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How do you find the center of a stud using a Stanley stud finder?

I'm trying to put up a wall mount for my TV and I'm having trouble getting it into the right place. Yesterday I used the stud finder and I thought I'd found the center but when I put the tv up this morning (it's a tube tv), the stand came right out of the wall. I'm a little confused as to how I find the center of the stud to put the stand up. The finder beeps and lights up when I find the edge of the stud and I marked the area next to it, but the stand came right out of the wall. Is there an easier way to find the studs or is it possible that it just can't hold my tv? I live in an apartment if that helps with anything. I'm using an old Stanley stud finder, I'm not sure which model but this is what it looks like: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/MiaDivina/698c1ae2bb52.jpg

Public Comments

1. My dad had one that was just a magnet. I assume the concept is the same. You run it over the woodwork and if it detects a nail, your lights will light up. My Dad's would just stick. It was worthless. The finishing nails were so hidden that the magnet would hardly stick at all. I tap with a hammer to find a stud when I need one.
2. You may be putting the screws into the edge of the stud, and you want to put it into the center. Put the stud finder onto an area of wall clearly not near a stud, and do this by knocking with your knuckles, listening for a hollow sound. Turn the stud finder on there, which allows it to get a "negative measure", and then move it across the wall. The lights will go up when the stud is reached, and go back down after passing it. Put your screw mounts in between these points, where the stud clearly is. Also, if the screw goes in way too easily, you missed the stud. Also, make sure you are using bigger screws, I'd say 2" plus. There's a lot of stress on these, especially the top ones.
3. Once you find the stud, use a nail and hammer it in far enough to ensure that you're definitely in a stud, the resistance should be obvious. Then pull it out and use long screws so you'll get a good hold.
4. Looks like the top light is lit when you are at the edge of the stud, locate one edge and mark it, then find the other edge and mark that. Now that you have both edges marked, get a small finishing nail and a hammer and drive the nail in from line to line to make sure there is a stud there. Sounding is good if you know what you are listening for, but the nail leaves no doubt where the stud is. Repair holes with joint compound or spackle.