: The Hall Effect - How Your Phone "Sees" Metal

The core of this tool is the Hall Effect sensor. Named after physicist Edwin Hall, this sensor measures the voltage difference produced across an electrical conductor when a magnetic field is applied perpendicular to the current. Linguistically, your phone is constantly asking: "Is there something nearby bending the local gravity of electromagnetism?"

Chapter 4: Advanced Scanning - The Triangulation Method

To find the absolute center of a stud, use the Triangulation Logic. Find the point where the signal begins to rise ($P_1$) and the point where it begins to fall ($P_2$). The exact center of your stud or screw is mathematically the midpoint between these two locations. This level of precision is essential for mounting heavy items like TVs or floating shelves where missing the stud by even half an inch can result in structural failure.

Chapter 5: Construction Evolution - Wood vs. Metal Studs

In modern multi-family housing and commercial high-rises, metal studs (made of galvanized steel) have replaced wood for fire safety and structural longevity. For a Magnetic Wall Finder, metal studs are a different challenge. Instead of discrete peaks (screws), a metal stud provides a continuous high-intensity vertical band. If you move your phone horizontally and see the reading jump to $200 \mu T$ and stay there for two inches before dropping, you are dealing with a metal stud. Caution: Do not use standard wood screws in metal studs; you will strip the threads and create a safety hazard.

Chapter 6: Understanding Interference - Why Your Fridge is a Problem

The magnetometer in your device is extremely sensitive. It can be "confused" by several environmental factors:

• Electrical Appliances: Microwave ovens, refrigerators, and large speakers contain massive magnets or transformers. If you are scanning near these, the sensor will "max out" (saturate), making it impossible to see the subtle delta of a drywall screw.
• Reinforced Concrete (Rebar): If your wall is concrete rather than drywall, you will see a massive, grid-like pattern of magnetic signals. This is the steel rebar. While helpful for structural mapping, it makes finding a "clean" spot much harder.
• Ferrous vs. Non-Ferrous: This tool only detects metals that are magnetic (iron, steel, cobalt). It will not detect copper pipes, aluminum siding, or gold (non-ferrous metals) unless they are carrying an electrical current.

Chapter 7: Why Local-First Privacy is Mandatory for Home Tools

Your physical location and the structure of your home (where your safes are, where your wiring runs) is sensitive information. Unlike "Free App Store Tools" that harvest your location data and sensor telemetry to sell to advertisers, Toolkit Gen's Magnetic Wall Finder is a local-first application. 100% of the sensor processing and signal filtering happens in your browser's local RAM. No data is ever uploaded to a server. This is Zero-Knowledge Physical Security for the sovereign homeowner.

Engaging Tips & Tricks for Accurate Scanning

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - Magnetic Precision