Help me choose a rotary laser level

[Iluvbeer]

Alright guys - I am opening a pool install business this spring and will need a good durable system to use to level the ground. So I am in the market for a rotary laser level but I have really never used one so have no idea what sort of features they offer and what will be needed for pool installs. Any input would be great! Looks like Spectra, Topcon, and Johnson are a few I have eyeballed.... Thanks!

 

[Rusted Nut]

We use Spectra a lot at work, commercial construction site. Never have any issues with them. The biggest thing to check for is the accuracy over distance. Some of the cheaper ones have pretty poor accuracy over 75’. All you probably need is a rotating horizontal beam.

 

[mike93lx]

The only laser level that was used in my pool build was my own... The crews doing the work used string lines, small bubble levels and normal 4 footers. The design guy used one of the air pressure units, which was pretty cool.

That said, I have a spectra that I love but it's way overkill and takes up a ton more space than the air pressure systems.

I bought mine to confirm the work as well as to do a lot of related drainage.

 

[Iluvbeer]

The only laser level that was used in my pool build was my own... The crews doing the work used string lines, small bubble levels and normal 4 footers. The design guy used one of the air pressure units, which was pretty cool.

That said, I have a spectra that I love but it's way overkill and takes up a ton more space than the air pressure systems.

I have watched a few pro installer videos and most all have been using a laser level which is why I thought it was a good tool to use for this job. Time is money so if I have to spend a little to make the installs go faster, that's not an issue. Seems a laser level would be much faster than strings and mechanical levels... I know nothing about air pressure levels...

 

[mike93lx]

I have watched a few pro installer videos and most all have been using a laser level which is why I thought it was a good tool to use for this job. Time is money so if I have to spend a little to make the installs go faster, that's not an issue. Seems a laser level would be much faster than strings and mechanical levels... I know nothing about air pressure levels...

I get all of that and wouldn't fault anyone for doing it either way.

If it was objectively better, I would bet that the crews that build pool after pool, non stop, would all be doing it. I'm just sharing an actual experience from less than two years ago.

This is the one I have. I caught it open box in Amazon warehouse for about $570 in 2021

Spectra Precision LL300N-2 Laser Level, Self Leveling Kit with HL450 Receiver, Clamp, 15' Grade Rod / Inches and Tripod , Yellow https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000ET20PK?tag=atomicindus08-20

This is an example of an air pressure level

ZIPLEVEL PRO-2000B High Precision Altimeter with 75-Feet Cord and User Guide https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000225Q1Y?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[cgrutt]

Bosch also makes them I have one of theirs but it's not rotary. One thing to keep in mind when deciding is visibility out in the sun. I used a rotary level on a deck around pool once and it worked extremely well. Unfortunately it was not mine and don't recall brand. It was yellow though. Good luck!

 

[Iluvbeer]

If it was objectively better, I would bet that the crews that build pool after pool, non stop, would all be doing it. I'm just sharing an actual experience from less than two years ago.

From all the videos I have watched, they are! Your story is the first I have heard of a professional using the mechanical method...

This is the one I have. I caught it open box in Amazon warehouse for about $570 in 2021

Spectra Precision LL300N-2 Laser Level, Self Leveling Kit with HL450 Receiver, Clamp, 15' Grade Rod / Inches and Tripod , Yellow https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000ET20PK?tag=atomicindus08-20

This is an example of an air pressure level

ZIPLEVEL PRO-2000B High Precision Altimeter with 75-Feet Cord and User Guide https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000225Q1Y?tag=atomicindus08-20

That's interesting and the reviews show many people converting from a laser to the air. I am definitely going to need to research this as an alternative. Obviously pool installs are done in daylight so perhaps an air level would be better than a laser.

Thanks for your help!

 

[mike93lx]

From all the videos I have watched, they are! Your story is the first I have heard of a professional using the mechanical method...



That's interesting and the reviews show many people converting from a laser to the air. I am definitely going to need to research this as an alternative. Obviously pool installs are done in daylight so perhaps an air level would be better than a laser.

Thanks for your help!

The air unit is just simple and compact, plus plenty accurate for the application.

Pools dont require super precision. As long as the water line looks nice and even to tile/coping, it will work fine. And a mason setting coping stone is going to use hand held level anyway.

 

[strutaeng]

We use the ZipLevels at work for foundation assessments. They are a fluid level with a sort of gas pressure charge so the level is achieved faster than under atmospheric pressure.

