What do you all think of Stanley's Levels - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Cabdoctor · 10-23-2008, 07:35 PM

I'm in the market for a 4' magnetic level. I know Stabila is awesome, as I have one of their torpedoes, but what about other brands, specifically Stanley. The Stanley 48-Inch FatMax Xtreme Box Beam Level caught my eye. Anybody have one? What do you think?

SLSTech · 10-23-2008, 07:48 PM

Empire Blue Level - best I have seen - I own the 2' & 6' ones
The older 4' Stanley level (sorry not the FatMax one) still works even with how many bumps it has taken - when it goes it will be replaced by an Empire one

Winchester · 10-23-2008, 08:08 PM

My stanley 4' fatmax is great for the price.

KillerToiletSpider · 10-23-2008, 08:17 PM

Keep em.

I'll stick with my Stabila.

MALCO.New.York · 10-23-2008, 08:22 PM

I use a Wooden Johnson. Not bad.

Cabdoctor · 10-23-2008, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fungku

My stanley 4' fatmax is great for the price.

How's it compare to say like an Empire? And is there anything you which they would have done better on it?

KillerToiletSpider

If I had a 4' Stabila I would keep it to.

Tinstaafl · 10-23-2008, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MALCO.New.York

I use a Wooden Johnson. Not bad.

Oh, man. Please congratulate me upon my restraint.

MALCO.New.York · 10-23-2008, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tinstaafl

Oh, man. Please congratulate me upon my restraint.

Stepped right in to it Tin. Did you not?

Celtic · 10-23-2008, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MALCO.New.York

I use a Wooden Johnson. Not bad.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tinstaafl

Oh, man. Please congratulate me upon my restraint.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MALCO.New.York

Stepped right in to it Tin. Did you not?

You better stay away from the guy wearing the Freudian slips...he might want a huge

orson · 10-23-2008, 09:40 PM

Spend the extra money on the Stabila and spend it only once.

dkillianjr · 10-23-2008, 09:46 PM

I would look into the empire true blue or better yet stabila. I have some true blue and some stabila, granted I am now hooked on stabila

In my opinion the true blues are a very good level too. To me it seems like stanley has really gone down hill over the years.

Dave

MALCO.New.York · 10-23-2008, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Celtic

You better stay away from the guy wearing the Freudian slips...he might want a huge

Still as wrong on as many levels!!!!

Winchester · 10-23-2008, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cabdoctor

How's it compare to say like an Empire? And is there anything you which they would have done better on it?

KillerToiletSpider

If I had a 4' Stabila I would keep it to.

Well, it's not as good quality, obviously. But for 1/4 the price what do you expect? It's solid, it tells me if something is level

I don't use a 4' level more than once or twice a day if at all. I use my 10" or 2' level way more often.

Unfortunately those are both way cheaper than my stanley

mdshunk · 10-23-2008, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkillianjr

To me it seems like stanley has really gone down hill over the years.

No kidding. I accidentally ran over my 2 footer, and needed one immediately. I stopped at the blue store which shall remain unnamed. I went through every single 2 foot level there and found exactly one that read true on all three bubbles. This was out of a good 20-30 two-foot levels. I don't hold out much hope that this one will continue to read true for very long, but it was only 15 bucks.

Cabdoctor · 10-24-2008, 12:54 AM

Yeah its amazing how so many people just grab a level with out thoroughly checking it.

I agree about Stanley going downhill fast. Their last few generations of tapes have gone from bad to worse. But I'm always willing to give second chances so that's why I figured I'd check. But I think I'm going to go with either an empire or stabila, depending on how much $$$ I have budgeted at the end of the month.

woodworkbykirk · 10-24-2008, 03:38 PM

im using the fatmax 2' and 4', no problems as of yet my 4 ' has been dropped dinged, shot by accident with a framing gun, and still reads accurate although i think its getting short on its life. its going to be replaced with either a fatmax extreme or a stabila if im willing to break down and pay $100 for a 4'

the stabila plate levels are really nice for plumbing different height walls, the 6' extends to 10' and the 7' extends to 12'

mgb · 10-31-2008, 02:00 AM

My stanley levels have held up fine after 2 years.

Although I don't believe they are magnetic, I know the stablias are.

MALCO.New.York · 10-31-2008, 02:06 AM

Hey! Lets not forget about MY WOODEN JOHNSON!!!!!

PA woodbutcher · 10-31-2008, 06:36 AM

I have a 2' a 4' and a 6' fatmax extreme that I've been happy with. A level is a level as long as they read level??? My levels don't pounded on and I generally take pretty good care of them.

samthedog · 10-31-2008, 07:03 AM

I guess it depends what sort of accuracy you need. I use levels that are much cheaper than stabila for installing doors, windows and the occasional wall but for these installations I don't need absolute dead on accuracy. My levels are all true and I test them before I buy them but I think it's more important that once you buy a level you know it's accurate and you take care of it.