Rotating Laser Level

[_RaT_]

Any recommendations for a nice rotating laser level? Auto level would be nice. Budget would be under $1000. RaT...

 

[PineRidge]

Rat my eBay search found about 28 rotating lasers

 

[Junkman]

I have a DeWalt one and while it is good, the accuracy drops off after about 100 feet. For my purposes it is fine. They have come a long way since I purchased mine two years ago, but price determines the quality. Will you use it often enough to warrant the purchase? If not, it might be best to rent and save the $$$$$ .... Mine is the model DW073. I found this auction for the self leveling model that came out after I purchased mine. e bay auction.. Junk...

 

[v8dave]

Don't know what your use amount will be. But, on the off chance that it's occasional, I rented one (rotating laser, tripod, rod and detector) at Home Depot for use in developing a contour plot/survey of my property. I can't recall how much it was. HD was the only rental place I found that rented the laser equipment. They sell the rental equipment too. I seem to recall it was fairly reasonable. Try it before you buy it?

 

[DannyD]

I have been on a search for a level to do some work on my place. Have not found a lazer that is more than 1/2 inch accurate at 100 feet.

Did find a transit at Lowes, scope type, way more accurate and only around 250.00, with tripod.

Most lazers I have seen are +/- 1/4 inch at 50 feet, I can do that with my eyes, and a shelf off even 1/4 inch is not going to hold much

 

[_RaT_]

Just to give some background. I have a auto scope that nails everything dead on, problem is, it requires two people to be productive. Lasers can be inaccurate, it does depend on how you use them and without a doubt, the quality of them. We always calibrate ours (at work)every morning. By going to the two extremes of your project approx. 180 degrees from each other and marking your pole, you get a good idea where your at. Taking the average of that reading makes for some pretty accurate shots. I also find it best to come up to the mark with my receiver rather then down. For setting forms, lasers work well. It's rare on residential work to shoot 100' since the laser will be set up somewhere near the center of the project. For commercial work which the only place I have any real experience with lasers you will frequently encounter long distances. If the shots critical, we shoot it with a scope like a auto level. For much of the rest, we set up a laser, a $5000 model that works pretty well. It just so much more productive in the forming stage to use laser when 3 or 4 teams are all working the trenches setting forms. When you get in over your head (literally), lasers can really aid since you have sight or sound to guide you with less interference from all the racket that one finds on a job. My need for a laser will be ongoing since I am in the process of getting geared up to build my home, for the most part by myself. I typically double check myself with my scope.

 

[dummy]

We have a Hilti PR-16 and a Lasermark LM30. The Hilti has performed well under all outside conditions. The lasermark leaves a couple things to be desired. The most annoying with it is on the receiver volume, low is too low and high is too high, no in-between.
These robotoolz are supposed to be good ( no experience just word of mouth) robo but if you want whats supposed to be the cadillac Spectra

 

[wroughtn_harv]

I've had good luck with this brand and this supplier. And this unit looks like the cat's meow for what you're doing. I use laser levels all the time because I'm just contrary enough to have to work by myself. But of course the good side of that equasion is I get to work with a great conversationalist.

http://www.whitecapdirect.com/store/worker?command=prodsearch&command=prdcompsrch&destination=%2Fstore%2Fproduct.jsp&text=299RT76902&searchby=productid&method=exact<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

 

[_RaT_]

Harv, your link did not work. What brand are you talking about. We have a WhiteCap here in town. Intersting place.

 

[_RaT_]

I understand that Spectra is suppose to be one of the best.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

It was to a Robo about five hundred dollars. White Cap is owned by HD now, there goes the neighborhood. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

There's a link to them from my "life is good". Do a search for laser levels and hold on.

 

[dliston]

I've used the DeWalt one - borrowed it for putting drop ceiling up in the basement. - Made VERY quick work of leveling the outside support strips. I think if I owned one, I would find uses for it, but can't justify the initial purchase.