The biggest issue is letting it acclimate to the temperature, otherwise the level from zero may increase/decrease based on temperature change. Going from a conditioned building to outdoors readings in like the summer may be problematic. They have a function that tells you the fluid temperature for reference.

You just have to know the limitations.

 

[dscheidt]

From all the videos I have watched, they are! Your story is the first I have heard of a professional using the mechanical method...



That's interesting and the reviews show many people converting from a laser to the air. I am definitely going to need to research this as an alternative. Obviously pool installs are done in daylight so perhaps an air level would be better than a laser.

Thanks for your help!

the fancy bubble levels are great for places where you don't have a line of sight between points you wish to compare. That's one of the reasons foundation contractors like them, you can check in the rooms of a basement and outside all with the same base point. Lasers are faster to set up, and high end ones have a higher precision and range, but you need a line of sight. (and outside, you'll need a detector on a grade stick.)

 

[acer66]

I have a sub $1k Stabila rotary level which served me well doing foundation etc as a one man crew.

 

[doctordirt]

Get an LB 1 or LB 2. They are great made by lazer alignment. I have a few, these are real work horses. No longer made but can be sourced though pawn shop, Ebay, or market place. The original employees just installed a new battery pack in mine last year. First battery pack lasted close to 30 years.

 

[Mytoolsupply]

Do you have any dealers in your area?

One thing to keep in mind is they do require calibration, It's much easier to be able to drop it off at a shop rather than shipping it out

I have a Topcon I use all the time and have been extremely happy with it

 

[Renegade1LI]

Hilti, dewalt and spectra offer more industrial models, made for jobsite abuse. Working in the sun you really need to use a receiver. If you already have dewalt batteries look at their lasers. They key to any leveling tool is to check it regularly.

 

[alinc100]

Since you need a receiver anyhow while working outdoors, would a standard 3/4-beam 360 laser with pulse centered on the worksite be accurate enough? +/- 1/8" at 33ft versus +/-1/8" at 100 ft . I don't work outdoors ,I do interior finish and have used several 3/4 beam lasers from the cheap $50 on Amazon to my $800 Hilti.

 

[signcrafter]

You don't say what your process is for levelling the ground but some things to think about. Lasers are great, use them all the time for 25 plus years now. Doing concrete we can set forms with laser. Usually depending on the job we just use a string and level though. If you are grading the ground with sand or something we set our forms and then run a string across so we can measure down for grade. A laser to level a whole pad would be very time consuming. Never did a pool but if you set the perimeter to grade with laser and then use a string from center point to that you can grade the rest of it. But all depends on your details of what exactly you are doing.

And no offense but it sounds like you have never done this before and starting a business?

 

[tarbellb]

The air unit is just simple and compact, plus plenty accurate for the application.

Pools dont require super precision. As long as the water line looks nice and even to tile/coping, it will work fine. And a mason setting coping stone is going to use hand held level anyway.

until you start doing Infinity edges and perimeter drains, which EVERYBODY wants these days.

Thanks for posting the air pressure unit info, I hadn't seen these before!

 

[Iluvbeer]

Lots of great food for thought. I really appreciate everyone's feedback.

 

[Iluvbeer]

And no offense but it sounds like you have never done this before and starting a business?

I will have 4 installs under my belt when I start installing this spring. But we aren't talking about open heart surgery here. You are leveling ground and erecting a pool, it's not that difficult.

 

[signcrafter]

I will have 4 installs under my belt when I start installing this spring. But we aren't talking about open heart surgery here. You are leveling ground and erecting a pool, it's not that difficult.

You don't say what base material you are using or what kind of pool. The details can make a difference on the easiest way to grade. I have a ton of grading experience and was going to give some advice when you answered those questions but you're right, it's easy and YouTube will tell you everything.

 

[Iluvbeer]

You don't say what base material you are using or what kind of pool. The details can make a difference on the easiest way to grade. I have a ton of grading experience and was going to give some advice when you answered those questions but you're right, it's easy and YouTube will tell you everything.

Thanks for the feedback! I think I got my question about lasers answered.

 

[signcrafter]

Thanks for the feedback! I think I got my question about lasers answered.

So just curious, what kind of pools are you installing? And what base material are you putting down? Curious what the process is now that it was brought up. Do you get a few spots to grade with level and then screed between the points?