Replies

1. 
   Rick_Louquet | May 07, 2001 01:36am | #1

   *
   Josh,
   I have a Stabila level that I like, but after only 6 months, the acrylic seems to be getting pretty scratched. I keep the thing in the original shipping tube, so it's not being abused. Do you have this problem with your Stabila's?
   Rick

1. 
   Johnnie_Browne | May 08, 2001 03:23am | #2

   *David White makes a good cheap in price equipment.

1. 
   Mike_Smith | May 08, 2001 03:38am | #3

   *have a K&E builders transit... bought it in '73... used it all the time until i bought a Tri-Lite laser..square and plumb......not much need for the transit now.... maybe a small lot survey... but i'd probably use the laser there too..

1. 
   Phill_Giles | May 08, 2001 10:08pm | #4

   *I've seen a Starett spirit level that has a "pointable" laser built into it - looked reasonable. PS, while looking for something else, I noticed several White AL8/LT8 and Starett 99 levels going really cheap in the pawn shops down town: I think everyone is dumping them in a switch-over to lasers.

1. 
   CaseyR_ | May 08, 2001 11:08pm | #5

   *To answer, in part, your question about pointable lasers - most do not come with a base that allows the dialing of various degrees, but there are several bases on the market that will attach to a standard surveyor's tripod and allow the measuring of a full 360 degrees on a horizontal plane in single degree increments. I bought one at a local hardware store but I recently saw them in Lowe's Home Center for, I think, $39.95. (A picture of one similar to what I have is at: http://www.chesapeakeprecision.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=Conlaser&Product_Code=57-LM8AP&Category_Code=lasers ) These allow for a minor adjustment vertically, to set the laser to level easily, but don't have a vertical degree scale - and I haven't seen any that do. For that function, I assume that you will need a real surveyor's transit rather than just a level. (Unfortunately, the degree scale device only accepts a laser level of up to about 1 1/8" wide while mine is 1 1/4" so I am in the process of cutting and drilling a piece of square aluminum bar stock to use as an adapter...)The beam spread on my pointable laser level is bit more than I like, so it takes a little guesswork to figure the center of the spot when trying to use one over 100' or so. I am thinking of creating a target that would be a series of concentric circles to allow better centering of the spot. I also hope to get around to trying to test out if the thing really is as level as they claim (I think it is supposed to be 1/4" in 75'). I have yet to use my rotating laser device, but supposedly it can be stopped so that it works the same as one of the pointable lasers you seem to be referring to. (Humm, maybe I will play with it tonight when I get home and even set them up side by side with my pointable laser to see how well they agree...)

2. 
   GACC_DAllas | May 09, 2001 02:23am | #6

   *josh,There is a shop here in Dallas where I take my instrument to be calibrated that sells auto levels that they have previously rented out. I took my Leitz in to get the stops polished and the compensators replaced. Leitz was back ordered on parts so I bought a used Nikon auto level and tri-pod from the shop for less than $300 to hold us over until the repairs could be made on the Leitz. The Nikon is a great level and the selling price was a greater price.Check with the repair shops in your area. You might find a great deal too.Ed.

3. 
   Charlie_Smallman | May 09, 2001 03:27pm | #7

   *<>"A man with one level always knows what's plumb. A man with two levels is never sure...." :-)

4. 
   Rick_Morley | May 10, 2001 01:33am | #8

   *b who the, what the, how the..hey josh,ditto on the nikon auto level. make sure to use the little mirror to eye the bubble.they can take a beating and stay true.

2. 
   josh | May 10, 2001 01:33am | #9

   *
   I have an older laser level that we use for checking foundations etc, it just has a frotating beam that can not be pointed in one direction and all my standard vial levels are now stabila. But I can see times wehr something like the old transist would work better. For example we have a unique 1200 sq foot addtion coming up that does not have one corner in it that are 90's, and at times I have to pull elevations off exsisting two story buildings.
   I have never tried one of the pointable lasers, do they have the old transist base so you can dial in various degress,left to right or up and down.
   My budget is less that $400 any ideas on brands to use or avoid. Thanks