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10-21-2009, 07:08 PM
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#1
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Pro
Trade:
Construction and Remodeling
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 1,689
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All in one laser needed!
Hey guys, I've been looking to pick up a plumb laser, I would love to find one that would plumb, square, and shoot a beam around a room, say for installing chair rail or something or for finding deck post heights.
Is there such a product? I am clueless with lasers. What are you guys using? I've been looking at maybe something in the middle of the price scale.
Thanks, Dave
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10-21-2009, 07:37 PM
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#2
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Pro
Trade:
Sure, what you got?
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Auburn Indiana
Posts: 3,886
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I have a cst/berger that I have been happy with.
It's few years old, does a plumb line as well. Has fast and slow rotation, short and long sweep, spot and can be used on it's back for tile layouts. I have the tripod, benchmark stick, card, case and reciever unit.
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gus Dering
It may be just a gateway tool to the hard stuff. Be careful 
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10-21-2009, 07:45 PM
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#3
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Pro
Trade:
Construction and Remodeling
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 1,689
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Thanks Warner, that sounds pretty sweet, you wouldn't happen to know the model of it would you?
Dave
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10-21-2009, 08:00 PM
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#4
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Pro
Trade:
Sure, what you got?
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Auburn Indiana
Posts: 3,886
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dkillianjr
Thanks Warner, that sounds pretty sweet, you wouldn't happen to know the model of it would you?
Dave
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I can't and I really don't feel like going out to the trailer to look.
Let me see if I can remember.
It is basically this set-up here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-CST-BERGER-R...item5635c5ee52
Not as nice as the Hilti's but, I have used it for things like suspended ceilings, level line in a old crooked house, forming concrete steps (grade from sidewalk to porch floor), layed out tile with it as well.
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gus Dering
It may be just a gateway tool to the hard stuff. Be careful 
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Last edited by WarnerConstInc.; 10-21-2009 at 08:07 PM.
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10-21-2009, 08:04 PM
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#5
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Pro
Trade:
GC/Transportation
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Southern New England
Posts: 132
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WarnerConstInc.
I have a cst/berger that I have been happy with.
It's few years old, does a plumb line as well. Has fast and slow rotation, short and long sweep, spot and can be used on it's back for tile layouts. I have the tripod, benchmark stick, card, case and reciever unit.
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Whats the model #, and can it be used for a balluster layout?
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10-21-2009, 08:06 PM
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#6
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LRG WoodCrafting
Trade:
Professional Sawdust Producer
Join Date: May 2005
Location: USA, Connecticut
Posts: 3,886
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Can't believe Festool doesn't make a laser.
__________________
Measure Twice Cut Once -- It's a lot easier to cut more off then it is to cut MORON.
Quote:
Originally Posted by HusqyPro
Carpenter by day.
Mad scientist by night.
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http://lrgwood.com
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10-21-2009, 08:10 PM
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#7
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Pro
Trade:
Sure, what you got?
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Auburn Indiana
Posts: 3,886
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Leo G
Can't believe Festool doesn't make a laser. 
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They have dual one's on the Kapex.
You are right though, seems odd. They tend to stick to speciality items, unless they can revolutionize an existing tool.
They finally have a jobsite radio, with one speaker!!
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gus Dering
It may be just a gateway tool to the hard stuff. Be careful 
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10-21-2009, 08:10 PM
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#8
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Pro
Trade:
Sure, what you got?
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Auburn Indiana
Posts: 3,886
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jayrek
Whats the model #, and can it be used for a balluster layout?
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Not sure, at all really.
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gus Dering
It may be just a gateway tool to the hard stuff. Be careful 
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10-21-2009, 08:26 PM
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#9
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Pro
Trade:
Remodeling & Decks
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Bergen County, NJ
Posts: 1,747
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I tried to review a CST/Berger for JLC and it was so, so bad, I couldn't deal with it on a real job long enough to eek out a review. When I say "bad", it was an understatement.
I don't remember the exact model, but it was like three lasers combined into one and it just stank.
I have PLS lasers and absolutely love them. Check them out.
ETA: You really need three lasers to do what you want to do...well. A 5-way dot laser, a cross beam laser, and a squaring laser. I have five lasers on the truck depending on what I need to do. If I could only have one, it would be a PLS90e with detector because you can do a lot with that one single laser.
Last edited by Greg Di; 10-21-2009 at 08:28 PM.
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10-21-2009, 08:28 PM
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#10
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LRG WoodCrafting
Trade:
Professional Sawdust Producer
Join Date: May 2005
Location: USA, Connecticut
Posts: 3,886
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__________________
Measure Twice Cut Once -- It's a lot easier to cut more off then it is to cut MORON.
