Laser Levels - HELP??!!!

[racingtadpole]

Please help..

I'm looking for a laser level for some home renovation work. The primary reason behind the purchase is for tiling layout, although I imagine once I have it I'll probably want to use it for anything else that I have largely been doing with string, chalk and water in a clear plastic tube for the last 20years

Normally I do OK with researching this sort of stuff, and seem to make OK decisions but this for some reason has me completely perplexed as to what sort of laser I actually need. The more I read, the less certainty I have about what I need to buy. Would someone mind taking the time to explain in words of three syllables or less what the differences are between say a cross point and a rotary, and why do some need receivers and others not?

I originally started out thinking something like in the link below would do the job, but then I started reading and now my brain hurts...

https://www.metabo.com/au/en/tools/...ine-lasers/kll-2-20-606166000-line-laser.html

Any explanations, advice, practical experience that may be of assistance would be really appreciated at this point.

Thanks

 

[dutchgray]

You want a cross point for tile work, will send out visible lines in horizontal and vertical directions, probably do single dots as well, you can use detectors to get more range as they are quite limited, especially outside.
A rotary is what you use to set levels outside when setting out footings or a drain run, with a staff and a detector, non visible laser.

 

[gmwelder86]

Pacific laser systems was the big player for a long time forjob site lasers. Used them a ton at work and that’s what I have at home. For what your doing a cross beam laser will probably be what your looking for. Lately I’ve used both dewalt a and hiltinlasers and neither seem to as good as the pls lasers. Also the green beam lasers are much easer to see when you start getting further away from the body of the laser.

 

[MoonRise]

Hmmm, maybe try some google-fu?

Typing in a few words, in this case "rotary laser versus cross-point" into google and it says it took 0.56 seconds to come back with 8+ million results.

Most are ads, and otherwise 'junk'.

But here are 4 results from the first page of results, all decent explanations of lasers for 'construction' tasks.

https://www.protoolreviews.com/news/rotary-vs-cross-line-laser-interior-installation/30882/

https://www.engineersupply.com/Construction-Laser-Levels-Explained.aspx

http://www.laserlevelhub.net/how-to-use-laser-level/

https://www.familyhandyman.com/tools/how-to-use-a-laser-level/view-all/

Inside a building, like a 'normal' house, for tile work you would want a cross-beam laser. Two laser lines that are projected from the tool at a 90 deg angle.

A rotary laser is for projecting a laser 'dot' around at a certain height (and hopefully the same 'level' once the tool is manually or automatically leveled). More of the tool to set the 'height' of something, like chair rail or wainscoting or cabinets so that they are all level and 'even' around the room.

The cross-beam level can be used this way as well. You might just be interested in the 'horizontal' laser line in that case, and the 'vertical' might not be used to set the chair rail 'height'.

Rotary laser would also be used outdoors for construction 'surveying' and setting heights/levels of things. In that usage, a detector is often used because it would be rather hard to see a laser dot against air 100 ft away from the laser head.

 

[toddoky]

I recently picked up a Stabila cross-line green laser level to use for a bathroom tile job and can say it works great for that exact purpose.

 

[tarbellb]

Cross laser = shoots a solid line cross in one direction

Rotary laser = shoots a solid line in 360º

Green lasers are easier to see but more expensive.

Dewalt has really stepped up their laser line last year and is considered one of the best bang for buck out there.

Be sure to check usable laser distance, some are only 30'.
----

You probably just want a simple "cross line " laser, avoid "dot or point" lasers...

 

[kbuhagiar]

I got one of these (Bosch GLL2) for Christmas:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Now I just need to figure out how to use it...