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where to put levels

48windsor

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Joined
Jan 24, 2013
Messages
407
Location
Olympia ,Wa.
Ive just drywalled and insulated 2 walls of my shop.
Now Im straightening up.just dont know where to put 4 diff levels of varying lengths.
 
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duneslider

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Jan 20, 2013
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2,243
Location
Riverton, Utah
Mine hang on the wall, im sure though that hundreds are stored between the studs on new houses then covered with insulation and drywall. That method does get frustating.
I got a couple of those...as well as tape measures and I am beginning to think that is also where my right and left aviation snips are too.

Stealthmounts makes nice brackets for holding levels. A fancier version of the classic Nail.
 

MerlinsBeard

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Joined
Mar 27, 2020
Messages
396
Location
MD
I use the Lowes Kobalt K-Rails and have them hanging on a couple of single pole brackets in the corner. A little higher cost than nails.
 

Jeff Ivers

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Apr 9, 2010
Messages
2,549
Location
Oklahoma
I have a couple of lengths of vinyl downspout attached to the bottom of a wall cabinet in my shop. My levels slide into the downspout. Takes up less wall space then hanging from nails, keeps the dust off them, and provides protection from getting knocked around.
 

Bert_

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Dec 24, 2016
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9,687
Location
NW Iowa
Go get a few pounds of 4" nails. Hang all kinds of stuff on them. Pretty soon you will have them all over the garage
 
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PoorUB

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Mar 29, 2021
Messages
11,614
Location
Fargo, ND
I have a couple shorter levels that I have plastic cases for. I have a six footer I just bought and no case for it, but I have shopped a bit. It might end up in a homemade case from PVC pipe, or maybe some plywood scrap that might get screwed to the wall or ceiling. I like keeping my tools protected from dirt and impact.
 

olytdi

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Joined
Dec 3, 2011
Messages
2,202
Location
Olympia, Washington
I use a threaded gutter nail which is about 7 or 8 inches of hanging length at a slight incline and then just hang the levels -- 6 footer first then the 4 footer over that...etc. Comes out a little bit into the room but it's not spread out across valuable wall space.
 

isb cornbinder

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Joined
Nov 3, 2010
Messages
7,073
Location
Pacific South West, BC, Canada
I use a threaded gutter nail which is about 7 or 8 inches of hanging length at a slight incline and then just hang the levels -- 6 footer first then the 4 footer over that...etc. Comes out a little bit into the room but it's not spread out across valuable wall space.
I hang my regular levels the same way you have. I have a few Starrett levels I keep in a designated drawer. At a $900 + each these get a drawer. I bought my big Starrett levels from estate sales for about half retail.
 

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bb29510

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Dec 27, 2022
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1,216
my shop walls are plywood. so I just drive some 16 p duplex into a stud and hang off those
 

ScaldedDog

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Joined
Jan 15, 2008
Messages
1,065
Location
Sedalia, CO/NSB, FL
I hang 6', 4' and 2' levels on one long Gladiator hook (longest in back, of course). It a previous garage with tight space but lots of shelving, I'd hang each level on two nails from the front of a shelf's trim plate.

Mark
 

jjblbi

Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2010
Messages
15
Hang vertically on a long nail. To check for accuracy put against a wall, level, and draw a horizontal line. Flip the level over and check against the same line. Should be dead nuts on.
 

Jeff Ivers

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Apr 9, 2010
Messages
2,549
Location
Oklahoma
MUST be hung vertically or they will take a set. 🤪
That is an interesting opinion you posted. I have been storing my levels horizontally for 34 years and regularly check them by comparing 2 readings taken 180 degrees apart without detecting any problem. How long does it take for this "set" to form? Since most my levels have vials for checking both horizontal level and vertical plumb, which vials are going to take the "set"? What exactly do you mean by "set" - the air bubble suddenly decides it wants to go downhill instead of up?
 

metalmagpie

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Joined
Nov 1, 2011
Messages
796
Location
Seattle
I have carpenter levels and machinist levels. The short carpenter level has one side magnetic and I stick it to the (open) lid of the top box of one of my Kennedy stacks. The longer carpenter levels hang from a single prong type pegboard hook. (One wall of the landing of the stairs going down to my shop is pegboard.)

The machinist levels are all in their own cases in drawers.
 

no704

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Joined
Apr 27, 2016
Messages
5,203
That is an interesting opinion you posted. I have been storing my levels horizontally for 34 years and regularly check them by comparing 2 readings taken 180 degrees apart without detecting any problem. How long does it take for this "set" to form? Since most my levels have vials for checking both horizontal level and vertical plumb, which vials are going to take the "set"? What exactly do you mean by "set" - the air bubble suddenly decides it wants to go downhill instead of up?
It was a joke. Therefore the 🤪
 

bwringer

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Joined
Jan 1, 2013
Messages
10,242
Location
Indianapolis
Be sure to store them on a flat surface.
Lookit Mister Fancy over here with all these fancy-shmancy flat surfaces just lying around. You think this crowd has any such thing in their shops?



Anyway, obviously each level must be carefully cleaned after each use with a dust-free level cloth and level polish, then protected with level wax, placed into a velvet-lined, calibrated, and humidity-controlled level case, which is then stored in the level drawer in an earthquake-rated Snap-On level cabinet with electronic shock detection and gravitational wave alarms.

Or, just lean the thing against a wall until you either forget where it is and buy another, or trip over the dog and bend it.
 

hans109h

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Joined
Dec 27, 2017
Messages
261
Location
Upper Midwest
They sell shelf brackets that have hooks on the end for a clothes hanger rod. Correctly spaced they make a good place to hang a level horizontally in front of a shelf.
 

Crazyjake8493

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Joined
Sep 26, 2014
Messages
3,948
Location
Upstate NY
I have about a dozen levels, and they're all on screws along the main beam across my garage ceiling.

And no, the beam isn't perfectly level.
 

NORTON'S SHOP

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Joined
Dec 30, 2010
Messages
1,574
Location
Upper Midwest
Lookit Mister Fancy over here with all these fancy-shmancy flat surfaces just lying around. You think this crowd has any such thing in their shops?



Anyway, obviously each level must be carefully cleaned after each use with a dust-free level cloth and level polish, then protected with level wax, placed into a velvet-lined, calibrated, and humidity-controlled level case, which is then stored in the level drawer in an earthquake-rated Snap-On level cabinet with electronic shock detection and gravitational wave alarms.

Or, just lean the thing against a wall until you either forget where it is and buy another, or trip over the dog and bend it.
I can picture the Snap-On crowd frantically searching the internet. You're a mean person Mr. Bwringer. :willy_nil
 

Beerhippie

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Joined
Oct 13, 2023
Messages
9,606
Location
Far NE Oregon
Lookit Mister Fancy over here with all these fancy-shmancy flat surfaces just lying around. You think this crowd has any such thing in their shops?



Anyway, obviously each level must be carefully cleaned after each use with a dust-free level cloth and level polish, then protected with level wax, placed into a velvet-lined, calibrated, and humidity-controlled level case, which is then stored in the level drawer in an earthquake-rated Snap-On level cabinet with electronic shock detection and gravitational wave alarms.

Or, just lean the thing against a wall until you either forget where it is and buy another, or trip over the dog and bend it.
Don't forget to grease the bubbles! Nothing like a galled bubble to ruin your day. Always wear gloves and be sure to use load-rated level jacks.

Can we start a thread on "Best grease for level vials?" now?
 
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