Can anyone recommend buying an electronic level? Smart tool makes one. They appear to offer greater accuracy than reading a sight vial?? Or are they just a gimmic?
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I have never understood the reason for an electronic level. I think their just one more thing that needs a battery. I use a stibilia level for my work in finish carpentry, but I can see a use when there are long distances to travel. However, I did buy a cheap electronic torpedo level once. I ended up taking it back because it wouldn't work. I couldn't get the replacement to work either, so took it back and it was the last time.
Gary
I have found only one good use to purchase an electronic level. Mounting wooden handrail brackets. You don't really need one for straight runs but if you're running continuous wall mounted handrail down sets of winding multiple landing tread sections (impressive eh?) on a regular basis, its worth the money. Another plus I found with my smart level are the vials, they are bang on, and also the vials glow in the dark. And on those occasions when a customer says " Is that level?" nothing quiets them down quicker than an electronic level. I like my smart level, its well crafted and accurate.
sometimes board sometimes knot
ditto on the smart level (maclandburg duncan)
It beeps when level too.
Makes life easy when you are using your strength under sumthin' and the suface to level is way the hell up there somewhere.
Can't I go 1 day without spilling my coffee?
Smart Level is a great tool, I got about 5 years out of the old one when it finally called it a day. Not worth fixing as a new one is less than $100. I agree that the spirit levels in it are dead on and it is great to show a customer that the cabinet that you just installed is "dead nuts."
Seems like electronic levels are a cool tool.....personally I use a millenia old method involving water.....water levels are cheap effective and wont lose their callibration with a knock or a misplaced sledge hammer......We have tried all sorts of fancy gizmos in the past while .....but nothin compares to the durability and accuracy of a water level .
I wanna be a carpenter when I grow up....
If you need to measure angles, i.e. roof slope, ceiling slope for fitting cabinets etc. Then get one. Other wise don't bother. or buy mine!
I agree! I bought one of those triangular, read-from-only-one-side things about 7 years ago and I only drag it out when I need to check a weird roof pitch. Perhaps they've improved them, but I'm not fond of something as straight-forward as a level that has to be calibrated a couple of times a week and hope that the battery is good when I use it.
There are some excellent spirit levels out there for the same or lower cost and, if you check them out for trueness before you leave the store, keep cement off the lenses and don't use them for shims or a prybar, they'll serve you faithfully.
I've got one old 2' wooden masons level handed down from an Uncle and it's about 70 years old and is still right on the money.
I bought the triangular Smart Level many years ago and have used it regularly ever since. I find that it can be very useful most of the time. Mine didn`t need constant calibration and took some pretty hard use. I liked having the wide, flat surface because for log work it`s easy to lay the carpenters pencil on it and transfer lines. The shape worked well with the radius of the logs. It also takes away the judgement aspect from taking readings. Light, viewing angles, fogged vials,etc. all take away from the intrinsic accuracy of spirit levels. Digital readouts are not always automatically more accurate just because they`re digital, but if it says "90 degrees" , then you know you`re reading is always within the resolution tolerance of the level and there is no judgement call to make. I`ve found the Smart Level to be a very accurate time saver. Reads in degrees, % slope, and inches/foot, calibrates on site, battery once a year, very durable, very accurate, takes readings out of eyelevel; what`s not to like? I wouldn`t trade it for anything.