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Hello there,
I am looking to purchase an accurate, well-made 48″ carpenters level. I live in Canada, and have checked the local Home Depot etc., but most of the levels I see are poorly made. I would appreciate any information on manufacturers of higher quality levels, if there are such things these days…
Thanks!!
Rookie from Vancouver, B.C.
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Replies
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Stabila.....48" w/hand holes....$60....Tool Crib
*Stabila, no question.
*Ditto.... Stabila.
*Instead of a carpenter's level, think seriously about a mason's level. The difference is that a mason's level is able to take more abuse, and is built a lot stouter. It is rust proof, and adjustable, if necessary.Being a rookie, this feature would be a good one for you. It would make the level last a lot longer.Stabila is the tool of choice here....James
*Stabilia is nice, but have you ever seen a Crick mason's level? Just as James mentioned, mason's levels are made much heavier than a traditional carpenter's level. Crick makes some of the nicest levels that I have ever had the pleasure of using. They not only are extremely accurate but they are also a work of art. The beam is laminated out of two contrasting woods. This not only adds to the strenth of the level but it also adds a touch of class. I'd suggest looking into a similar level before buying anything else. Just my opinion though - Nick
*Rookie,The Cricks are pretty, and deadly accurate, Stabila is nice too, but the best 4' level I've ever had was an aluminum box beam, 1" X 2", AND, it was made in Canada! It was stolen along with my truck, or I'd give you the name. BB
*Stabilla
*I like the Stabilas, but have any of you had experience with Masterlevel, or something similar? Masterlevels are box beams with adjustable vials.I know a guy whose 78" Stabila went south on him for some reason. He doesn't remember dropping it. He got a new one for free. If he had adjustable vials, he could have fixed it in five minutes, unless the beam was bent.Where can I see a Crick?
*Might be a Johnson, they're made in Quebec. They have quite a range, all the way from structocast through hand-machined aluminum I-beams. I think it was them who used to make a mahogany/cypress laminate level that was really a piece of art.
*Stabila all the way...though I happen to own a lot of Craftsmen hand tools not power tools because it is so easy to get them replaced as they just pull one from stock and hand it to ya and Sears is five minutes from where I live...I mainly use Craftsmen tapes and levels since I must have replaced all dozens of times. Working on a lake is tough on tools with water and drops and all...Vote for Stabila, near the tools being water tested in the streamajI have a nice Stanley two footer of late too...big vials and contractor attracting yellow...
*Another vote for Stabila. Rugged and easier for these eyeballs to read. Is Mayes still in business? They made a great level.
*Sands. The only negative is that the vials are not adjustable. But these things are hell for stout, we're talkin' maybe 15lbs here. Ed. Williams sent me one last year and I love it.
*Rookie,
View Image © 1999-2000"The first step towards vice is to shroud innocent actions in mystery, and whoever likes to conceal something sooner or later has reason to conceal it." Aristotle
* Rookie,
View Image © 1999-2000"The first step towards vice is to shroud innocent actions in mystery, and whoever likes to conceal something sooner or later has reason to conceal it." Aristotle
*So Joe, what did that system set you back?
*And where'd you get it? The first pic looks like a website, what's the URL?
*Mr Pita,
View Image © 1999-2000"The first step towards vice is to shroud innocent actions in mystery, and whoever likes to conceal something sooner or later has reason to conceal it." Aristotle
*Shoeman,
View Image © 1999-2000"The first step towards vice is to shroud innocent actions in mystery, and whoever likes to conceal something sooner or later has reason to conceal it." Aristotle
*Nice to see that their website is up again. I have the Doorhanger 78" and love it so much I'm going to buy the carrier for it. Nice to have a fine 78" level that I can carry on the passenger side of my little Nissan truck.JonC
*I love my stabilas.Wood mason's levels suck. Here in the northwest they are guaranteed to warp and twist.joe d
*Joe, What do you like better about the Levelution vrs the Stabila? Some new levels are in my future and any comments would be appreciated.
*jcallahan,
View Image © 1999-2000"The first step towards vice is to shroud innocent actions in mystery, and whoever likes to conceal something sooner or later has reason to conceal it." Aristotle
*Darn...Was following the posts and was going to order the Stabila and you had to show us the Levelution.Too bad I'll have to make do with the Stabila.
*Gimme one of those cheap ($15) home depot aluminum levels. Bust out a vial, add some obscene spray point and you can leave it out overnite! I don't really spay obscenites on them, but they've spent many a night out guarding our site.and don't forget your most important tool, a cheaper torpedo. I always pay extra for the magnetic holder, but I rarely need it...I've got all the expensive ones somewhere in the barn. Never pull them out any more. Those cheapies are better. No matter how many times we drop them, they stay put. I suppose if I was finishing, I'd like a nicer one however...blue
*And the real cheap $2.00 plastic jobbies float!....I bought them for laborers to toss around and found they are by far the best choice for dock building....They even have a measuring scale on their edge that works great for underwater where no Stanley tape should go territory...And best discovered feature of all is they float!My Smart level also hides at home most of the time as it is too espensive to throw from the roof...Nice for checking percent of grades and roof pitches though!...Used it recently to show my latest home customers how steep there driveway will be if they locate it where they want....near the stream with too many levels...ajEvery level has it's purpose....Levelutions are way cool finish tools but not meant for sharing at their cost.
*I hate to ask this type of question but here goes....What is a torpedo level used for ?I know what they look like but never had any reason to use one.Thanks for your help.Alan
*Alan,They fit in your pouch and are there when you need to do quick checks...and some of us level World Trade Centers and Brooklyn Bridges with them too...near the stream that isn't(level)...or it wouldn't be a stream?aj
*Thanks, A.J.I saw one that has a built in protractor - I think it's a Stabila.Anyway, perhaps I'll become proficient enough to warrant having onehandy in my still stiff tool pouch/belt.Alan
*Virtually every plumber you run across has one in his overalls too Allen. They use them for establishing pipe grade. Most torpedo levels have a "1/4" to the foot" mark, as that's generally considered the optimum fall for drain lines.
*Thanks, Jim - This 1/4 to the foot detail may come in handy for grading our underground gutter drain lines that needs to be redone.Take care,Alan
*Alan, Aj already has said it but I'll chirp in too. I rarely pull out my fourfoot level. The only time I need it is when something is wrong and I need a clearer understanding.Let me explain:In the new building process, the entire structure is built square and parallel. Assuming the deck is level (which it is to the necessary degree) we can always measure to insure that horizontal items are level. Since we square all walls prior to windbracing them, we can assume that all walls are plumb. Keeping items parallel becomes a higher priority then.With that background, I can now tell you where I use mine. We whip it out to temporarily brace walls. I use it to level small sections of trim. I plumb up small vertical objects (yesterday, I installed a false header, 13" high, and used it to ensure that it was plumb).All steel stachions are plumbed with the torpedo.An argument can be made that it is too short to be accurate. I will use that argument to say a four footer is too short to plumb a five foot item. It works for me. All my work is double checked by the super's four foot level and I've never been asked to replumb anything!Blue
*Mr. Blue,You do tell it like it is.Plumb, level, and square.Some think its magic.Go figure.The Machine
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Hello there,
I am looking to purchase an accurate, well-made 48" carpenters level. I live in Canada, and have checked the local Home Depot etc., but most of the levels I see are poorly made. I would appreciate any information on manufacturers of higher quality levels, if there are such things these days...
Thanks!!
Rookie from Vancouver, B.C.