Water bucket level

[andyvh1959]

Back in 2005 I was planning a shed in the back yard, on a wood deck set over a gravel pad. I planned to use pre-cast footers to support the deck joists, but the 12 footers had to be level for the 12x16 deck. So I looked up a 5-gal bucket water level system, and used it to set up the footers level. My ex (then wife) had little faith in my way of doing things, anything in general for that matter, she questioned my logic, claiming I was "wasting time messing around with a pail" and she insisted we contact her friend Joe to come over with his laser level. I said nope, not needed, don't bother Joe on his weekend, this works. She persisted, and about 20 minutes later Joe shows up carrying a very expensive laser lever system, tripod and all. As he walks across the yard he says, "oh cool, you're using a water bucket level, those can be very accurate."

So to appease the ex, he set up and checked my work, and proved i was within an 1/8" level over 20' diagonals. We didn't change a thing, but at least his expensive laser level proved the accuracy of using basically the same system the Egyptians used to lay out the pyramids (water, goat bladders and intestines). My ex was no better appeased, but I was. To this day, after 18 Wisconsin winters that shed is still just as level and plumb, heh, heh.

So, to use a water level, fill a 5-gal pail with water and set it at a starting point of the area. Submerge a long enough hose into the bucket so it fills completely with water, place a weight in the bucket to hold down one end of the hose. The hose must be long enough to reach all corners of the setup area. On the other end of the hose attach a section of clear tube. Then extend the hose to areas of the build zone and hold the clear end of the hose vertically until the water level in the clear end settles to indicate the same level as the water in the bucket. Drive a stake at that position and mark on the stake for the level of the water. Drive all the stakes you need, and the mark on each will be exactly the same level as the water in the bucket. You can then measure down or up from that mark on the stake to establish level for whatever you are building.

 

[The Cobbler]

I used a water level in the mid 80's to hang thousands of sgft of suspended ceilings in a commercial building. A windshield washer fluid bottle, a metal tire valve , about 50' of clear vinyl fuel hose left over from when I dabbled with snowmobiles was my set up.

 

[kbs2244]

The Egyptians used them to build their stuff

 

[Garcky]

Gravity is always accurate, so the water level method is always accurate. Basic physics.

 

[nadogail]

I improved the water level I made from 20 Meters of transparent vinyl tubing by adding food coloring to the water.

 

[andyvh1959]

Yeah, my ex thought I was wasting time dicking around with a bucket and hose. She didn't regard the physics of water seeking level as a viable way, versus a contractors laser level. Which, by the way must be set up properly to be accurate, just like a water bucket level. Actually, I'd bet the water bucket level requires less setup. The water bucket itself does not even have to be level, but the water in the bucket will always be level.

 

[jaw22w]

I remember years ago before laser levels were even dreamed about, I was working with an old carpenter. I don't even remember for sure, more than 50 years later, what we were working on, but this old fella introduced me to the water level. But as I remember we used it differently than you describe. Instead of putting one end in the bucket. He filled the hose, and we each took an end. I would hold the tube at the desired elevation, and he would hold his end up to find the elevation on the next post or whatever it was. No measuring required. Your way is a one-man operation. His way took two guys.
I have graduated though. It is pretty amazing how cheap a decent laser set up is nowadays. I just bought a 3-way laser with receiver for about $175. It's good for at least 100 feet outside in the daytime.
I hadn't thought about that water level and those guys in a long time. Thanks.

 

[MarkG]

Water levels are very useful for stuff like marking out suspended ceiling grid in basements where ductwork, soffits, etc. would block a laser level line at that height.

 

[like2wheel]

I improved the water level I made from 20 Meters of transparent vinyl tubing by adding food coloring to the water.

And a couple drops of detergent to reduce surface tension

 

[mike93lx]

It definitely works, no question at all for anyone with a clue.

That said, I still just use my fancy rotary laser and receiver the 16' grade stick has been pretty useful when working slopes and checking the depths of excavations like a pool

 

[whateg01]

You don't need buckets. Just a length of clear tubing works just as well and you can hold it right on the stake to mark it. Just have to keep the ends high enough to not spill the water out of it

 

[Renegade1LI]

Still have an old water level kit and a manometer, but both have long been replaced. In production work you just can’t beat a laser but i never tossed the water level. Also still have an old bazoka plumb bob with all its cool attachments , but also retired.

 

[Squankum]

Years ago, got one of these for my friend to level the corner balancing scales he used to set up his race car.

Liquid Level with 12 Foot Hose

Essential to achieve accurate chassis set-up. Quick and easy, simply fill with fluid. Use for leveling scales or wheel pads. Impact resistant, two 12" containers and 12 ft. connecting hose. Scale pad is not included and is shown in the photo above for product use and function illustration...

www.speedwaymotors.com

My only beef with it was the scale on the tubes. An inch is a half inch on a tube, IIRC, so you can get pretty close very quickly, after that, you'd better start squinting, or, as a poster mentioned above, a little detergent to reduce meniscus effect?

 

[kbs2244]

since we are talking levels and such
I was suprised when I found a mark on the iron work of a big box store being built
the mark was the height above sea level of the mark

the iron work had been installed on piers installed on the finished grade dirt
it was squared and leveled to itself
then the survey co came in and found the height above sea level

all the work from then on used that mark as their home point
this was the reference point from the slab pour to the suspended ceiling install
(the plumbing contractor I was with used to set the slope of the drainage piping)

I belive in Lake Cnty IL the height was 613 ft 4 in