Here's a picture of the space (link). The house is a 1908 row house in the DC, which was renovated w/ HVAC in 2005. Behind the wall is a hallway. Tried a stud finder, no luck. Used the same stud finder downstairs in the basement where the back a wall is exposed and was able to reliably detect 2x4's mounted (with the x4 mounted against the drywall).
I knocked all over the wall and could hear some difference, so attempted to pinpoint the stud by taking a thin but long nail and punching it through. Made about 10 holes with no luck. There's no electrical outlet on that wall, the closest one is to the left in the picture on the small wall butting out mounted into the floor molding.
Is it possible that a wall that size (over 5 ft!) doesn't have a stud or two in it?
**Edit, thanks guys. Pretty sure you are right about the lathe and plaster wall. I might try that strong magnet trick before drilling a large hole in the wall (which will attract wife aggro!).
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