*
Okay, the time has come to admit my deep-seated phobia and never-ending struggle: water-levels.
I’ve used spirit, line, and laser levels, all with great success (everything appears straight), but I’ve always had a heck of a time with water levels and using them, and its time to learn. I suppose that no one will believe that gravity is different in my area of the country, so really my problem must be related to some gene that I’m lacking that allows me to use this tool with any success.
I understand the basic principle–you secure one end at the elevation you want to measure, and then move the other end up or down until their level (in my case, I have one of those funky Zircon levels that beeps when they’re level). Usually, however, the stupid little bubble of water either fails to move up or down that much, so when I move it just a little bit more, I either get a face full of water or I can see it blowing out the other end.
Now, when you’re done laughing at my expense, could someone please give me a 100-word lesson on this ancient building tool that I can’t seem to master. I’d greatly appreciate any and all help, and will suffer through all jibes, insults, and recommendations for a new line of work.
Thanks, Jason
Replies
*
Jason, I have one of those funky beeping Zircons, and I find that it works almost perfectly. The major difference in our technique may be that I am very patient (slower than hell). When you calibrate it to your starting point you need to remember to notice that it may be off as much as a half inch up or down and take that into account on the other end. Mine seems to be dead accurate after this allowance. Work slowly and if you are suspending the tube, wait until it quits bouncing.
*Use clear vinyl tubing so you can be sure there are no air bubbles. To eliminate bubbles, syphon the water downhill from the reservoir.
*I've seen so advise adding a drop or two of dishwashing soap to the water. It helps reduce the surface tension of the water and helps it flow better. Ensure the pinch clamps are fully open, and no bubbles are in the tubing. Bubbles will not only slow down movement, but they will result in inaccuracies as well. Add a few drops of food coloring to make the water easier to see.If you're getting overflow from your tube, you simply have too much water in the tube. The water in my level is about 12" shy of the ends of the tube on my Zircon unit.
*I think that if you want to use $5 to $10 dollars of plastic hose to accurately set heights you will need to grow a thick skin. You will be constantly ridiculed by everybody with a thousand dollar transit or laser level. The water level has served me well over the years and has many advantages over other leveling devices. I agree with the other respondents and have a few tips of my own. I use 3/8th clear vinyl hose however long is required. I take a one gallon milk carton and fill with water and food coloring. I put one end of the tube in the water and start a suction. I let the water run into another empty milk carton for awhile to help dislodge air bubble. Next I adjust the water so there is about 2 feet of empty tubing above the water to minimize water running out. I hand the end to a co-worker( my technique does require two people) and one person goes to our control mark and the other to the point to be marked. The advise about patience is absolutely correct. It takes about a full minute to let the water really settle down. Then make your mark. I then yell "Thumbs on" so the water doesn't run all over the place and proceed to my next mark. When done I either stick the hose someplace if I think I will use it shortly or empty the water back into the milk carton for later use. I really savior the ridicule of my co-workers when I nail my heights dead on and know that I've got a thousand dollars in a good growth stock instead of a transit or laser.E-mail me if you have questionsJeff Maras [email protected]
*Mongo: ditto. Jeff: ditto. I like to use continuous clear vinyl tubing with food coloring, 3/8" if I'm patient, 1/2" if I'm not. 1/4" takes forever! Keep a few different lengths around. The shorter the tubing, the quicker it settles down (less momentum, less resistance to flow). Goes best with two people, each with a gallon jug of extra water and a practiced routine of thumbs on, move it, place it about level, slowly uncap, wait, "1,2,3 mark!", WRITE DOWN THE READINGS, and, if you want be sure, close a loop like the big boys do so you can check for errors. The sum or your foresights and backsights should match, within your acceptable error. Check your tapes against each other. A stuck end piece could add an 1/8" error each time. Decide what system you'll use (all 1/8's, all 1/16's, decimal feet to the hundredth) and stick to it. Makes the math easier. I like Stanley's little 10-foot engineers tape measure in decimal feet for the easiest math, but I've learned to convert 1/8's to 0.01's in my head after gauging thousands of water wells.Never have liked the garden hose versions except with brand new garden hoses. But any hose around the job site has bunged brass ends (air and water leaks) and has dirt in it (creating slight errors as the dirt falls through the water). Even with a new garden hose, you can't see air bubbles, so you have to burp it blindly (walk a raised loop of hose from one end to the other).
*Jeff, i think your being a little short sighted! How many minutes does it take for two people to set your marks?It sounds like you are taking 15 minutes per job longer than a guy with a laser.lets see, 15 minutes per day x 200 workdays per year x 35 years = a lot ,ore than one 400$ laser!Have you ever accurately figured your lost wages?Blue
*Jason, I have messed up more stuf with those pesky water things. I didn't know it takes one minute, or more to find their true level!I could eyeball most stuff faster, and my torpedo level works fine too!Blue
*Oh yeah, now that I knopw it takes a minute or more, I'm throwing it out!Blue
*Love water levels, used mine for 20 years with no problems. I generally set the resevoir on something solid with a heavy object on the resevoir to hold it still while I go around the room (or into another room, or to other side of building) making a series of reference marks to measure up or down from. I usually date the marks so that I can make others and measure between them as needs change over the life of the project. Great way to level in batter boards when working alone. It is critical to bleed the air out of the line since air will compress and water won't.
*Jason , I have been using a water level with a bottle at one end that i hang near all the bench marks i want to make. got it about ten years ago, I thing from FHB advert. All I did was fill it with window washer fluid ( up north keeps from freezing)taped a story pole to the end of the tube (1/4"tubing). usally just a 32nd of an inch off due to my eye sight in the past, now due to the bifocals i ware. When I get some extra $ i want the laser that has two full 360 rotation cap set at 90degrees for vertical. Robert