Levelling gate posts

[Leeds88]

just wondering how everybody else gets separate driveway posts for double gates at the same height.

My dewalt laser level just isn't bright enough to see over a wide drive, tried a string line with a level on it today and it just wasn't accurate enough at all

 

[Parm]

Water level is the most accurate, it don't tell no lies. Anyway how wide is your gate? I used a cheap laser level to set an RSJ on an 7m wide garage in London and it was spot on

 

[Robotstar5]

back to basics, use a water level.

 

[brightspark]

just use a length of clear plastic tube filled with water and marked either end if u havent.the proper ones . I got some pukka brass ones from bootsale for 3 quidthe bloke didn't know what they were

 

[roofman]

just use a length of clear plastic tube filled with water and marked either end if u havent.the proper ones . I got some pukka brass ones from bootsale for 3 quidthe bloke didn't know what they were

yep clear hose with water and ink...used this method many times to put in level pegs for concreting a big yard.

 

[cocker]

If it's just for one job use a length of garden hose with a funnel jammed in each end .
The hose can be as long as you like just make sure it's completely full of water

 

[armalites]

It's also essential that once you've finished you get your helper to check down the end of the pipe so can you blow the water all over them..... it's the law

 

[Pete.]

Your laser level will show up just fine if you nick the white reflective bit off a road cone and hold/stick/tape/screw it to the other post.

 

[Wendelspanswick]

It's also essential that once you've finished you get your helper to check down the end of the pipe so can you blow the water all over them..... it's the law

That's like introducing your kids to their first snowball fight, you send one high and slow and while they are looking skyward at it you get them in the mush with a low and fast snowball!

 

[armalites]

I like to call that conditioning, like the "Does this ice cream smell ok?.... dab in the face", towels proped on top of the door into bathroom, ice cold cans from fridge down the t-shirt

It's good for them, it's tough in the real world.

 

[KemppiFrog]

I have a Spectra Physics Laser level. One of the rotating head types. It is not in the visible spectrum, so needs the receiver unit. Out of interest, I checked it over 150 mtrs and it is/was accurate to about 2mm at that range. Trouble is, last time I fired it up, either the laser part or the receiver refused to play. So it is back to a water tubed type. Or the cheapy laser level that actually works reasonably well for general site stuff, 'cept, at more than 10 mtrs the red spot is a bit big.

BTW, some of you are real sadists in teaching mode

Back to the OP (one tends to lose the question with reading the other answers..) I set the first gate up with a decent standard level, then fit the other leaf to line up with the first. The gap between the two is critical to an eyeball, more so than the relation to the posts. But it helps if they are vertical. Not always the case.
One on-going case is a simple set of gates in galv steel; One of the posts is a bit 'wobbly' as the ground is damp and subject to winter floods. So I set up some cables and tensioners, hidden in the hedge, so the German owner can make minor adjustment to stop the gates fouling each other. We get on OK. While I was explaining the system, I pointed out that you need to understand the basics if you want to win wars. He looked at me for a second, then roared with laughter. 'Cors, he was born after WW11, so not the same persective as the people I delt with earlier, when I fronted for a German shipping co. Def more unconfortable.