Inexperienced Self grading / contemplating buying a transit

[GE7EA]

I am wondering if anyone has used a transit to help with elevation differences on their property? I am thinking of buying one. I have about 10 acres with mostly uneven terrain. I am trying to do some grading on the property as well as redirect some runoff areas. Also I would like to level out a workshop area in my barn. Further down the road I壇 like to eventually build our home here and be able to verify it痴 being done correctly. I致e grown weary of taking people痴 word 土eah it痴 right? Trying to decide between a Bosch 26x Optical Level Kit with Tripod and Rod GOL26CK or a David White LT6-900 Meridian 22X Optical Level-Transit. Leaning more towards the Bosch due to coming with a tripod. Any experience or thoughts ?

 

[3Ts]

An optical transit is going to require 2 people - one at the transit and one at the grade rod. I suggest a laser level. Only one person needed, quick to set up and self leveling. I also think it's more accurate than trying to level a transit based on a bubble. What kind of range are you going to need? I have a TopCon RL-H5A which will do grades in one direction. I really like it, but don't use the grade feature very much. If I dig a ditch and lay a pipe, I'll use the grade feature so I can check the slope anywhere along the pipe without checking distance also. You will need a grade rod and they come in different units of measure, I suggest the tenths of an inch - they're easier to use. (I have one marked in 8ths and find it difficult to use)

 

[4570Man]

An optical transit works but a self leveling one is way faster. Personally I’m not at all a fan of the 10 inch foot scale ones. For most of the work I do I don’t need to measure anything and only need a reference. The one job I do need to measure is setting the steps in a footer. How many 1/10s of a foot are you going to set a 8 inch block on?

 

[Jim Nelson]

For an 8" curb it's .66' . Engineers use 1/10ths and once you learn how to think with it it's plenty close enough and most of our country has been built with this system.

 

[4570Man]

For an 8" curb it's .66' . Engineers use 1/10ths and once you learn how to think with it it's plenty close enough and most of our country has been built with this system.

That’s easy enough if you’re starting at 0 but difficult to keep up with when you need to work up and down 8” at least block in both directions. I’ll be the first to agree that the imperial measurement system is incredibly stupid and a 12 inch foot is stupid but a half way measure 10 inch foot is no solution. When you’ve got 10 inch foot measuring equipment but everything you have to build to fit is in regular inches it just makes more problem.

 

[rangerfredbob]

I have a transit, well it's my brothers... that I used to set up the pad for my shop, got it pretty close... I went all high tech on the grade pole and used a yard stick duct taped to the handle of a landscape rake... set up a grid on a piece of paper referencing things on the shop pad and numbered them and wrote down the measurements on the yard stick...

 

[TMGT]

I bought a laser transit when I was doing the excavation for my shop. I had a hill to dig out and was a one man show for pretty much all the dirt work so the laser made my life a lot easier.

Even the concrete guys commented on how flat my site was.

The transit also came in handy when I did the siding on the shop and house to keep the starter nice and level.

This is the one I bought.

Johnson Level & Tool 99-6K Self Leveling Rotary Laser System Kit, Soft Shell Carrying Case, Alkaline Battery, Tripod, Mounting Bracket, 13ft Grade Rod, Magnetic Target, Protective Glasses - - Amazon.com

 

[GE7EA]

I appreciate the input. I understand the challenges of using tenths and with it being a two person operation. I thought of getting a self leveling laser but I don’t think I can justify the cost difference. I would use the tool a lot for awhile but then not much at all. The grade feature that 3Ts mentioned with the TopCon is interesting and I’ll have to check that out. My land varies a great deal and wondered if one that can adjust vertically to read degrees would be good. My experience using a transit has been setting machinery so the elevation variances have not been much. I can see benefits to each of the variations but still just want to be sure before making a purchase.

 

[JimRB]

I used an Stanley electronic water level when I graded for my 36x72 horse barn. I moved about 3 feet of dirt out of one end. When I did the barn poles I got a simple dumpy level, from Sears I believe. When setting up things in the barn I would place the staff/measuring stick on a post with a bungie cord and read the staff. Walk back to the staff and make a witness mark/reference mark on all 38 posts. Not that big of a deal to use a dumpy level and it can be a slightly inconvenient one man show. I later got a laser level from a pawn shop. Not all that impressive or significantly easier. OK maybe easier but I trusted the crosshairs more than a fuzzy laser line or the electronic sensor. Old school me. The self leveling of the laser is kind of nice though not reading bubble. Yes the sensor kit is good as the laser is not easy to see in daylight. The guys out installing the replacement field lines used a laser level and the electronic sensor. They work it pretty quick. https://civiltoday.com/surveying/12-dumpy-level

By the way when it was time to build my house I told the builder I wanted a daylight basement here after I had used the old school optical dumpy level and measuring staff. He said he did not see a daylight basement there. The grading service dug out the basement and it worked well exactly where I wanted it. Dry basement mostly underground with an easy walk out.

 

[fried1765]

I used an Stanley electronic water level when I graded for my 36x72 horse barn. I moved about 3 feet of dirt out of one end. When I did the barn poles I got a simple dumpy level, from Sears I believe. When setting up things in the barn I would place the staff/measuring stick on a post with a bungie cord and read the staff. Walk back to the staff and make a witness mark/reference mark on all 38 posts. Not that big of a deal to use a dumpy level and it can be a slightly inconvenient one man show. I later got a laser level from a pawn shop. Not all that impressive or significantly easier. OK maybe easier but I trusted the crosshairs more than a fuzzy laser line or the electronic sensor. Old school me. The self leveling of the laser is kind of nice though not reading bubble. Yes the sensor kit is good as the laser is not easy to see in daylight. The guys out installing the replacement field lines used a laser level and the electronic sensor. They work it pretty quick. Dumpy Level Survey–What, Where, How, Parts - Civil Engineering

By the way when it was time to build my house I told the builder I wanted a daylight basement here after I had used the old school optical dumpy level and measuring staff. He said he did not see a daylight basement there. The grading service dug out the basement and it worked well exactly where I wanted it. Dry basement mostly underground with an easy walk out.

I have a transit!
A C.L. Berger from the 40's
I was a Civil Engineering student in the early 60's, and bought it shortly thereafter.
My Berger is a truly beautiful piece of equipment, with 20 second accuracy.
I will never part with it!