Levels? Best one's out there. - Page 4 - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

RizzoMaryland · 03-18-2009, 06:07 AM

For those of you who have these expensive levels, how do you store them in your truck?

Mine tend to just lay flat on the floor. My vehicles always remain clean and organized so the levels dont take much of a beating but I am interested in an unique or creative storage methods.

Mellison · 03-18-2009, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RizzoMaryland

For those of you who have these expensive levels, how do you store them in your truck?

Mine tend to just lay flat on the floor. My vehicles always remain clean and organized so the levels dont take much of a beating but I am interested in an unique or creative storage methods.

Try a shot gun rack.
In tht suberbs I used to see it quite often.
Probably not a great idea in NYC though.

SLSTech · 03-18-2009, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RizzoMaryland

For those of you who have these expensive levels, how do you store them in your truck?

Mine tend to just lay flat on the floor. My vehicles always remain clean and organized so the levels dont take much of a beating but I am interested in an unique or creative storage methods.

Some levels come with a protective tube - that is the only way I would store it in the truck bed or on the floor boards.

Mellison is right about the gun rack, I have seen that used in AZ & AL

I have a quad cab & my 4' along with a handsaw sits nicely against the window & headrest (no vibration whatsoever) 2' stays in a tool bag - larger levels are stored in my office & pulled out when they are going to be needed

For trailers - hanging on a wall or a specialized area that they slid into, trucks with racks, I have seen them strapped to the rack & in a PVC pipe with foam as a stopper (just like plumbers, electricians, etc.. due with long materials)

WarnerConstInc. · 03-18-2009, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RizzoMaryland

For those of you who have these expensive levels, how do you store them in your truck?

Mine tend to just lay flat on the floor. My vehicles always remain clean and organized so the levels dont take much of a beating but I am interested in an unique or creative storage methods.

Buy the padded case that Stabila makes. It holds 6 levels and is easy to carry. Cost about 40 bucks.

**loneframer** · 03-18-2009, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RizzoMaryland

For those of you who have these expensive levels, how do you store them in your truck?

Mine tend to just lay flat on the floor. My vehicles always remain clean and organized so the levels dont take much of a beating but I am interested in an unique or creative storage methods.

I've seen guys make cases out of PVC pipe and 2 cleanout plugs, 3" works for most. One guy made a felt sock to cover the level first.

RizzoMaryland · 03-18-2009, 07:42 PM

All good ideas. Im thinking of the PVC pipe idea hanging from the ceiling in the van. However, I can see a 2' or 3' level getting "lost" in a 6' PVC pipe after hitting the brakes too hard. This would certainly free up space on the floor of the van.

WarnerConstInc. · 03-18-2009, 07:45 PM

Get the padded case, no hold it, get the padded case.

You can strap that to the ceiling in the van.

**loneframer** · 03-18-2009, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RizzoMaryland

All good ideas. Im thinking of the PVC pipe idea hanging from the ceiling in the van. However, I can see a 2' or 3' level getting "lost" in a 6' PVC pipe after hitting the brakes too hard. This would certainly free up space on the floor of the van.

Gotta go with one for each level, all sized to fit with very little wiggle room. If you do loose one in a longer tube, pull the other cleanout plug to gain access.

bdoles · 03-18-2009, 08:14 PM

I'll say Stabila and some Johnson levels for me. I did just buy a Starrett incline level on eBay for $50.

Sooner Pesek · 03-18-2009, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarnerConstInc.

Buy the padded case that Stabila makes. It holds 6 levels and is easy to carry. Cost about 40 bucks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarnerConstInc.

Get the padded case, no hold it, get the padded case.

You can strap that to the ceiling in the van.

Has anyone mentioned that Stabila makes a padded caes for their levels?

WarnerConstInc. · 03-19-2009, 09:02 AM

Well, I wouldn't want to put a Stabila inside a PVC pipe and let it bang around and slide around.

notillegal · 03-19-2009, 09:21 AM

I use the Empire Blue levels. Had a 2, 4, and 6 all went south after 2 yrs heavy use and van abuse. Walked into HD and told the service desk they were junk, the guy says go pick out 3 new ones. Went thru the whole rack to find 3 good ones, but no questions asked.

Warren · 03-19-2009, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notillegal

I use the Empire Blue levels. Had a 2, 4, and 6 all went south after 2 yrs heavy use and van abuse. Walked into HD and told the service desk they were junk, the guy says go pick out 3 new ones. Went thru the whole rack to find 3 good ones, but no questions asked.

WRONG!! Questions will be asked every two years. Also you said you went through the whole rack to find good ones. What does that tell you? Shape up man! Get the Stabila and spend time worrying aabout important stuff.

easymoney · 03-20-2009, 04:39 AM

I think it All depends on the job.

For steel stud framing nothing beats a 6' Empire magnetic level (Black)
For setting Kitchen cabinets I keep and old Craftsman Boxed level. (it was supposed to be a life time trade deal but they discontinued it a few years ago)
To frame walls over 12 feet high I use my Spectra Laser dot level.
To set clerestory openings or a T-bar ceiling my Spectra self leveling laser line.
to set Door jambs, a Plumb bob.
and for pictures on the wall, my iphone has a bitchin' app!
And to level myself out ... one of those little yellow pills

Martin Co · 03-20-2009, 04:52 AM

Hands down, the winner for me is Stabila. I do own fat max for simple things.

SLSTech · 03-20-2009, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin Co

Hands down, the winner for me is Stabila. I do own fat max for simple things.

Straight Edge?

TempestV · 03-20-2009, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RizzoMaryland

All good ideas. Im thinking of the PVC pipe idea hanging from the ceiling in the van. However, I can see a 2' or 3' level getting "lost" in a 6' PVC pipe after hitting the brakes too hard. This would certainly free up space on the floor of the van.

My dad uses a van, and for his 6' stabila, he has two hooks at the very top of the wall that are spaced correctly so that they go through the handles on the level. That works pretty good.

TempestV · 03-21-2009, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mellison

Try a shot gun rack.
In tht suberbs I used to see it quite often.
Probably not a great idea in NYC though.

That's where my 4'er is at
Perfect spot for it- protected, out of the way, and the hooks line up perfectly with the handles, so it doesn't slide around. Besides, the rack is empty, seeing as I don't like to advertise that there is a gun in the truck.

Now if only Stablia made a waterproof case for the plate level...

maninthesea · 03-21-2009, 11:35 PM

Over here we also have the "philipino" level. A length of clear tube with water in it. Most accureate level i have ever seen as the bubble can be 20' long.

TempestV · 03-22-2009, 01:30 AM

I've used a water level many times. they can be incredibly useful in the right circumstances.