Quote:
Originally Posted by HusqyPro
Carpenter by day.
Mad scientist by night.
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http://lrgwood.com
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10-21-2009, 08:41 PM
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#11
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Contractor
Trade:
Excavation, Foundation, Concrete
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Maryland
Posts: 2,023
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I tried out the CST/Berger LM30 and found it to be a piece of junk.
I ended up with a David White 3175.
http://www.davidwhite.com/Laser_tools/483175.html#
I have been pretty happy with it. Has a remote, it can do pin point, selective sweep, and works on the vertical.
It has dual grade capabilities that you probably don't need. Check out the David White site and see if there is something that suits your needs better.
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10-21-2009, 08:56 PM
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#12
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Pro
Trade:
Construction and Remodeling
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 1,689
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Thankyou for the info Warner! Thanks guys for the input!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jayrek
Whats the model #, and can it be used for a balluster layout?
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Its funny you should bring that up jayrek. Thats acctually what I am buying this thing for in the first place, to lay out rail ballusters. But I would love to be able to do a bunch of stuff with it.
Dave
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10-21-2009, 10:54 PM
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#13
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Pro
Trade:
Control Systems
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Ottawa, ON
Posts: 740
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I have a hilti dot laser, I need to get a cross beam at some point and the PLS seems real swell for the money...but then it won't match my other lasers
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10-22-2009, 12:15 AM
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#14
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General Contractor
Trade:
Residential & Commercial
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 1,316
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PLS180 is my favourite
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10-22-2009, 12:47 AM
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#15
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Pro
Trade:
General, Electrical, and Plumbing Contractor
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Portland, OR & Eatonville, WA
Posts: 722
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Most companies make great items and budget items. And CST does also.
So it depends on which CST laser you are looking at. And you cannot compare a manual LM30 to the other CST's, big difference.
Also most models of David White and CST Berger lasers are the same internally, and are the same company.
Look at these links to a CST LM30 and a David White ML-450N, is the David White better or are they the same.
http://www.cstsurvey.com/Products/La...M_30Wizard.htm
http://www.davidwhite.com/Laser_tools/474720NT.html
It is better to stay away from any manual leveling laser, no matter what brand.
I own and have used several lasers. I own a Spectra Precision L600, a CST LM800, a CST ALGR, and a Spectra Precision pipe laser. These CST's have the same features as Warner's, and maybe more like dual slope, etc.
I have used Topcon's, Leica's, and Trimble's before they bought out Spectra Precison. These CST's are just as accurate, usually have more features and are half the price of these brands.
For good prices go to:
http://www.engineersupply.com/
Last edited by Kgmz; 10-22-2009 at 12:50 AM.
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10-22-2009, 10:47 PM
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#16
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Pro
Trade:
Construction and Remodeling
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 1,689
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Thanks guys for more info!
Thanks for the links kgmz!
Hmm so many choices, Its probly gonna take me a year to make a decision
Dave
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10-23-2009, 08:37 AM
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#17
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Pro
Trade:
Trim Carpenter
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Canada
Posts: 222
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Have you had a look into the Bosch Family of LAsers. They have some pretty nice stuff coming out( mind you it is all made in China ) I would vote for the PLS 180 myself. It is truly a great laser, priced well and get's the job done.
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10-23-2009, 11:04 PM
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#18
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Pro
Trade:
Construction and Remodeling
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 1,689
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Thanks Mike,
Yup I was just looking at the bosches. They deffinetly look like nice units, but like you said they are made in china thats almost a deal breaker for me.
The PLS's is what I keep going back to, they are just so nice
Dave
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10-30-2009, 10:41 PM
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#19
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Pro
Trade:
General, Electrical, and Plumbing Contractor
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Portland, OR & Eatonville, WA
Posts: 722
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Something I ran into on the web today regarding the Bosch lasers.
At the end of 2007 Bosch bought RoboToolz who is the manufacturer of the lasers Bosch now sells under their name. In June 2008 Bosch bought CST Berger/David White/Rolatape from Stanley Works. In the future you will be seeing some Bosch lasers that are actually CST Bergers/David Whites.
Another interesting thing is some of the RoboToolz laser also say Porter Cable on them. Not sure if Porter Cable once owned RoboToolz or what.
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10-30-2009, 10:41 PM
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#20
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Pro
Trade:
General, Electrical, and Plumbing Contractor
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Portland, OR & Eatonville, WA
Posts: 722
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Some more pics
Last edited by Kgmz; 10-30-2009 at 10:43 PM.
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