I’ve got a Gizmo that shoots out plumb and level chalklines, but I’m finding more and more, I’d also like a plumb bob that shoots from a point on the floor to a point on the ceiling.
Just had a job that involved hanging a range hood from a vaulted ceiling 18′ off the floor. It had to line up with cabinet front and center on a range. It took about 45 min to get a couple of points with a real plumb bob, then I went and got a CST Berger 5 beam unit…took about 30 seconds a point<G>
Thing was, that particulr laser shoots points close to 1/4″ across…I was able to return it because I have a good relationship with some HD guys…see, they’re not always so bad!
So, now I’m looking at PLS3, DeWalt Laser Plumb Bob, and a Porter Cable 3 Beam. If anyone has any of these, or knows of any other plumb bobby types, I’d really appreciate some input.
Replies
I've got the PLS 5 and it's awsome. I do alot of floors and basic caprentry. I use it for both. Just did a job at a local college were the floor was to mirror the soffit 25' above. Hit the soffit and marked the floor can't beat it. It's also great for tile layout on a floor. I still use the old 3' 4' 5' for small jobs but for framing or following a soffit you can't beat it.
I had assumed the psl5 shot dots as opposed to lines, am I wrong? I figured you'd have to measure from where you wanna be to the dot, and then make lines. The PLS seems like good stuff.Don't worry, we can fix that later!
Edited 1/10/2005 9:25 pm ET by bucksnort billy
It depends on how far you are and which beam you are using. The front is a dot and widens as you go out farther. The hallways I did at the college were about 200' the dot was a little blurry but was able to manage 200' is a pretty far distance anyway. The next hallway I set up in the middle and shot out both sides worked but the straight laser in front is the stronger. Mine came with the pendulum target and I just line it up in the center. The two sides are a bit more on the oblong side so I split it in the center. The top is actually some were in the middle but I find that if I split either both sides, or top and bottom equally its pretty accurate, and I'm really a stickler when it comes to accuracy.
I've got the CST/ Berger Laser Mark 5, and I haven't found the size of the laser dot to be a big problem, although I don't think mine's 1/4" wide.
A friend has the RoboToolz/Porter-Cable 5 beam, and the dot on his is about the same size as mine.
Now you're making me think. I'm going to have to set mine up tomorrow to see what size the dot is.
The gizmo I have is more like a fancy toy, dang useful, but still pretty toylike. Seems to me that it's line is about half the size of the CST's dot. I did like the CST's little plastic tripod, though...that was a bonus<G> Don't worry, we can fix that later!
I just got a PLS3 and I'm very happy with it. $191 at toolfetch.com
The dot it projects is just under a 16th of an inch, real handy tool.
use mine all the time for formwork. The dot size increases as the distance from laser. Mine is the robolaser. I have used the pl5 hilti dewalt and spectra physics. All have benefits and negatives. Have not used it for anything other than plumbing. I just measure offsets and go from thier.
depending what the other uses will be ....
I have both the pls 5 and pls 2 ....
if I had to pick just one ... it's be the PLS 2 ....
with the 2 .... for that situation ... U could set it for the vertical plumb line ...
and just set it somewhere in the middle of the room .. or back farther ...
and the "plumb line" ... would show from the cabs .... all the way up the wall ... and onto the ceiling ....
plus ... down ... and onto the floor.
if U needed to hit an exact measurement up there .. and out from the wall ... say 24" .... the PLS 5 would be the one.
The cross hairs on the 2 are very useful.
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry in Carpentry
Pgh, PA
We have a review of the DeWalt model in our next issue...in fact, Andy Engel is the reviewer, so maybe he can tell you more about why he likes it so much.
Justin Fink
FHB Editorial
I like it because it's cheap, accurate and easy to use. Much faster than your father's plumb bob, and little affected by wind.
AndyAndy Engel
Senior editor, Fine Woodworking magazine
Other people can talk about how to expand the destiny of mankind. I just want to talk about how to fix a motorcycle. I think that what I have to say has more lasting value. --Robert M. Pirsig
Hey Andy, I was already leaning towards the DeWalt cause all it does is plumb bob...and the marketers say it shoots a small dot. Are they right? or do I have to wait for the next issue?<G> Don't worry, we can fix that later!
I appreciate all the input. Like I said I'm looking for something that easily shoots a little dot to a point on the floor, and shoots a little dot on the ceiling (or to something overhead). I've got the cross hairs , plumb and level lines covered...Anybody have any experience with the Porter Cable 3 or 5 beamer? Don't worry, we can fix that later!
I have the Robotoolz 5 beam, which is the same as the Porter C. Got on the evil ebay. Love it for laying out add-on partition walls to set top plates. Usually do not have room to floor build and lean up. Outside need shade or glasses. Have used it to mark some points around ceiling to put suspended ceiling perimiter track, usually use rotary though.
It's a pretty small dot -- certainly no more than 1/8.
AndyAndy Engel
Senior editor, Fine Woodworking magazine
Other people can talk about how to expand the destiny of mankind. I just want to talk about how to fix a motorcycle. I think that what I have to say has more lasting value. --Robert M. Pirsig
Dang, I looked at a David White today, 5 beam, 220 beans, had a small dot too. Amazingly similar to the CST, but a much smaller dot, and only 20 bucks more...seems like a lot of folks like the 5 beamers, I'm sorta leaning that way now. I could probably figure out a few more uses<G>Here's what I needed the plumb bob feature for. We had to put the fir 2x10s on the SIPS ceiling panels. The sisal(or maybe it's hemp, which could explain a lot about this house<G>) acoustic layer just didn't have quite enough gription to hold up that range hood (which suks about 1200 cfm!). We got the four down rods and the center of the vent located for the HVAC guy, he was exstatic. Lasers rule! LOL Don't worry, we can fix that later!
That could be because CST owns David White IIRC.
I hear ya. The case, tripod stand, the adaptor thing, even the housing seem the same, only the dot sizes are different<G>Hey, call me next time you're in the piedmont, I got lunch, or dinner if you're one of them night owls ;-) Don't worry, we can fix that later!
Will do. If you come west give a yell, will e-mail phone #. The way I found out about the acquisition was when I bought a used David White auto level and wanted to get a manual, got shifted to the Berger guys. I think the last time I was in CH was when I was a freshman at NCSU. At least three lifetimes ago.
#2 son graduated from State last spring...multiple disciplinary studies...they didn't teach anything about lasers, go figgure<G> Don't worry, we can fix that later!
Dad went after WWII and held down several jobs, supported Mom and me later, his brother did likewise, other brother similar story. I went down as a 17 yr old from a high school class of 52 students and new fresh class of 3300 or so. Chuck Amato was a classmate. Eventually flunked out but what a ride.