Replies

1. 
   DougU | Dec 27, 2006 06:59pm | #1

   John

   Welcome to BT and watch out for a guy named Bosshog, hes got GREEN envy and because of that he's kind of ornery to guys that are fortunate enough to own a John Deere!

   If you go into the Tools column you'll see a lot of discussions on lasers and their uses, give that a try, you may find some valuble info there.

   Doug

    

2. 
   brownbagg | Dec 27, 2006 09:56pm | #2

   black and decker had one at amazon for $150 that look good.

3. 
   dovetail97128 | Dec 28, 2006 05:47am | #3

   First decide if you need the "slope" or "grade" feature, not all lazers have it, it would allow you to set the slope of the dig at the transit and then dig to the transit line.
   Technically the difference between the "level" and "transit" in systems but the words are used interchangably way too often.
   Transits are more expensive. I looked at a good Topcon early last yr. that had a inexpensive version of the "slope" system, costs new almost $1000 with stand, reciever case etc.
   good used ones are available on e-bay , craigs list and from most factory dealers and service centers.

4. 
   McDesign | Dec 28, 2006 05:55am | #4

   I just got the Stabila rotary manual-levelling for Christmas for a current job; I'll know in a bit how it works.  On sale for ~$100 off at Amazon takes it to around $300.  Comes with a detector.

   Forrest

1. 
   davidmeiland | Dec 29, 2006 07:44am | #8

   I had the Stabila that's ~$500 and it was no good--beam so dim you could barely see it. I think it just had a bum diode and sent it back, but didn't buy another. Let me know how yours works out.

5. 
   BoJangles | Dec 28, 2006 06:33am | #5

   For what you describe...I would look for a laser with a grade feature and the capability to shoot up to 500' or more with a detector.

   These run around $600+ new.

   Or..call the Soil Conservation Service ( now Natural Resource Conservation Service)  to engineer your tile drain systems.

   You can always sell it when you run out of projects!

    

6. 
   Brian | Dec 28, 2006 05:06pm | #6

   We have a $1000 older laser and the $450 Dewalt.  Both work fine for the septics and sandmounds we have installed..  I have a friend who uses a cheaper rotary, also works well.

   $1K will get you self leveling and $1.2K will get you slopes these days.

   edit - I am referring to using it with the detector and a rod - neither laser is particularly visible outdoors.

   Treat every person you meet like you will know them the rest of your life - you just might!

   
   

   ---

   Edited 12/29/2006 9:02 am ET by Brian

7. 
   [email protected] | Dec 29, 2006 12:12am | #7

   To do 300 foot runs, you will not need any thing more than a 350 foot range, even if you want to do it in one set up.  If your not going to use it frequently, manual leveling is fine.  If your decent at math, you don't need the slope/grade function.  If possible get one with "out of level" shutdown.  It is a real pain to have it get off level, and find out only at the end, with no idea of where/when it got off, and where you need to start the redo ( from the lessons learned file). 

   Be sure you get a good detector, and  rod.  I prefer a direct reading rod, as it saves on the math.  I am pretty adamant about the crews at work using them because I am more comfortable that things will end up at the grade I designed them at.

   For personal use, I have an inexpensive Porter Cable unit, that I got on sale (50% off), at HomeDesperate when they were switching brands, and a really high quality LaserLine Rod (cost more than the level).  When I was doing land development I used it daily for about a year to check grades, and pad elevations. 

   At work we have Sokkia, and Topcon laser levels, and I have a Sokkia Total Station. 

   Any of the major brands is going to be of a fairly high quality, and reliable.  You need to focus on what features you need/want.  For accuracy it depends on what kind of slopes your dealing with.  1/4-in / 100-ft is generally good enough for most common work at short ranges.  You said you were going to lay runs of 300-ft.  Is 3/4-inch of error going to enough to cause a problem?  Would 3/8-inch of error make it better?