Home Depot Laser Level Shopping Spree

[jeepinerdeep]

I have searched threads a bit but not finding much that narrows me in-

Details-

• I have $450 in Home Depot gift cards from frequent traveler perks. Budget for this $450 +/- $100 and commonly at Home Depot in store.
• Needs to be fairly accurate out at the 60-100ft range, so the under $100 models probably aren't it
• Want to project green cross line and plumb point, indoors. Bonus points if I can project a line across the ceiling somehow instead of a chalk line
• Was looking at Bosch, Dewalt and Milwaukee products in the 100-300ft ish range
• I have Milwaukee batteries out the wazoo, but am not married to the brand for this
• I have zero experience with lasers

2 that come up in search often are Bosch GCL165-42GL and Milwaukee 3622-20, not thru looking at Dewalt models yet.

Anyone have any thoughts that line up with the above?

 

[manwithtools]

I have the 3622-20 and I've been very pleased with it's performance. If you want to make it even easier to use when working alone, add the
48-35-1314 Wireless Laser Alignment Base W/ Remote. It's a little pricey, but it really makes setup a breeze when you are working on the opposite side of the room from the laser.

EDIT: I actually have the 3632-20 which is the three plane laser. @signcrafter is correct about the usefulness of the right angle layout planes.

 

[alinc100]

Umm, just so you know any of the 3 beam crossline lasers you are looking at under $1K will have a stated accuracy of 1/16" to 1/8" in 33 ft. That goes for the Hilti ,Dewalt , Milwaukee, Leica, Spectra, etc. You will most definitely need a receiver at the distances you've quoted. If it was me, I'd buy something like this Huepar laser on Amazon and use my HD to buy the tripod, the Hilti PMA100 mount, a laser receiver of your choice.

 

[Dig Doug]

Look into PLS

Pacific Laser System
its a fluke company

this one is a 1/8 inch @ 100 feet

 

[Dig Doug]

I have 3- PLS lasers, they are at least 7 + years old

Excellent Quality

if you need to shoot 100 feet set the laser up mid way and shoot 50 & 50.

Hint -
set the laser up w/ an off set of say 2 -3 inch - then use your tape to measure up

 

[Shiftless]

Outside of establishing a roughly one inch in 10 feet slope for a paver patio, I have no experience in the accuracy needs of you guys. I built a 50 foot long fence and wanted the tops to be level. I just used a carpenters’ bubble level and a string line for that,

I’m just wondering if being one inch off over 300 feet is a deal breaker. Does a guy need to spend $1000+ to get better accuracy ?

 

[jeepinerdeep]

I have the 3622-20 and I've been very pleased with it's performance. If you want to make it even easier to use when working alone, add the
48-35-1314 Wireless Laser Alignment Base W/ Remote. It's a little pricey, but it really makes setup a breeze when you are working on the opposite side of the room from the laser.

I'm leaning towards the 3622 pretty heavily at this point. Looks like the bare tool and tripod package can be had for 409, that leaves me a few bucks to buy a packout for it.

I have 3- PLS lasers, they are at least 7 + years old

Excellent Quality

if you need to shoot 100 feet set the laser up mid way and shoot 50 & 50.

Hint -
set the laser up w/ an off set of say 2 -3 inch - then use your tape to measure up

Yeah- thanks, good point. The 50/50 method will work fine for my max use. I would set it up in the middle of a pole building for hanging wall trim and sheathing, setting conduit and air lines etc.

Umm, just so you know any of the 3 beam crossline lasers you are looking at under $1K will have a stated accuracy of 1/16" to 1/8" in 33 ft. That goes for the Hilti ,Dewalt , Milwaukee, Leica, Spectra, etc. You will most definitely need a receiver at the distances you've quoted. If it was me, I'd buy something like this Huepar laser on Amazon and use my HD to buy the tripod, the Hilti PMA100 mount, a laser receiver of your choice.

Understood, thanks for pointing it out, aside from the above the 1/8 in 33' will do fine and be an upgrade from a 4' level and a pencil.

