Levels? Best One's Out There.

Warren

You gotta be kidding! Havent used a plumb bob in at least 5 years. Dewalt dw084k made that think obsolete.
Stabila makes a great level. hands down it is the best among all I have tried in 25 years.

greg24k

Don't be so hard on yourself, the boys just having fun. Before I came here, I thought I was crazy, now I feel much better about myself after I met everyone else... put location in your ID and you be just fine, welcome to the neighborhood

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SLSTech

Ok, well welcome to CT as it appears you may stick around, but your first post was on levels with No intro and no location in your profile - The only good thing was that you didn't ask how much to charge.

This is a great forum, take a look around, phrase your questions properly, & grab a beer because we love to discuss, learn, beat idea's into the ground, & have fun. Make sure that you post that intro & put your location in your profile.

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soxfan622

I just recently was charged with reoutfitting our entire crew with new hand tools including levels. I did a lot of research in this department. Stabila certainly has the name and GREAT quality. But... it comes with a very high price tag. all manufacturers of levels make a high grade box beam of the pretty much the same accuracy: Swanson, Stabila and Johnson say .029deg, while Empire says .0005", both these measurements are exactly the same; about 3/8th of an inch over 50feet. The trick is are the levels accuracte working on both the top and bottom edge... only Stabila and Swansons are! Empire and Johnson can do this and the result is a major loss in accuracy when measuring from the top edge. From accuracy there are some other attirbutes in levels: magnetic, multi-ring vials, end caps, etc... Both the Stabila and swanson box beam levels offer magnetic versions. However, Swanson has a new thing that they build in their magnets so they never fall out. This is a BIG plus. Also, Swanson offers a "multi-ring vial" and Stabila does not. the multi rings easily measure grade of slope and are set for a 2deg and 4 deg pitch for drainage. Stabila does not offer this feature. Both companies offer shock proof end caps, but Stabilas are replaceable and Swansons are not. This is a preference, we wanted the end caps that were going to stay in place and not get lost: Swansons. At the end of the day, accuracy being equal we went with Swanson products at Lowes. They were at least as good as stabila and half the cost! Very important in todays world!

soxfan622

we have a winner. Give that man a cigar

soxfan622

Speaking of blue levels, have any of you used the savage level from Swanson? I saw it on there site and at Lowes, but I haven't tried it yet.

KentWhitten

I went that route once with Master levels I believe. I didn't care for it personally because eventually, it would always need adjusting every time you pulled it out. Not knocking it, I think it is a super idea. Maybe they have gotten better since then.

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knucklehead

I bought an 8' one like that one time, and like you said , I never trusted it so we use it for a straight edge , come to think of it, where the heck is that thing?

Railman

Ok, checking is easy...so how many know how to adjust?

I framed for 20 years with aluminum I beam screw on vial type levels, & just kept one bubble for level, & one for plumb in adjustment on each level. I simply marked the good ones with arrows, & sometimes taped over the others so they wouldn't accidently get used. A weekly check was was more than adequate to keeps tabs on vial movement. I even readjusted a dumpy level once using the same technique after having the warped turret reground (flattened) coplaner.

Today, I do a similar check daily with my electronic levels when measuring degrees for rails. They have a simple way of doing the exact same calibration procedure electronically.
So what is it?
Joe

TempestV

I am a big fan of Stabila, but I've also had very good luck with Husky. They have the same claimed accuracy as Stabila, and after getting knocked around for 2 years, still read true. They also have a mirror in the frame, positioned so that you can read for plumb when looking at the top edge of the level. I have the Stabila 7-12' plate level and Husky 10", 2', and 4' levels, and I'm thinking about getting a Stabila door jamber set.

You can also get the mirror setup in the Irwin adjustable levels. Personally, I'm not a big fan of adjustable levels. The only way I've ever seen a good aluminum level with epoxy sealed vials, such as Stabila go off is if the frame is bent, which will ruin any level, adjustable or not. On the other hand, the adjustable levels move over time. Sure, you can adjust them back, but if you had gotten a good fixed vial level instead, it wouldn't have gotten off in the first place.

JustaFramer

I was kidding. I just didn't want to be a third page stabila salesman. Stabila or Master Level if you really want to know. Then again I don't think that pretty little laser would make it a week doing form work.

Hardly Working

Never had to calibrate a plumb bob.
Just had to add new line once in a while.

B_E_Const.

I don't mind pumping up the stabila a little more. I had the fluid inside mine turn clear (still read perfect) and my local tool store (Not H.D) traded it out for a brand new one!! No Charge. It was four years old. I haven't had any other tools with that kind of warranty... Any ways, I have a set 2,3,4,5,7-12

atnas

I always use a plumb bob on a bare wall. Draw a straight line for plumb and then 3,4,5 for horizontal and then adjust vials if need be.

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Tom Struble

i never knew how to use a plumb bob they never seem to stop moving for me

Morning Wood

Cmon guys. the iphone has got all the levels and plumb bobs you need.

WarnerConstInc.

I have a full set of Stabila's minus the expandable framing one and the eight footer.

I have the case loaded up.

The ones I seem to use most are the 32, 59 and 78. I wish I remembered what they were in CM.

Railman

I'm sure that works, but there's an easier way.

Plumb (or level) is simply half way between the two readings when you rotate the level 180 degrees, keeping the same end to the top.
All you have to do is get a plumb reading & mark a line down one edge of level on any flat surface. Then rotate level 180', match bott to 1st line, make it read plumb, & mark top edge again. True plumb will be 1/2 way between two lines. Then adjust vial to red plumb at that position.

Level works the same way, only horizontal. I usually find difference, divide by 2, then set one end on a shim for true level, & then adjust vial.

The reset funtion on an electronic level does the same procedure when you do a reset function.

The Stabilas specs sure look good!

Joe

Magnettica

That's what I was going to say.

loneframer

Stabila levels are not adjustable, therefore they are not prone to getting knocked out of adjustment. I have an 8"er that a miclolam fell on and kinked slightly flatways, so I bought a new one. When held side to side they are both accurate and read the same in all positions.