Replies

1. 
   How_long_do_you_need_it_to_be? | Apr 25, 1999 08:02am | #1

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   How long do you need it to be?

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   Guest_ | Apr 25, 1999 08:48am | #2

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   long enough

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   Guest_ | Apr 26, 1999 04:40am | #3

   *Warren,

   Go to your local HD or hardware store, ask for what ever length of 7/16" Ø polyvinyl clear tubing you think you will need. Fill it with water so that there is a bout 16" of air left in each side of the tube. Let it rest for about 1/2 an hour so all the little air bubbles escape. Once there out, check the tube to make sure no other air bubbles are trapped inside, if so, just wiggle the tube to bring them to the top. Once this is done. . .level away.

   Joseph FuscoView Image

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   Guest_ | Apr 27, 1999 09:04pm | #4

   *If you add a large reservoir to Joe's idea, you can make a much more usable water level. Some years ago, in one of the issues of Fine Home Building was a small article describing this type of water level. I got a 2 gallon plastic jug and put a barbed hose fitting near the bottom of the jug. I stopped at the local HOMER DEPOT store and bought the water level kit for a garden hose. It is just two, one foot long lengths of clear plastic hose with caps with male and female garden hose fittings on them. One end has a plastic ball valve. It was like $10. I bought a realtively inexpensive 50 foot garden hose to round out the system. Fill the jug up with water and make sure that there is no air in the garden hose. I made an adapter (female to female) and connect the system up to a hose bib and fill the jug that way. Set the jug on a chair or small step ladder. Attach the other end of the hose that is fitted with the appropriate half of the water level kit, to a 4 foot piece of 1x2, with plastic tie wraps. Set the end of the 1x2 on the reference spot for your job site, open the end cap and valves and let the water level stabilize. Make a mark on the stick and you are in business. The system allows for one man operation and it is very tolerant of temperature changes and expansion and contraction of the hose, due to the relatively large volume of water in the jug. If you want to really spiffy it up, buy the more expensive plastic tubing like Joe suggested and add some red food coloring to tint the water. The system is extremely accurate and a 50 foot hose gives you a working area 100 feet in diameter.

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   Guest_ | Apr 27, 1999 09:15pm | #5

   *Spiff it up even more by adding some antifreeze in the cold weather so it won't freeze.-John

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   Guest_ | Apr 28, 1999 04:38am | #6

   *Spiff it up even MORE by wiring a thermostat to the hose at both ends. Then, by knowing T, you could correct for indicated over true.Course, then you'd have to take an evening short course in electronics so you could calibrate.

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   Guest_ | Apr 28, 1999 09:06am | #7

   *Doesn't that company that I mail ordered mine from in early 80s advertise in FHB any more?Has a resevoir, 50' hose (that curls up neatly between resevoir and outer case) entire thing is only about 4" tall - 8" diameter. Fits just right under the spare tire in my van. Think I paid 15.00 or could have ordered three for 30.00.I have used that thing for almost 20 years, haven't rented a builders level since I don't know when. They MUST still sell them. - yb

3. 
   Guest_ | Apr 28, 1999 10:23pm | #9

   *The Lee Valley/Verita catalog has two resevoir types at $15 and $19. The higher priced one has a resevoir that also acts as a hose spool and it's designed to nail to framing or a post. Cool. At those prices hardly worth the trip to the store and the jury rigging to make one.

3. 
   warren_pease | Apr 28, 1999 10:23pm | #8

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