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Digital Water Level

BillHartmann | Posted in Tools for Home Building on September 11, 2005 07:32am

On Hometime Syndicated yesterday they did a show where they where doing a patio and modular block retaining wall.

They used a Digital Water Level.

Have you seen anything like that.

I did find this.

http://www.vci.net/waterlevel/

But it was different then what they where using on Hometime.

They have a readout box with a number of buttons, I assume for zeroing, setting modes, storing reference points and the like.

And it had a 3ft shaft on it. Look much like some the metal detectors used by the utility companies.

They did not give any details, but it seemed like they set the tip of the shaft on a point and it gave out a direct reading of the difference between that point and the reference. I have no idea if the reference had to the level of the resivour or if you could have the revisor at any reasonable level and them just zero it out to what you want to be the reference point.

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Replies

  1. JohnSprung | Sep 15, 2005 03:34am | #1

    Yikes, for that kind of money, I'd invest in a laser level and a bunch of clear plastic tubing -- the best of both worlds. 

     

     

    -- J.S.

     

  2. User avater
    JeffBuck | Sep 15, 2005 04:13am | #2

    yeah ... but ...

    where do ya find digital water?

     

    Jeff

        Buck Construction

     Artistry In Carpentry

         Pittsburgh Pa

    1. User avater
      EricPaulson | Sep 15, 2005 04:41am | #3

      .....next well over from the analogueIt's Never Too Late To Become

      What You Might Have Been

       

      [email protected]

      1. User avater
        JeffBuck | Sep 16, 2005 04:11am | #4

        ohhh ...

         

        that's the one closer to the city, right?

        Jeff    Buck Construction

         Artistry In Carpentry

             Pittsburgh Pa

    2. User avater
      rjw | Sep 23, 2005 03:48am | #13

      >>where do ya find digital water?

      Easy - just think of it as H2O

      View Image

      Sojourners: Christians for Justice and Peace

      1. User avater
        JeffBuck | Sep 23, 2005 05:08am | #14

        O ooohhh

         

        h2.

         

        Jeff    Buck Construction

         Artistry In Carpentry

             Pittsburgh Pa

  3. slykarma | Sep 19, 2005 03:20am | #5

    Zircon used to make one, Lee Valley sold it. But I see on their site they are no longer carrying the 'electronic water level'. I'm guessing the huge variety of inexpensive laser levels that has flooded the market recently has rendered the water level - electronic or no -  too  un-sexy for consumers.

    Lignum est bonum.
    1. User avater
      BillHartmann | Sep 19, 2005 03:53am | #6

      The zircon that I am familar with with not a digital. It just beeped when level.Actually this seemed to be easier to use than a laser level.But I can't really tell from the little that they showed it.But my guess is that setup the resivor. Then take the probe and set it on a reference point and hit the zero button.Then set it on any other point and it will show the difference between that elevation and the reference.There was enough buttons that it might have been able to store multiple reference and even show slopes, but you have have to put in the distance for slopes.

    2. JohnSprung | Sep 23, 2005 01:35am | #11

      But there are places where a water level is better than a laser.  Like checking how an old house has settled.  A hose can go around corners, but light only goes straight. 

       

      -- J.S.

       

      1. slykarma | Sep 23, 2005 02:42am | #12

        I agree. We use lasers a fair bit at work, but I  have yet to acquire one of my own. My homemade water level does just fine. The last job I did with it was at a friend's winery, laying out a concrete patio that wrapped around the building so the water level was in its heyday. The tubing was getting cloudy and hard to read, so Jeff quickly got some red wine from a barrel and poured about half a cup into the water reservoir. Hey presto, easy reading water level!Lignum est bonum.

  4. Mitremike | Sep 19, 2005 04:27am | #7

    Is Hometime national now--or you in the midwest?

    First Jo-Jo and then Robin---I can't keep up---At least Bucky is still around--

    Mike

    " I reject your reality and substitute my own"
    Adam Savage---Mythbusters

    1. User avater
      BillHartmann | Sep 19, 2005 04:50am | #8

      There are several "Hometimes".AFAIK all of them national, but I am in Kansas City.There are the PBS shows.There are syndicated shows. As far as I can tell they are new shows that are sold to commercial TV. Same basic cast of characters.But they started using Jud, and a couple of others on the syndicated shows more than the PBS shows. And the sydicated show had Robin's replacement before the PBS. But between begathones it is hard to figure out the local PBS schedule.The syndicated show are also more DIY type of shows with the HO often doing a signficant amount of the work.And I think that there are also classic series, old PBS shows shown on cable.This the syndicated shows.http://www.hometime.com/TV/synd/synd_sched.htm

      1. Mitremike | Sep 21, 2005 11:20am | #9

        Hometime with Dean Johnson is a locally produced show--kinda like TOH for the Boston PBS station---they must sell them around..A long time ago Jojo Liebler who has some show on HGTV was Deans co-host and then Robin Hartel--and now Miriam--I think they are all made here in Minneapolis--My plumber was on one of their sites--took three times as long cause of the camera time--How many times can you retape a pipe being sweated?Never knew they were shown nationally--Mike" I reject your reality and substitute my own"
        Adam Savage---Mythbusters

        1. User avater
          BillHartmann | Sep 21, 2005 05:54pm | #10

          Actually they are not "produced" there.A Philly station (or is it a Pittsburg station) is listed as the producer for the show.I have no idea how or why that happened, but that is what shows on the credits on the PBS shows.But it is clear that they are shot in your area.

  5. User avater
    Lawrence | Sep 23, 2005 06:33am | #15

    Now that is bizarre...

    I just returned it. It's not water... some other liquid in the tube, but much the same principal.

    It has a cord caddy to roll up the tube. Calibration to operation in seconds and you can take levels within 200' with only one guy. Simply a machine that does the job of two guys and a transit with one hand... and you can write with the other.

    I like it. Like it so much I agreed to sell them through our web site today.

    Called a ZIPLEVEL¯ PRO-2000 . . retails at about 900-$1000 USD. 

    For what I do and other guys in the landscape deck business or concrete finishing... is cats azz.

    http://www.trancels.com/m_14.asp

    L

     

    GardenStructure.com~Build for the Art of it!

    1. User avater
      BillHartmann | Sep 23, 2005 07:43am | #16

      That looks like what I saw.I forgot to check on the show to see if they mentioned the company.But I check on the Hometime Website and they list sources for the show, but they don't show anything on the level.I think that should send me one so that I can endorse it.

      1. User avater
        Lawrence | Sep 23, 2005 04:29pm | #17

        Yeah... that water level you pictured looks like a cheap imitation.

        I bought it... for estimates and quick on site consultations  (charging 125/hour on site) it will assure the client of professionality.

        The product is sold through distributors so likely it is some non descript name in the credits.

        If you can't find it down there get in touch.

        LGardenStructure.com~Build for the Art of it!

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