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Laser measuring tools

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mike93lx

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What's your weapon of choice? Talking short distance (well under 100ft) for trim, framing, layout, etc.

I had a Milwaukee that was fine, lost it in a move and replaced it with a Bosch that I never loved and it met it's demise falling the great distance of 3ft to concrete.

I like having it store a few measurements on screen, but something compact enough to touch into a tool belt pouch would be mint.

Recommendations?
 
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mike93lx

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billconner said:
Leica Disto. The D1 would be fine, least expensive at $114 list. But check out the whole line for the features you need. (Check out the top of the line S910 - at $1660.)
Click to expand...
The s910 is cool... The Autocad connectivity is really neat.

Bluetooth would be really nice.

The X3 is a little more complex than I need, but Iike that it's ip65 and rated for a 2m drop. Bit expensive for a home gamer, so a D1 or D2 would probably be more in line. Thanks Bill, they're on the list.
 
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Orangina

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I use since a decade an old small BOSCH GLM 80 (up to 250 ft).... still working.

Newer BOSCH GLM variants have up to 150 m (500 ft) and
some models with USB/Bluetooth and camera for documentation.
 
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goldtang

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Western Australia
I have a Leica Disto. X3 it is more than I need, but for the discount price was well worth it
it replaced a early Leica can’t remember the model , Duracell battery’s leaked and killed it
 
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mike93lx

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Orangina said:
I use since a decade an old small BOSCH GLM 80 (up to 250 ft).... still working.

Newer BOSCH GLM variants have up to 150 m (500 ft) and
some models with USB/Bluetooth and camera for documentation.
Click to expand...
Thanks. My Bosch may have just been bad luck.

All of my usage (requiring any precision) would be inside 40 ft. Beyond that, I'd be doing rough outdoor measurements where it won't matter much.

Camera is more than I need, but I definitely get the advantage
 
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strutaeng

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Over the years I've used the older Hilti that looked like a brick, a Leica that had Bluetooth and worked with a laptop and some software, the newer Hilti models and now have a DeWalt. All have been bought through employers.

The older brick Hilti I really liked because it had an optic for looking at the laser outdoors. It was also like $600 back in 09 and had a range of like 300' IIRC. They slimmed them down and I don't know if they even offer that optical feature anymore on the current models. Hilti is overkill for a DIYer anyway. The Leica was also $600 back then. Don't remember the model number.

I like my DeWalt. I think the range is 165'. I do a lot of industrial warehouse and commercial existing
buildings and sometimes the longer range comes in handy. Only complaint on the DeWalt is the "shoot" button isn't raised and if you are trying to dimension something overhead and can't see your finger location, you lose track of what button you pressed. The Bosch seem good units. I often see guys in the field using them. But I think they have cheaper models that are more for like DIYer.
 
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Orangina

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at BOSCH there is a professional product range in blue - and a green product range for DIY.
e.g. at the lower end the simple BOSCH ZAMO 4 - for only 25 m (80 ft) - but less features and less fall protection as the professionals.
 
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tarbellb

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Huepar may be worth checking out, feature packed for much less money.

My 3 axis laser from them has been excellent
 
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no704

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If you have IPhone try out the measure tool. Surprised at how accurate it is.
 
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mikeb27

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Was out on a job site, vendor had a Magpie he bought off Amazon. It’s nice because it measures off both sides of the device. He was able to measure floor to ceiling without having to get down on the ground with the laser.
 
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mike93lx

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mikeb27 said:
Was out on a job site, vendor had a Magpie he bought off Amazon. It’s nice because it measures off both sides of the device. He was able to measure floor to ceiling without having to get down on the ground with the laser.
Click to expand...
That's a pretty cool feature
 
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alinc100

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mikeb27 said:
Was out on a job site, vendor had a Magpie he bought off Amazon. It’s nice because it measures off both sides of the device. He was able to measure floor to ceiling without having to get down on the ground with the laser.
Click to expand...
Thanks you just cost me $100. This will be an asset in my work on jobsites.
 
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dscheidt

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mike93lx said:
The s910 is cool... The Autocad connectivity is really neat.
Click to expand...
I had a summer job in college working for a university maintenance department. I spent 3 days a week wondering around with another guy, a D-size clip board, and a tape measure, measuring 100 year old buildings, so the other two days a week, I could punch the numbers into autocad, either updating digitized versions of the blue prints, or creating a new drawing. I'm imaging what you could do with one of those and a tablet.
 
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BombShelter

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State of Hockey
I have the Bosch GLM 80, used it for around 10 years and it's still going great except the stabilzing rod broke off years ago.

My biggest issue is I can't see the red dot over 30' unless it's dark out, I lose it in the sun after that and it's really frustrating. My unit has overmolded rubber so it can take a 3' drop and maybe survive higher.

For the kid above, my snowthrowing buddies use a paid google service to get dimensions on parking lots, they tell me it's pretty accurate.
 
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neophyte

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Pennsylvannia
strutaeng said:
Over the years I've used the older Hilti that looked like a brick, a Leica that had Bluetooth and worked with a laptop and some software, the newer Hilti models and now have a DeWalt. All have been bought through employers.

The older brick Hilti I really liked because it had an optic for looking at the laser outdoors. It was also like $600 back in 09 and had a range of like 300' IIRC. They slimmed them down and I don't know if they even offer that optical feature anymore on the current models. Hilti is overkill for a DIYer anyway. The Leica was also $600 back then. Don't remember the model number.

I like my DeWalt. I think the range is 165'. I do a lot of industrial warehouse and commercial existing
buildings and sometimes the longer range comes in handy. Only complaint on the DeWalt is the "shoot" button isn't raised and if you are trying to dimension something overhead and can't see your finger location, you lose track of what button you pressed. The Bosch seem good units. I often see guys in the field using them. But I think they have cheaper models that are more for like DIYer.
Click to expand...
I believe Hilti changed suppliers for their laser measuring tools at some point.
 
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