In the Market for a Laser Level

[bad_idea]

I am looking for a laser level for home use. Something I can use in the shop or in the house. What do you all recommend?

 

[danski0224]

A level with a laser on it... or a self leveling laser line generator?

 

[bad_idea]

Probably choice 'B'. I'm looking to project level laser lines on the wall to hang cabinets. Or to locate an axle on a rock crawler. I'm trying to get away from plumb bobs.

 

[mike93lx]

Any specific requirements? Budget?

Lots of inexpensive Chinese lasers on Amazon. Huepar has been recommended many times here. I have a POWAFUL (yep, spelling is right

 

[russ455]

Get something that can be recalibrated by you. Some of the cheaper self leveling units need to go to a service center

 

[bad_idea]

I would like to spend a reasonable amount of money for a quality product that will last me many years. Don't need the Cadillac, but don't want the Metro either.

 

[scotsman]

I've been using this one for years, love it!
(Tripod not included)

 

[rust in the eye]

I bought a $40 one, "Hammerhead", a couple years back for specific project and it served me very well. Projects either horizontal, vertical or cross lines has a nice spring clamp or could mount to a tripod.
If you need 360* coverage a rotating one will cost a bunch more.

 

[alinc100]

There are several write ups on GJ , including some of my thoughts. Since that writing I've been using one of these Ereion lasers via Amazon. It works great. Would be suitable for home use. I also own a much more expensive Hilti and side by side the beams are equal. There are times based upon the room Ereion puts out a more crisp better beam. The ONLY shortfall is the magnetic bracket *****, but Huepar makes a $35 bracket that keeps you all in at under $100 https://www.amazon.com/Construction-Hanging，Laser-measurement-calibration-Rechargeable/dp/B0C7YWPZ6T/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Search results for query: laser

www.garagejournal.com

 

[alinc100]

The Heupar bracket mentioned above: https://www.amazon.com/Huepar-Fine-...djustment/dp/B088H18NJN/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[M635_Guy]

I got this one from Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09B3F7SK2?tag=atomicindus08-20

It's been pretty good: nice case, easy to use, does what it says. Has a decent bracket and an nice little tripod included. Currently $150 with an e-coupon, which is a few bucks less than what I paid for mine. I'd buy it again.

 

[b-dog]

Sub'd to see more....

I have a Dewalt self leveling 2-axis, green, and it's been good enough but I have definitely yearned that 3rd axis a few times. I have seen a lot of recommendations for the cheap/amazon 3-axis for prices that seem too low to be real (like $40-cheap). I wonder if the laser quality is the same, if that's a thing(?) Are all lasers of this grade (class 2) the same in the daylight, thickness at distance, etc?

 

[zendriver]

I have a Huepar, one of their early, mid priced models. Seems to be level, at least when I checked it for accuracy. . Does not work well outside.

They have increased features and priced them better.

Huepar Laser Levels | Official Store

Huepar® US offers professional & affordable laser levels including 3D/4D Laser level, Dot and Rotary Laser Levels. Buy and enjoy 24 Months Warranty!

huepar.com

 

[alinc100]

Sub'd to see more....

I have a Dewalt self leveling 2-axis, green, and it's been good enough but I have definitely yearned that 3rd axis a few times. I have seen a lot of recommendations for the cheap/amazon 3-axis for prices that seem too low to be real (like $40-cheap). I wonder if the laser quality is the same, if that's a thing(?) Are all lasers of this grade (class 2) the same in the daylight, thickness at distance, etc?

Short answer: Yes they work. Longer answer: I use lasers DAILY in my profession as an interior carpenter. The cheap lasers while low on aesthetics are actually well built, have features that my expensive lasers do not have (like a remote control) and a 4th axis that is only 3/4" off the ground. My $800 Hilti will only get to about 5" off the ground which when working to a base that is 4" doesn't do much. Most all of the Class 2 lasers have an accuracy of +/- 1/8" at 33 ft. The Heupar electronic laser target makes these lasers useful outdoors and adds about $50 to your costs.

 

[tarbellb]

Like anything else right now, there is name brand uber expensive lasers with a known history of making good stuff.

And then theres the cheap import market that has all but caught up in terms of performance, reliability is unknown tho.


Quality brands you can likely trust to put out a good product (given you stay away from their very cheapest models?)

PLS
Hilti
Spectra
Johnson
Lecia
Topcon
Bosch

Everything else is fighting for those non company card purchases.

But keep in mind this is a tech based product, where speed to market, and foreign performance has proven to be very good. You can literally buy a dozen cheap 3 axis lasers for the price of one of the name brands lower tiered models.

 

[Mandres]

The cheap Amazon lasers are surprisingly good. Huepar is one of the bigger names, but I think they're all similar. For home renovation type projects that's all you'll ever need. A cheap photography style tripod comes in handy too.

 

[lovetap]

I bought a Bosch self leveling on sale at Lowe's for $40 and it works well

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

I went with a Huepar because everyone I talked to was full of praise for them given their pricing and what you actually get for it - how they are holding up. I wasn’t disappointed, far from that - it’s great. Reliable and spot on.

Getting the same features in a brand-name or supplier house-brand unit would have cost (triple) a lot more. And given the fact that most of the smaller units are not serviceable anyway - what you’re paying for with name-brands is a possible replacement if anything happens while still covered under warranty.

As a DIYer or one-person-commercial/pro you absolutely can’t go wrong with Huepar.



If you‘re a commercial entity on fleet-management with a brand or supplier, you’ll be getting the name-brand unit obviously. Also if you NEED it daily, you will have a) have a spare, b) have service contract so you get an replacement immediately delivered on site. Oh, and don’t forget ‘customer’s expectations’.

Kind regards,
Olli

 

[tarbellb]

Oh you NEED a receiver/detector if planning on using outside, these are not visible in daylight. None are.

 

[zendriver]

Several of the Bosch levels are made in China, at somewhat higher equivalent prices.

 

[alinc100]

FWIW we had issues with the cheaper Bosch lasers not being accurate. One of our crew had bought one in the $150 ish range and when laying out a room you could see visible drops at the outer ends of the line. We install aluminum angle frames and then inset acoustical panels/tackboard and markerboards. Squareness is critical. After a few returns/ repurchases with similar results ,I finally got that crew member to switch to DeWalt which was an improvement. Same crew member 4-5 years later is using an Ereoin and a newer Dewalt 12 volt .YMMV

 

[kaymccampbell]

I just tossed money at Huepar. It was serendipitous that this thread popped up just as my old POS laser level STB. The new one comes with a nice looking mag bracket and a pole sensor. And that means no more doing my outside measurements at dawn n dusk.

 

[Leon bee]

Check out the one Klein puts out, or did two years ago. It couldn't really be any better for the price, and yes, you can see the dot outside on a sunny day.

 

[rlitman]

In December, I paid $15 for a three plane green laser level on Amazon. The lowest price I'd seen to date. Earlier last year I posted a thread for $25 three plane lasers. Right now, I'm finding a four plane (which as posted above, is nice having that lower line) for $34:

Amazon.com

For $34, (or shop around and wait for a better deal, because these come up all the time), get the cheapest green 3 or 4 plane (they call it 12 or 16 lines) laser out there and play with it to see what it is that you like, before you spend money on a better one.

 

[AEAdam]

For many sorts of carpentry or home improvements a 3 beam laser is really helpful. Green is easier to see than red, even inside. I have the Bosch GLL3-330G and highly recommend it. My main building is 30x60 and I can easily see that beam from one side to the other.

 

[Tundra1]

I bought a upper tier huepar and for building work have been very disappointed in it's ability to self level. Seems to be within factory spec or right on the line, so maybe I was asking too much. But for leveling on a 60 ft wall it has about half an inch of variance depending on where I set up my laser. Seems to be sensitive to absolute level of the device. Stated spec is +-3mm/10m. So 6mm off over 10m which is not good enough for a lot of trades. Probably fine for hanging a cabinet if set on a level base.

 

[Numerator2142]

I have one of the green Amazon levels somebody posted up in the hot deals a while back.
Works well enough for me...which mostly has been setting my wife's photo collage walls with multi room common reference points.

 

[AEAdam]

Just beware. Once you get a laser level, you quickly figure out that every blessed thing in your house is crooked. DAMHIKT.

 

[bad_idea]

Just beware. Once you get a laser level, you quickly figure out that every blessed thing in your house is crooked. DAMHIKT.

Ohh no, you can see that with the naked eye. I believe the carpenters were sober when they built my house.

 

[FigN⋅m]

I just want this one for the tripod description alone

 

[danielbuck]

I have a Heupar that's about 9 years old or so, model 901CG. I use it for a lot of stuff from leveling ground for pavers, to helping build vehicle chassis. It's nice and easy to use, but for outside work it's very difficult to see when it's light out, and if you're in direct sun forget about it. Not sure if that's just a problem with the Heupar, or if that's common for most of this type of tool. Either way, I like it and use it in a variety of ways.
,

 

[DGersic]

I am looking for a laser level for home use. Something I can use in the shop or in the house. What do you all recommend?

I just bought the Bosch laser projector at Lowe’s to deal with aligning some cabinet doors. Works well, so far I’m happy with it.

 

[rlitman]

I bought a upper tier huepar and for building work have been very disappointed in it's ability to self level. Seems to be within factory spec or right on the line, so maybe I was asking too much. But for leveling on a 60 ft wall it has about half an inch of variance depending on where I set up my laser. Seems to be sensitive to absolute level of the device. Stated spec is +-3mm/10m. So 6mm off over 10m which is not good enough for a lot of trades. Probably fine for hanging a cabinet if set on a level base.

60' is a lot to ask of a pendulum self-leveling laser level. If I put my $25 laser level in the center of a 20' room, the beam offset will be within the thickness of a heavy pencil line, but that's only really 10' from the level.

I've tested the horizontal plane of my green levels outdoors at night by placing it on a playground platform and marking the beam location on my shed 65' away. Pencil in a line that marks the center of the beam with each side facing the shed, and compare. The worst I've gotten was about 1/2" across opposite sides, but that's only 1/4" variation from level (+/- 3.2mm/10m). The problem I have with this torture test is that the beam itself diverges a lot, and does so unevenly (perhaps due to the glass windows, I'm not sure), so if you're working at those sort of distances and tolerances, a rotating beam with a detector that can identify the center is a better choice.

 

[csp]

I'm in the market for a 3 axis version that will project a beam on the walls and ceiling.

I keep seeing new DeWalts on eBay that are less than half a new one anywhere else. These are counterfeits I'm assuming. This is an example: https://www.ebay.com/itm/286167223891?_trkparms=amclksrc=ITM&aid=1110006&algo=HOMESPLICE.SIM&ao=1&asc=279093&meid=9468fae4a80340389b198bee80c1f172&pid=101875&rk=4&rkt=4&sd=167182690124&itm=286167223891&pmt=1&noa=0&pg=2332490&algv=SimVIDwebV3WithCPCExpansionEmbeddingSearchQuerySemanticBroadMatchSingularityRecall&brand=DEWALT&_trksid=p2332490.c101875.m1851&itmprp=cksum:2861672238919468fae4a80340389b198bee80c1f172|enc:AQAKAAABQOqalcCsb07ituDYLOrUrH2eG1DBUcAU1siB%2B881ennut1KqikNJ--C2JmJJYbnGBSq9s1cAaLR3u1P2GFHP6cOkMtiQrPwhnArZTi0NFnCkYNs9wPMPnRY0lLYAH0ZUZHC0PUU1fHypd4iQtUvfzVENcH3Rth76QZkQXmR8D04L1j1Q50yq1f5RLI6HxcWPxtwbLBnC%2F7gGxyyrRNblT4Ikk0Ip0vD2RUZHdZFMQkWWfIhXbhdbLrDyOHRABM00knHlTBM0NAob8lHjQDA%2BB2ulOnfreSTtDjsFOgdj4tFd5uEUBNhtb%2FBUZ712RMKzpMqwUrJDR9eVh%2FwdXr0cQq%2F1puu9jwcAvPc64wl7Qj9SlwwGPNR5Cyk4IO6c3Z2dlseVHMxd9nTyuGqws7uLXtGDQXrb9WshPak3pwLmOf91|ampidL_CLK|clp:2332490&itmmeta=01JN5AR88W4NTV0F7AVYTFQTEN This one is almost $500 on Amazon.

Has anyone purchased one of these?

 

[WWheeler]

I'm in the market for a 3 axis version that will project a beam on the walls and ceiling.

I keep seeing new DeWalts on eBay that are less than half a new one anywhere else. These are counterfeits I'm assuming. This is an example: https://www.ebay.com/itm/286167223891?_trkparms=amclksrc=ITM&aid=1110006&algo=HOMESPLICE.SIM&ao=1&asc=279093&meid=9468fae4a80340389b198bee80c1f172&pid=101875&rk=4&rkt=4&sd=167182690124&itm=286167223891&pmt=1&noa=0&pg=2332490&algv=SimVIDwebV3WithCPCExpansionEmbeddingSearchQuerySemanticBroadMatchSingularityRecall&brand=DEWALT&_trksid=p2332490.c101875.m1851&itmprp=cksum:2861672238919468fae4a80340389b198bee80c1f172|enc:AQAKAAABQOqalcCsb07ituDYLOrUrH2eG1DBUcAU1siB%2B881ennut1KqikNJ--C2JmJJYbnGBSq9s1cAaLR3u1P2GFHP6cOkMtiQrPwhnArZTi0NFnCkYNs9wPMPnRY0lLYAH0ZUZHC0PUU1fHypd4iQtUvfzVENcH3Rth76QZkQXmR8D04L1j1Q50yq1f5RLI6HxcWPxtwbLBnC%2F7gGxyyrRNblT4Ikk0Ip0vD2RUZHdZFMQkWWfIhXbhdbLrDyOHRABM00knHlTBM0NAob8lHjQDA%2BB2ulOnfreSTtDjsFOgdj4tFd5uEUBNhtb%2FBUZ712RMKzpMqwUrJDR9eVh%2FwdXr0cQq%2F1puu9jwcAvPc64wl7Qj9SlwwGPNR5Cyk4IO6c3Z2dlseVHMxd9nTyuGqws7uLXtGDQXrb9WshPak3pwLmOf91|ampidL_CLK|clp:2332490&itmmeta=01JN5AR88W4NTV0F7AVYTFQTEN This one is almost $500 on Amazon.

Has anyone purchased one of these?

No I haven't, but I've seen them priced for half that on aliexpress, which I also assume are counterfeit or some kind of scam.

https://www.aliexpress.us/w/wholesale-DeWalt-DW089LG.html?spm=a2g0o.home.search.0

 

[tak1313]

I have a bunch of different laser levels - all Bosch. I think all of them are reconditioned from CPO. I double check when I get them against Empire True Blue levels and so far have found all of them to be spot-on.

 

[alinc100]

I don't want this to look like I'm a shill, taking advantage, etc, stepping on toes BUT I bought a used Hilti 3 beam with 1 battery, no charger a couple days ago I would consider selling at right about $300 if someone was interested.

 

[KnurledNut]

For cross-line generation, I have Bosch and Stanley Fatmax and both have been reliable. But I still prefer my rotary laser, even for indoor use, when multiple axis lines are not required. Where applicable, I prefer the dependability and ruggedness of a flat head survey tripod. I can stop rotation and shoot a single dot which can be super handy and less annoying for other contractors. Also the ability to set pitch out of level to match existing construction can be a useful feature.
Anyone doing this for a living will benefit from both rotary and cross-line lasers from reputable brands, but for the purpose of this thread, the off-brand units mentioned thus far are gaining a good reputation and would likely be just fine for limited DIY homeowner use.

 

[rlitman]

...Also the ability to set pitch out of level to match existing construction can be a useful feature...

Just to project a line. Most cross line lasers do this now. Just turn them on with the remote or buttons, but don't slide the switch the unlocks the gimbals.

 

[KnurledNut]

Just to project a line. Most cross line lasers do this now. Just turn them on with the remote or buttons, but don't slide the switch the unlocks the gimbals.

I can override my rotary self-leveling with the push of a button +/-. I can fine tune it and dial it in to my desired pitch without touching the unit. I understand cross line gimbals can be locked but are you saying some of these non-rotaries will do what I stated above?