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------ Self Leveling Laser Levels

Discussion in 'The Tool Shed' started by ITLKSEZ, Jan 30, 2018.

  1. Jan 30, 2018
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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  2. Jan 30, 2018
    Admiral Cray

    Admiral Cray I want to do this again.. Staff Member

    Bainbridge...
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    What are you going to use it for...
     
  3. Jan 30, 2018
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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    Setting cabinets, mainly.
     
  4. Jan 30, 2018
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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    The long story - I just landed a big cabinet job in a high-end condo remodel. It's getting a run of floor-to-ceiling cabinets along a 24' wall, then they turn 90° at both ends and keep going along 10' of those walls, in a U shape. Within this span, the ceiling height drops from 7' 11" to a shy 7' 9" while the floor is dropping at the same angle but at a lesser rate. A pencil rolls from one end of the room to the other. The room is shaped like an oblong rhombus.

    Trying to find a baseline without this tool is going to be painstakingly tedious at best.
     
  5. Jan 30, 2018
    piffey263

    piffey263 Active Member

    Medford, OR
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  6. Jan 30, 2018
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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    Yeah, I guess that would be good enough, huh? :whistle::oops:

    My BIL is a contractor who told me about these rotating levels years ago, and for some reason I assumed they were the only ones that were self-leveling. I read "accurate to 1/8 inch in 50 feet" and was sold. I guess I should have done a little more homework before asking.

    Thanks piffy! :clap:
     
  7. Jan 30, 2018
    Bowbender

    Bowbender I'm workin' on it!

    Northern Minn.
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    Look up Pacific Laser Systems, they offer several models that would serve you well. I like mine a lot.
     
  8. Jan 30, 2018
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    Don't think you need anything that powerful, or would want one that requires a detector unit. That would be more typically used for earthwork.

    I use a red-dot remote-control rotating unit all the time and I love it. Working in barns it saves many hours climbing around, and needs only one person. ("Robo-Toolz" - I only paid about $200 for it, but they aren't made any more.)

    For the single baseline job you describe a much simpler 5-way plumb/level unit would work nearly as well. Even a 3-way would be fine.

    I use this type.
    $90! - PORTER CABLE ROBOTOOLZ ELECTRONIC SELF LEVELING 5 BEAM LEVEL LASER NIP | eBay

    Same unit, tarted up - Bosch 100-ft Beam Self Leveling Line Generator Laser Level | eBay
     
    Last edited: Jan 30, 2018
  9. Jan 30, 2018
    Steve's 70-5

    Steve's 70-5 Active Member

    Louisville, Ky
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    The contractor that is installing the casework for the cabinet manufacture, uses a lazier that shots a line vertical and horizontal. In a small room you should be fine with that. One thing I have seen, a lazier and a bubble level will never agree.

    Was running horizontal and vertical control on a 6 story building. Used a lazier and a site level. Was always running into issues with things not agreeing. Lost a lot of sleep, before a system was set up on what instrument would be used when and where.
     
  10. Jan 31, 2018
    NCRenII

    NCRenII yellow fever

    Far Nor Cal
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    look for one that has green laser light it is much easier to see during daylight
     
  11. Jan 31, 2018
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    Does the green take more battery power than the red?
     
  12. Jan 31, 2018
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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  13. Jan 31, 2018
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    Just that I read that green laser gun sights consume more power.

    And yes, are more visible than red..
    Red is appears black under deep water or at night - it's wavelength is easily absorbed.
     
  14. Feb 1, 2018
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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    Well, I had to make an emergency purchase. This evening, the clients informed me they were heading out of town for the weekend, and I needed to get measurements before they left. I had to pay the extra markup at Lowes, and I opted to go with the green for $100+ (gasp!!) over the red, and boy am I glad I did. I went with the Bosch GLL 100 GX. That is the clearest, most visible laser I've ever seen. I can't get over how bright it is.

    [​IMG]

    I can see this being one of those tools that I won't know how I lived without it, and will end up using it for everything.

    I also grabbed a simple point-and-shoot line level for $12 to stick to my panel saw. :clap: Eyeballing the blade to the line on that thing is the pits.

    Thanks for all of your input everybody! :bow:
     
    Danefraz likes this.
  15. Feb 1, 2018
    45es

    45es Active Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Naches, WA
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    Is this the beginning of your new build thread? Acquiring the necessary tools to proceed. I like watching a craftsman at work.
     
  16. Feb 1, 2018
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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    I can run a small build thread in off-topic. This job won't be much to look at though. It will be a modern, contemporary-looking string of frameless cabinets and no external hardware, painted a grayish color. Pretty boring on the outside, but they're opting for all the bells and whistles inside. :sneak: Some doors are push-to-open, the blind corner will have some funkiness, and some of the drawers will extend 30" when opened.
     
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