I’m looking for a laser level for small jobs, tiling, carpentry, etc. Small as in size of room, not small as in unimportant. Anyway, I’ve had the huge dewalt rotary laser and don’t understand why something has to be that big. Yes, it can shoot for miles, and the laser spins, but it’s too bulky and awkward and the one I had didn’t self level. What a pain in the ….
What I’m looking for is small, under $250 and self-leveling.
I’ve heard Stabila makes one but it looks like it only fires a dot out. So then how do you move it around to the other walls? Maybe someone could explain the technique to me as well as let me in on a few choices for the right tool. The stabila one looks small and compact, features I like as I don’t need it to shoot for 200 yards.
Help, my job starts Friday.
Replies
I posted this about a month ago:
"I bought the Robo 7210 at Sears for about $250. It's self-leveling and remote controlled. It produces a spot which you can rotate around - perfect for working alone. I am rebuilding a porch, and it's been incredibly useful for setting posts etc.. Takes no time to set up (literally open the case and throw it on something solid). I calibrated it when I got it - it did need a minor tweak right out of the box. I panicked a little this week because I noticed the gap between my deck and the siding wasn't uniform - I just went over and re-calibrated (took all of 5 minutes) - no adjustment required - it's right on (less than a 1/16" over 70'), which means my deck is perfect and the siding on the house is off a little.
All in all, I'm very happy with it ... I used up the first set of batteries quickly because, well, I was playing with it. Since then, haven't had to replace batteries in a couple months. The beam is visible outdoors in all but the brightest sunshine (and for that, you get goofy goggles that make the beam easier to see). It has over 100 ft range, so I'll be using it next to make a topo map of my lot."
Since then, I did the topo map ... bright sunny day, absolutely no problem finding the dot on the stick ... pretty cool to be able to do this alone (I used to drag one of my reluctant teenagers out there to hold the stick while I looked through a builders level). I still haven't tried the line attachment because you lose accuracy with it and it's not recommended for outdoor use (probably lose light intensity as well).
All in all, one of the best tools I've bought in a long time. Bill.
Get the rotary robo laser. they ar inexpensive, have a remote which makes it a one man job and are accurate. I've used mine for everything from foundations to tilework. Robo also makes a robovector which is similar to the pls2 but is less expensive and shoots as many beams as the pls 5. check them out.
my electrician has the robovector ...
used it a coupla weeks for framing ...
decided to get the PLS 5 too!
The robo's accuracy just ain't the same.
JeffBuck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Artistry in Carpentry
I have the PLS 2 from Pacific Laser Systems. Self leveling, it does a level line, a plumb line, a combo plumb level crosshair and a fixed cross hair that you can display out of a level or plumb position. It will take the line around about 4/5ths of the room (or ceiling/floor) but does not move. I paid about 260 plus tax from a drywall supplier. Check it out here:
http://www.plslaser.com/prodspecfs_pls2.htm
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
That's it. That's exactly what I was looking for. Much obliged. I've just got to find out where I can get it now.
Really appreciated. This forum rules again.
Good battery life. If you have a ceiling job, you will find it works well for that too if you don't want to lug the rotary. The bracket screws to anything, the magnet on the bracket is super powerful. I think you'll like the tool, I have.Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
Cal ... BTW .... told ya last year I'd end up buying one.
Shoulda jumped on your offer .... I wish I had it sooner ...
all I could do when mine came was go around and check what had already been built!
Have a tile layout ... maybe next week ... can't wait to play.
JeffBuck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Artistry in Carpentry
yeah, let me know what you think. I was curious if there'd be distortion on the fixed cross hairs if you didn't line it up perfectly. I used it on a backsplash to go up and over the window on the diamond pattern. A little incovenient to line the area with the cabs and all. Worked well or I got lucky.............Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
Cal,
Is the pls2 your only one?
I went nuts and bought the 2 and the 5 at the same time ...
BTW .... toolfetch.com has better prices than amazon ....
after using my electricians roboversion of the pls5 ... I can see a reason to have both ...
actually .... I'd love to have that new pls360 too!
Maybe for xmas?
I like the idea of doing overhead layout on the floor and plumbing up ...
One of those dedicated plumb bob laser's could fit in there too ... but decided to go nuts and get the pls5 for the front and 2 side dots ....
as usual ... woulda saved me a ton of time on the current job ... which means it'll be years till the same situation comes around again ... but I'll be ready!
JeffBuck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Artistry in Carpentry
Jeff, the 2 is all I have. For outdoor, a transit. Figured a few ways to make the transit a one man affair.
I've used the 2 for lining on the floor, up the wall and back again part way on the ceiling. I could see where the dot up and out would be pretty darn inviting. I can't convince myself that it is needed at this time, perhaps when the need arises.
I've pulled out the 2 for many different and unusual applications and it sure is handy to have in the vehicle for just that purpose. And I agree that many times the particular application will never (as of yet) repeat itself, nor does anything else ever seem to reappear about a job. It would be so easy (if I could remember) if things happened the same again. Less thinking, just reapplying. But I think thats the life we have to lead as remodelers. Seems you always have to think of the way that will work the best. Hell, we seldom can just do something correctly w/o having to adapt the proceedure. Oh well.Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
I've been on the lookout for a laser, too. Just noticed this one in the new Duluth catalog. Has anyone seen it before? Looks to be their version of the PLS-5.
http://www.duluthtrading.com/a/shop/dproduct.asp?UID=2004021200183361&GEN0=&GEN1=&T1=78542&c=&s=
DocA shortcut is the longest distance between two points.
I have an "extra" PLS 2 I can sell ya ...
for what I paid ... $230.
Ordered one ... the nite I thought I'd be outbid on another on ebay ...
came home the next day to find ... I'm the new owner of 2 PLS2's .....
Was actually gonna call the mail order company tomorrow to see how I return it.
Can't get it to ya by Fri .... but I could get it in the mail soon.
Opened the box once to make sure the ebay model was the exact same ...
Easier to return retail than ebay ....
Jeff
Buck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Artistry in Carpentry