On drywall walls raised or sunken imperfections running vertically indicate fasteners that secure the panels to the studs.
How to find studs behin wood panel wall.
You could go the easy route spend a few bucks and buy an electronic stud finder.
As far as finding the studs the strips of wood behind the paneling are furring strips but usually 3 4 and should be 16 on center if they were installed vertically and will most likely line up with the studs.
This means you will always find a stud header or footer on the top bottom or corners of walls.
Any nails you find probably penetrate a wall stud behind the paneling.
First some basic information to understanding what s behind those walls.
When looking for wall studs behind a wood panel wall look closely for colored nail heads in the grooves of the panels.
Estimate stud locations by looking at the wall.
The fasteners give you a good estimate of the center of the studs.
Holding a light near the wall as you look along it can help you find the imperfections.
Studs exist to hold up drywall on interior walls and wood sheathing on exterior walls.
Since you have the space behind the paneling i d use a wall anchor or toggle bolt instead of directly screwing into the paneling.
Look for the same signs of a stud in that area or rap on the wall sharply with your knuckles and listen for a solid sound instead of a hollow sound.
But before you go out spending your hard earned cash i ve got a few tips on finding wood studs in a finished wall.
If you don t find signs of a stud 16 inches.
If you find such an irregularity in the mounting area you can be almost 100 certain it indicates a stud.
You will also find studs.