 

[Dig Doug]

You can use a water level to create a level line if you want to go cheap add some food coloring/ soda pop to color the water,
make a wire hook to hang one end and then add a pole/ 2x4 vertical to hang the movable end

make your marks every 25 feet as a base / reference line then measure up down for your piping runs

notes

just don’t drop one end below the other end or you will pour out the fluid from the tube
both ends need to be left open - no caps
leave about 2-3 feet of tube above the water line on both ends

when at rest both sides will be level

$30 bucks & some colored water


but a laser is more fun !
lol

 

[signcrafter]

I'm leaning towards the 3622 pretty heavily at this point. Looks like the bare tool and tripod package can be had for 409, that leaves me a few bucks to buy a packout for it.



Yeah- thanks, good point. The 50/50 method will work fine for my max use. I would set it up in the middle of a pole building for hanging wall trim and sheathing, setting conduit and air lines etc.



Understood, thanks for pointing it out, aside from the above the 1/8 in 33' will do fine and be an upgrade from a 4' level and a pencil.

That one is only a 2 plane and dot laser right? I have an older bosch 3 plane and use all 3 planes. With a 2 plane you won't be able to square up corners for framing or decking or flooring or anything like that. I probably use that feature the most. If I was spending that much again I would get the 3 plane for sure.

As for accuracy I used my bosch to layout 4,000 sq ft of tile for a restaurant remodel. I spent a full day laying everything out because it was going around multiple walls and dividers and all chopped up. Using the 90 degree planes(that the milwaukee you listed doesn't have) to square everything up and line everything up when going around a wall. When I tiled it everything lined up perfectly. Not sure what my accuracy is on that laser but I was impressed on such a big job. My bosch is around 10-12 years old now and still works good but I did think about getting the milwaukee 3 plane laser since I also have a ton of m12 batteries.

 

[danski0224]

Was looking at Bosch, Dewalt and Milwaukee products in the 100-300ft ish range

Good luck even getting 30 feet outside in sunlight with a line laser and a detector.

I have a DeWalt 12V 3 beam 360*, and the detector was useless outside in moderate sun (just past the brightness level that washes out the beams). Same story with a small Stabila line laser and a universal detector. Both green beams.

Tried a different claimed universal detector from Johnson Tools, and that one didn't even work more than 15 feet away.

Note that not all detectors will pick up all beams.

The GC on that job had a DeWalt spinning point laser and detector, and that worked.

 

[signcrafter]

Good luck even getting 30 feet outside in sunlight with a line laser and a detector.

I have a DeWalt 12V 3 beam 360*, and the detector was useless outside in moderate sun (just past the brightness level that washes out the beams). Same story with a small Stabila line laser and a universal detector. Both green beams.

Tried a different claimed universal detector from Johnson Tools, and that one didn't even work more than 15 feet away.

Note that not all detectors will pick up all beams.

The GC on that job had a DeWalt spinning point laser and detector, and that worked.

Something sounds off because I can do way further then 30' with my bosch and bosch receiver. My topcon rotating laser and receiver could pick up way way further. Doing concrete we used a milwaukee 3 plane and milwaukee receiver and could get 100' no problem in the sun.

 

[danski0224]

In full sun, I was SOL on that job. Detector wouldn't work.

Early morning, no problem.

 

[tarbellb]

@danski0224 are you talking about the green plastic card or the actual battery operated pulse laser finder?
If the later then yeah, something was wrong w your setup, even my sub$100 3axis green lasers will pulse out to 75ft+ no.problem in full day light

OP sounds like you got money in the bank w HD but I'm also in the camp of
Buy the laser off Amazon or similar, get a 3 axis green guy, def grab a battery powered pulse finder. All in maybe $150-200
And spend the HD money on better tools, it's not the place to get a laser

One thought- check out the Bessey STE series of tripods and accessories. Killer system.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/BESSEY-STE-Series-14-in-x-3-1-8-x-7-8-Steel-Support-Stand-TRIPOD-Set-STE-TRIPOD/334452418

$60.... hard to go wrong