Doug

 

[willywildes]

Northern tool sells them, I was just talking to a drilling contractor today about them. he has one from their. made by lasermark $999 3/32@100ft says it works great for what he does. they also have a $429 model 1/4@100 good luck!

 

[RobertN]

I like White Cap! Except, there are no prices marked! Don't know till you get to the counter...

 

[Henro]

<font color="blue"> My need for a laser will be ongoing since I am in the process of getting geared up to build my home, for the most part by myself. I typically double check myself with my scope.
</font>

RaT,

When I read the above, the first thing that popped into my head was...well...I set the level of my home with a simple water level...and frankly, the one thing that never is an issue in my mind is the level of things. It is right on as far as human senses can tell.

Now I do have some things that cause me to think "why the heck did I do that????" I attribute those to age...we get better as we age, right? Like a fine wine... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Anyway, if the motivation is for use in one building for one's own use, I am not certain an expensive ($1,000, expensive to me anyway) will be worth the investment. The long side of our place is about 90 feet, and all open. About the ONLY thing I never think about is floor level...or plumb. Just about every thing else...well..."If I woulda known then what I think I know now... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif"

 

[willywildes]

ya know i just have to laugh when i read these forums. A guy asks a question about a particular brand or wanting to buy something and someone tell him ya know its cheaper to rent that, or use a water level, or i know ya said your looking at brand X for 10$ well look at the great chinese model for 10000$ I like mine. Now were all smart guys here. i'm sure Rat has thought this out, done the cost analyss. if had to justifie 99% of what i own, every thing would be gone. then there are the guys who are the rules in forcers any way i just want to be a member this probbly wasnt the time or place for this post [ it has been building for awhile]
but the first thing that came to my mind was a guy with two kubotas and a backhoe with numerous attachment saying get a garden hose and fill it with water. I love TBN i guess sometimes you just have to laugh.

P.S Henro I do like your posts, you usually have good info.

 

[bmac]

<font color="blue"> but the first thing that came to my mind was a guy with two kubotas and a backhoe with numerous attachment saying get a garden hose and fill it with water. </font>

Willy, you craked me up with that one. However, Henro is one of the few who probably could get by with a garden hose filled with water just like Harvey Lacy can lay a straight fence with nothing but his good eyesight. And I agree with you - Henro does offer good advice - I enjoy reading his posts as well.

 

[Henro]

<font color="blue">P.S Henro I do like your posts, you usually have good info.
</font>

Hee, hee, hee...my emphasis by the way... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

You are right Willywildes, this is a good place to get all kinds of advice...

As a matter of fact, sometimes the most value comes from advice that seems almost unrelated to the original question posted. Exactly like those examples you gave.

I'm with you on this one though. It does sound like the tool man is advising that a spoon be used rather than an excavator.

Add my laugh to the chorus... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[BigEddy]

So back to the subject.
How do the $38 rotating lasers compare against the $500 versions? I know these don't have a receiver, so you're stuck using a painted board to view the line - but what does the extra 300-400 bucks buy me? Is the $38 version a waste of money?

I personally have no valid need for a rotating level (that I can dream up right now) but when I see them under $40 with tripod, it makes me wonder if I do need one. Yeah and I have 2 tractors and a backhoe also.

 

[mikim]

I have 2 problems with laser levels ... 1. most are 4" to 6" long which means your point of reference for the light beam is based on a quite short base. It would seem to me that a 2' level would give a better bubble reference level than 4". .... 2. In order to get an outdoor accuracy that I feel I could live with - I'd have to spend more $$ than I could possibly justify for the use I'd get out of it. For interior work - where 50' is probably as far as I'd ever need it to shoot - I'd still want better than 1/4" accuracy in that 50' - I can live with 1/8" - but haven't seen any that meet that spec .....YET ... when they get there - I'll be there. In the meantime - I'll stick with all my old fashioned ways - which are probably not even as accurate as the spec I expect from lasers - but they aren't costing me any $$ either. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif