Aluminum bubble level?

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

Hey guys. Who makes a decent bubble level? I've been using a plastic one and it *****. I'd like a longer one which would be suitable for counters, framing doors, etc. A small one for leveling cabinets and other small things. Both aluminum, the plastic one flexes too much.

 

[Roobaix]

Sola or Stabila

 

[dr_clyde]

My levels are Sands Levels, and I like them a lot. They are cast aluminum, then machined. Stabila makes the best extruded aluminum levels, IMO.

For a budget level, I like Johnson.

 

[djjsr]

I got an Empire a while back. Seems to be decent quality and didn't break the bank.

 

[texasprd]

I also like Empire. I have a 4ft that I've had for many years. I like the graduations on the main bubble that tell you how far out of level you are.

 

[PureLeaf]

I have Sola (Austrian) and Stabila (german) Levels. They're both fantastic.

 

[rlitman]

My levels are Sands Levels, and I like them a lot. They are cast aluminum, then machined. Stabila makes the best extruded aluminum levels, IMO.

For a budget level, I like Johnson.

Johnson makes some good stuff, and some not so great.

Absolutely go for a box beam, and not an I beam extrusion.

The yellow Johnson uses steel rings set into the vial (just like the Stabila), while the blue Empire versions have painted rings. For me, that's what sets Johnson over Empire.

 

[Richard Cranium]

My Stanley 8 foot level does me fine, I also have a wooden, an plastic 4 footer and several 2 footers.

 

[TheMadMech]

The Empire True Blue levels are great and priced well.

This is my clever signature.

 

[RivennHewn]

If you are flexing a level, even a plastic one, you're using it wrong.

 

[Jure]

Sola..

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

If you are flexing a level, even a plastic one, you're using it wrong.

Trying to hold it between two door jams in the center while screwing them in poses a bit of a flexing issue. Aluminum would solve that

 

[Dhagan887]

The johnsons are decent for the money, what I am currently using for 4' and 6' now. I can't justify spending more on one because people I work with seem to think they are pry bars, etc. I'd be lucky to get a year out of one if it were 3/8 wall steel

 

[woody 73]

If you want to keep an American company going (and I hope we all do) then the Wow factor of the following levels will make you very happy and their prices are very good.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=160615

 

[shoot summ]

I've gone all digital on my levels, my old eyes aren't as good as they used to be.

 

[rockwithjason]

http://checkpointlevels.com/

 

[Jim Johnstone]

I've got a 4 foot dewalt aluminum box level and I've been quite happy with it.

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

If I was trying to level and 8' plank of wood, would an 8" level work just as good as a 4' level? Are the lengths more for say leveling a cabinet to a floor when it has no counter top (to reach one side to another? I'm looking for a level to throw up onto flat surfaces, no spans such as a counter. Or maybe a set, for use such as what I had mentioned above with the door jams.

 

[sam.coll]

All Stabilla here, 96 series in 2000mm, 1200mm, 800mm and 600mm. Keep in mind there are different series/price ranges, if I was buying again I would go with the 196 series with hand holds.