laser Levels - advise on purchase

[Shox Dr]

I'm interested a buying a laser level, firstly for a building project I have on the go at the moment, and to use in the workshop afterwards.

I have access to a Dumpy level and Theodolite and would like the laser lever have both of these functions. All the levels I have seen can produce Horizontal/Vertical beams or can project a beam over a point aka plumb bob, but as a point and not a line.

Is there a laser level capable of doing this or I'm I better off going for 2 units.
Cost as always is a factor.

 

[Shox Dr]

Looking for one like this, I have just this minute found, but hopefully cheaper

 

[zzr1200]

Any good for you.

http://www.screwfix.com/cats/A435495/Hand-Tools/Lasers-Levelling/Lasers/1st-2nd-Fix

 

[brightspark]

Any good for you.

http://www.screwfix.com/cats/A435495/Hand-Tools/Lasers-Levelling/Lasers/1st-2nd-Fix

was looking at those myself i think there for more indoor use with a shorter range

 

[zzr1200]

was looking at those myself i think there for more indoor use with a shorter range

I read it as visable up to 15 metres and up to 30 metres with a detector, seems ok to me.

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/71173...st-2nd-Fix/Leica-Lino-L2-Laser-Alignment-Tool

 

[brightspark]

I read it as visable up to 15 metres and up to 30 metres with a detector, seems ok to me.

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/71173...st-2nd-Fix/Leica-Lino-L2-Laser-Alignment-Tool

im the old school got a set of water levels verry acurate but u need long pipes and there slow

 

[scarecrow]

Looking for one like this, I have just this minute found, but hopefully cheaper

that doesn't look to bad. was using one to day that cost over a grand but more for taking site levels than anything else but could have more options as it has a menu auto leveling is a must if you can. the one in your link would be very handy for indoor work like plasterboard and partitions you would need a staff and detector for taking site-levels the one I was using was a topcon if you're unsure you're probably better off to walk into a shop and get a demonstration
as some of the indoor ones are pretty useless outside

 

[Shox Dr]

Bought one. 99beer vouchers. Hopefully it will do the job, or it'll be off back

 

[zzr1200]

im the old school got a set of water levels verry acurate but u need long pipes and there slow

I agree a water level is the most accurate way for the very low cost of purchase, but waiting for the level to settle can be time consuming depending on how many points are required.

But time is money these days so lasers are the way to go....

 

[scarecrow]

stick a review up when you get the chance to use it in anger

 

[Shox Dr]

Will do. First job will be a survey of Footings to work out levels to DPC for the foundation blocks for my new workshop

 

[pidgeon chit welder]

I agree a water level is the most accurate way for the very low cost of purchase, but waiting for the level to settle can be time consuming depending on how many points are required.

But time is money these days so lasers are the way to go....

Put some bath salts or washing soda crystals in water in a large pop bottle and shake them silly till they dissolve . Then fill the gauge with both heads side by side .

The bath salts break the surface tension of the water down and it " flows" much better .

If your daring you can fill it with methylated spirits and some water so you can play out being a ground surveyor /worker in the freezing cold like I did/ had to .

If you can put a bigger water pipe/tube on than the 3/8 ID supplied so much the better .

When I set up our 1 in 80 sloped shed floors over the whole site I used 35 mtrs of 25 mm ID. ( ish ) clear reinforced plastic pipe and added some green food dye to the charge as well as some washing soda crystals.
I used lots of ( home forged ) pointed 1 mtr long rebar as the reference markers and a reel of red insulating tape to set the points on the markers .

It did look pretty in the snow

When the sheds were completed. I used the clear pipe for internal low pressure water piping.

If you are working 15 mtrs or less , use a 2 mtr spirit lever and use pegs and a lump hammer and span off big headed nails in the top of the pegs , you will be very surprised to know you can easily hit within 4 mm over 15 mtrs and you will most likely be needing that spirit level for other work as well

 

[Shox Dr]

Well it turned up yesterday, it's tiny little thing, nothing like the last one I used

I tried using it outside, first thing, the sun was too bright (and low) so had real difficulty in seeing the line, it did come with some red glasses, but then I couldn't see the bloody red numbers on the tape.

So I left it until later in the day and could see the line over 30' away. It only came with a little table top type tripod, but it does have 1/2" and 1/4" threaded holes on the base, so my Benbo camera tripod fitted no problem. All in all a very good bit of kit, and well worth 100quid. Looking forward to using it inside for the floor joists and stud walls, stab etc etc

 

[Shox Dr]

Just found this post after searching for one on Glasses


So I thought I would update it;

Great bit of kit constantly in use. But useless in bright daylight. I did look into a receiver, for outside etc, to find none work with this type of laser. All receivers require a pulse type laser.

So, this type of Laser is NOT compatible with any type of receiver.

Worth knowing if you wish to add one at a later date

 

[Shox Dr]

OK. So almost 6 years later.... I've managed to kill it. Well sort of. So I need a new one.

Really needs to have the following

Self leveling
Compatible with range extender (for outside)
2 verticle 90* (line)
1 Horizontal (line)
Plumb bob (point)


I don't require tripod or leg stand.


Any suggestions

 

[Shox Dr]

Spend level is approx £250 max