Learn me about laser levels

[cashishift]

Been thinking about getting one for awhile - an need for one arose when helping a friend frame a basement. We wanted to be able to project a line all the way across the ceiling where parts of framing had to go to build a soffit around a beam and also some hvac and plumbing.

Having the laser would also speed up a few other projects... ideally I'd love to have one that can function as a laser plumb bob too.. but a friend already has one of those I could borrow whenever.

What features are important.. what should I know? Recommendations? let me have it.

 

[astrohip]

/subscribe/

Been thinking about getting one also. Would love to hear GJ feedback.

 

[gungatim]

I don't know if the high dollar ones are better, but I had a cheap $20 laser level and found it pretty much useless. the further out you go, the more the laser widened up, like a shotgun. impossible to get a precise spot unless a half inch across the room was good enough...no idea how lasers work, but all the laser pointers and cheap ones I see have sort of a bunch of spinning or vibrating tiny laser dots that are supposed to get focused into a single point, but I've found them to be way too imprecise, even the ones on chop saws and tools....

hopefully someone with some professional use will chime in...

 

[bcradio]

I have the bosch GLL 3-80 and would highly recommend it. It will save you loads of time on certain projects and you will know everything is precisely level when you are done.

 

[Firebrick43]

The lasers accuraccy is based on its optics. Good optical lenses always will be expensive. So the question is how accurate over what distance do you want it to be?

Have you looked at water levels? Cheap and even more accurate than a laser or transit.