non pro building sight level????

[blucoondawg]

This laser might work fine for small rooms installing a suspended ceiling. For outdoors with longer distances involved it isn't accurate enough with +- 1/8"/30ft.

Accurate enough is relative to the job at hand and what tolerances you are shooting for as well as what you are willing to spend. From what I've done with it so far it's plenty accurate to build a dirt pad for a building unless it's a huge building. I wouldn't be afraid to shoot a 30x50 with it. We're not talking about professional daily use here or spending hundreds for something accurate to 1/16th at 100

 

[jenkinsph]

If an accuracy of +- 1" is good enough at 240ft and the receiver can read it then go for it. When you add the cost of the receiver to your existing laser you are approaching $180. For a wee bit more money a lot more accuracy can be had.

For a 30x50 pad a water hose would be a good choice and a lot cheaper than this laser and receiver. The hose would be the most accurate too.

 

[EddieWalker]

For just the pad and leveling the dirt, I just tape my level to a 12 foot long board that is perfectly straight and set it on the pad. I decide where my high spot is and work to build up the rest of the pad to that point. Most of the time I can pretty much eyeball it and get close, so the level on the board is for fine tuning and figuring out where those low spots are that will take up extra concrete when it's poured.

For the forms, I make sure every board is perfectly straight, then I set them one at a time and make sure they are level. If I do it right, by the time I get back to where I started, the last board lines up with the first one!!!1

I bought a used Spectra Laser level on ebay quite a few years ago that works great for really big areas. It was very useful in building the dam on my pond so I knew where the shoreline was all the way around it. I rarely use it for smaller projects, but did one time when I didn't realize my six foot level was off. Those forms came out over an inch off and I used the laser level to redo it. It's easier and faster if you have a really good level to set forms then messing with the laser and the stick.

On my gazebo, I did most of the pads with a straight board and a level, but for the longer spans, I bought a length of clear tubing and filled it with water and stretched it between the pads. It was also good for double checking the other pads that where done with the straight board and level.

Whatever you do, try to double check it when it's done with another method.

Eddie

 

[paulharvey]

For just the pad and leveling the dirt, I just tape my level to a 12 foot long board that is perfectly straight and set it on the pad. I decide where my high spot is and work to build up the rest of the pad to that point. Most of the time I can pretty much eyeball it and get close, so the level on the board is for fine tuning and figuring out where those low spots are that will take up extra concrete when it's poured.

For the forms, I make sure every board is perfectly straight, then I set them one at a time and make sure they are level. If I do it right, by the time I get back to where I started, the last board lines up with the first one!!!1

I bought a used Spectra Laser level on ebay quite a few years ago that works great for really big areas. It was very useful in building the dam on my pond so I knew where the shoreline was all the way around it. I rarely use it for smaller projects, but did one time when I didn't realize my six foot level was off. Those forms came out over an inch off and I used the laser level to redo it. It's easier and faster if you have a really good level to set forms then messing with the laser and the stick.

On my gazebo, I did most of the pads with a straight board and a level, but for the longer spans, I bought a length of clear tubing and filled it with water and stretched it between the pads. It was also good for double checking the other pads that where done with the straight board and level.

Whatever you do, try to double check it when it's done with another method.

Eddie

Same here, but if you have straight piece of aluminum, it's nicer. To go farther, set grade pegs or build small dirt pads to grade; then level over again. Price, low to free. I would say you maybe have 1/4" error per 12 feet maybe, tops; plenty good for dirt work.

 

[blucoondawg]

If an accuracy of +- 1" is good enough at 240ft and the receiver can read it then go for it. When you add the cost of the receiver to your existing laser you are approaching $180. For a wee bit more money a lot more accuracy can be had.

For a 30x50 pad a water hose would be a good choice and a lot cheaper than this laser and receiver. The hose would be the most accurate too.

Like I said I'm not talking 240 feet I'm talking the size of a medium shop/garage. I already have the laser so buying the receiver isn't that big a deal. The water level is what I'd use for setting forms but the laser would be accurate enough for dirt. Your splitting hairs pretty small there for dirt work when talking less than a quarter inch.
What is the most reasonable priced for acceptable accuracy laser in your opinion?

 

[PhysAssist]

This is the one I'm using in my 45'x30' barn- it's a little faint in full daylight, but with accuracy of 1/4" at 100', it is still good enough for my purposes.

 

[jenkinsph]

Like I said I'm not talking 240 feet I'm talking the size of a medium shop/garage. I already have the laser so buying the receiver isn't that big a deal. The water level is what I'd use for setting forms but the laser would be accurate enough for dirt. Your splitting hairs pretty small there for dirt work when talking less than a quarter inch.
What is the most reasonable priced for acceptable accuracy laser in your opinion?

There are several packages between $250 to $350 that includes both laser and receiver that would work. I mentioned the longer distances in response to your initial post. I have compared my Dewalt to my Topcon and find it to be pretty accurate.

 

[blucoondawg]

There are several packages between $250 to $350 that includes both laser and receiver that would work. I mentioned the longer distances in response to your initial post. I have compared my Dewalt to my Topcon and find it to be pretty accurate.

Ya I mentioned 200 feet only because I said the laser is hard to see outside but supposedly the receiver will read it out to 200 according to the paperwork. I wouldn't want to use it for any thing requiring accuracy at that range. What dewalt do you use

 

[jenkinsph]

Ya I mentioned 200 feet only because I said the laser is hard to see outside but supposedly the receiver will read it out to 200 according to the paperwork. I wouldn't want to use it for any thing requiring accuracy at that range. What dewalt do you use

The DW073

 

[MFWD]

Hello,
I had thought about buying a laser level at one time, but ones that were real accurate were very expensive. Most of the ones that didn't cost an arm and a leg gave you accuracy of something like +/- 1/4" at 100 feet. Well at 50 feet that is still not very accurate. Only being out 1/8" in 50 feet is to me the same as 3".......I want it to be right on the money. I'm also talking about construction, not grading work !!!!!

MFWD