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Laser Level recommendations

1K views 18 replies 9 participants last post by  therealSteveN 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
This past weekend I put some shelves up for my wife and really thought that a laser level would help me greatly. Do you guys have any recommendations on a cross plane laser level budget friendly ~100$

Thanks everyone!
 
#6 · (Edited by Moderator)
I have the Bosch GLL-50. It s descent, Not the best, but for most anything your going to do in a room, it works pretty good.
I also have a Dewalt rotary laser, but I grab the Bosch more than not.

- LeeRoyMan
I had one of those…..It probably works ok for cabinets. Not so much for stairwell openings. It went 'away' one day on a job site. I had a hissy fit and threw it against a foundation wall. I think it's under 4" of concrete now.
Bought one of these. Way badass!!
Kind of out of the op's budget though.
 
#7 · (Edited by Moderator)
I have the Bosch GLL-50. It s descent, Not the best, but for most anything your going to do in a room, it works pretty good.
I also have a Dewalt rotary laser, but I grab the Bosch more than not.

- LeeRoyMan

I had one of those…..It probably works ok for cabinets. Not so much for stairwell openings. It went away one day on a job site. I had a hissy fit and threw it against a foundation wall. I think it s under 4" of concrete now.
Bought one of these. Way badass!!
Kind of out of the op s budget though.

- Tony_S
I had a 4' level that suffered the same fate.

My wallet wouldn't shoot 100' so I figured,
I'm mostly in less than 50' anyway so it was easier to
"pull the trigger" lol

(what is the minimum $$ to be able to use the pull the trigger term? )
 
#9 ·
Have you considered using a water level? You can make one for pennies. And, they can be just as accurate as a laser; maybe more so over long distances. Consider that, as far as I know, all lasers depend on a bubble to give level readings. Water levels don't. Yes. They are not as convenient and can be messy if you spill the water. However, all your $100 plus is buying is convenience.
 
#11 · (Edited by Moderator)
I stuck a small flat piece of wood to my garage wall with glue. Moved over 4 feet and used a water level to set another block to the wall. I test my 4 foot levels by sitting one end on each block of wood. Shorter and longer levels I check by sitting them on top of my 4 foot level while holding them together. Those that don't pass go back to the store.

It would take a helper or some figuring out how to do long lengths but water does not lie. larry
 
#12 ·
Laser level is cool tool/toy. Love mine.

Beware the cost of accessories!
You also want/need to have stable, adjustable base to mount the silly thing on top. Sure you can use a ladder, or any other old vertical stand; but not if you want to randomly move the line up/down vertically. Can easily spend $75-100 on decent tripod. Also need to select your tripod based on how will use it. Some need a larger area base. Have owned mine ~20 years, and the silly thing needs large 4'x4' clear area to set it up. Not very convenient when mounting shelves in closet, laundry room, or hanging pictures in small rooms. Working in bedroom, often end with tripod sitting on bed!

Don't buy the biggest/baddest one if you don't need it. How many rooms do you work in larger than 25ft? The newer homeowner grade units with limited working distances are smaller and lighter; which requires a smaller tripod. Have considered selling my commercial unit, and buying a new one now; just for smaller tripod.

YMMV and
Best Luck!
 
#13 ·
About 3500 BC they came up with plumb bobs. Used them for the pyramids. They also used a short version as a level. They had chalk lines too.

I used a water level to fix up a 24×70 trailer. THey go around obstacles! Meniscus gives about 1/16 accuracy unless you add some type of sufficant. Water Wetter for race car radiators for example. They can be a pain but accurate as gravity allows.

Just having fun. A decent laser would be very nice, but I would want 1/32 inch @ 20 feet at least. When I dug my drainage ditch back in Md, I wanted a perfect 1/4 slope. I set up a cheap laser pointer and leveled on a stand several feet above the ground just more than the natural slope. Then calculated the distance, figured the drop and measured down on the far end to make a target. Then with a stick, I could find my depth along that slopped lazer laser line as I dug. You know, a pipe drops quite a bit in 100 feet!
 
#14 ·
I would put up one block, then scribe a line. Flip end for end and check. If it reads level again, then it is correct. THis doubles the resolution.

I stuck a small flat piece of wood to my garage wall with glue. Moved over 4 feet and used a water level to set another block to the wall. I test my 4 foot levels by sitting one end on each block of wood. Shorter and longer levels I check by sitting them on top of my 4 foot level while holding them together. Those that don t pass go back to the store.

It would take a helper or some figuring out how to do long lengths but water does not lie. larry

- ohtimberwolf
 
#15 · (Edited by Moderator)
Not sure how the water level shows a plumb vertical line? Besides many other functions that the laser does.

- LeeRoyMan
That's an expensive plumb bob! Hey. I'm not knocking it. Sometimes convenience is worth the cost. That's why we have battery operated drills, etc.

It would take a helper or some figuring out how to do long lengths but water does not lie. larry
- ohtimberwolf
A single reservoir type does not require a helper and your water tube can be as long as you need it to be.
 
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