Laser Levels

[bad_idea]

I was reading Nick in WI's 'little barn to wood shop' thread and saw he used a laser level to mark the height of each outlet in his garage at once. I didn't realize you could do that. What else does a laser level do? What is a quality unit to buy for home use?

 

[Bagherra]

Why does that surprise you?

 

[Robert Haas]

you can rent rotary levels. owning one can be expensive. I use both line and "Dot" types in my glass shop they work well for single elevation interior work, however 360 degree rotary units with the help of a "reader" work incredibly well outdoors in broad, bright daylight.

I use my line unit in fabrication on the Truck I am building, it allows me to project panel lines on non flat surfaces as well as set chassis and body lines.

here I am lining up the cab and beg




here I am fabricating panels and projecting a line to cut in a part.

 

[larry_g]

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=387992&highlight=royce+vise&page=3

Check out posts 56-60 in the above thread.

Depending on the type of laser you get they can do a lot. There are a few different ones designed for different uses. Make sure that you study and get one that works for you.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[bad_idea]

Why does that surprise you?

You lost me. What did I say I was surprised about? Are you replying to the right thread?

 

[La Petite Tools]

I use laser levels for a bunch of projects around the house. if you are putting in a new door they are very handy, or putting up a drop ceiling, i've used one to line up 2x4s in a basement to make sure the top and bottom plates are in line, used when building a deck or a shed, forming concrete. I used my father in laws it was a dewalt self leveling the real money comes in on how well you can see it outside in the daylight. his is similar to the one below.

https://www.grainger.com/product/31CL61?gclid=Cj0KCQiApvbhBRDXARIsALnNoK3WZG2tmlcTJNr8igC78LTEFqCe-tJvxH16zz7inc_Nhc1z8t8ame0aAlv9EALw_wcB&cm_mmc=PPC:+Google+PLA&ef_id=Cj0KCQiApvbhBRDXARIsALnNoK3WZG2tmlcTJNr8igC78LTEFqCe-tJvxH16zz7inc_Nhc1z8t8ame0aAlv9EALw_wcB:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!2966!3!50916774957!!!g!71851365319!

 

[vavet]

I have a cheap skil unit. I used it to run a wallpaper border around the room when my son was in the oven.

 

[gmwelder86]

Use pls lasers at work almost daily. Cannot stand the Hilti, or Bosch ones we have. Have found the pls to be the least troublesome. Green beam is better for outdoors or other high light situations.

 

[strutaeng]

I'm building an addition and borrowed my concrete guy's PLS3 green for doing a drainage pipe project. The green laser works great outdoors, just consumes battery quickly. He was using it to set wood formwork at the correct elevation.

I decided I would buy one for general purpose use, but went to the THD and bought a DeWalt red point laser. I have no idea what model. DeWalt has so many different models, it is not even funny. Anyways, I compare to the PLS3 and the PLS had a much crisper laser dot. At about 40' feet at night, the DeWalt's red dot was like 1" diameter vs. PLS3 was like 3/8".

I returned the DeWalt and bought a PLS480. It is red, so not visible more than, say 30-40' outdoors, but has a horizontal projection line and plumb line. It is very nice. I plan to use it mainly indoors.

For doing anything non-critical like hanging pictures, etc, any DIY laser will probably work. For any major construction project, I highly recommend PLS.

 

[Garagebound1]

I bought a Bosch that does horizontal, vertical and puts a point on floor and directly over unit plumb. I bought it to hang my cabinets and used it to level a sagging ceiling and line up the led flush mount lights. I was going to rent one but what 2 days rent would have cost I bought my Bosch and had money left over. I've since used it in building my car. I couldn't believe all the places I've come up with to use it.