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10-23-2008, 07:35 PM
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#1
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Registered User
Trade:
Floor Covering Installer
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 12
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What do you all think of Stanley's Levels
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?
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10-23-2008, 07:48 PM
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#2
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Sean
Trade:
General Contractor
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Cullman, AL
Posts: 3,418
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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
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10-23-2008, 08:08 PM
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#3
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General Contractor
Trade:
Residential & Commercial
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 1,318
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My stanley 4' fatmax is great for the price.
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10-23-2008, 08:17 PM
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#4
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The Grand Wazoo
Trade:
Plumber
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Illinois
Posts: 2,180
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Keep em.
I'll stick with my Stabila.
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10-23-2008, 08:22 PM
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#5
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Handle It!
Trade:
Everything The Union Guys Do Not Want To Do
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Brooklyn, NY ~ Haverford, PA
Posts: 7,901
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I use a Wooden Johnson. Not bad.
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10-23-2008, 08:33 PM
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#6
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Registered User
Trade:
Floor Covering Installer
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fungku
My stanley 4' fatmax is great for the price.
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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.
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10-23-2008, 09:06 PM
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#7
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Capra aegagrus
Trade:
Remodeler
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Central Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,892
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MALCO.New.York
I use a Wooden Johnson. Not bad.
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Oh, man. Please congratulate me upon my restraint.
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10-23-2008, 09:10 PM
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#8
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Handle It!
Trade:
Everything The Union Guys Do Not Want To Do
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Brooklyn, NY ~ Haverford, PA
Posts: 7,901
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tinstaafl
Oh, man. Please congratulate me upon my restraint. 
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Stepped right in to it Tin. Did you not?
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10-23-2008, 09:22 PM
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#9
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Fentoozler
Trade:
Professional Pie and Pastry Taster
Join Date: May 2007
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 5,589
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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? 
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You better stay away from the guy wearing the Freudian slips...he might want a huge
__________________

The UD is quite possibly man kinds finest accomplishment.
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10-23-2008, 09:40 PM
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#10
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Pro
Trade:
Remodeler/Finish Carpenter
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Millersville, PA
Posts: 1,282
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Spend the extra money on the Stabila and spend it only once.
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10-23-2008, 09:46 PM
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#11
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Pro
Trade:
Construction and Remodeling
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 1,689
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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
__________________
"Pay now or Pay later"
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10-23-2008, 09:50 PM
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#12
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Handle It!
Trade:
Everything The Union Guys Do Not Want To Do
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Brooklyn, NY ~ Haverford, PA
Posts: 7,901
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Celtic
You better stay away from the guy wearing the Freudian slips...he might want a huge 
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Still as wrong on as many levels!!!!
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10-23-2008, 11:00 PM
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#13
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General Contractor
Trade:
Residential & Commercial
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 1,318
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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.
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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
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10-23-2008, 11:29 PM
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#14
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DGR,IABD
Trade:
Electrical; Commercial and Residential Service
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Central PA
Posts: 9,665
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dkillianjr
To me it seems like stanley has really gone down hill over the years.
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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.
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10-24-2008, 12:54 AM
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#15
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Registered User
Trade:
Floor Covering Installer
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 12
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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.
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10-24-2008, 03:38 PM
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#16
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finish carpenter
Trade:
finish Carpenter/ renovations
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: ns, canada
Posts: 612
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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'
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10-31-2008, 02:00 AM
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#17
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Registered User
Trade:
Carpenter
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 4
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My stanley levels have held up fine after 2 years.
Although I don't believe they are magnetic, I know the stablias are.
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10-31-2008, 02:06 AM
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#18
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Handle It!
Trade:
Everything The Union Guys Do Not Want To Do
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Brooklyn, NY ~ Haverford, PA
Posts: 7,901
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Hey! Lets not forget about MY WOODEN JOHNSON!!!!!
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10-31-2008, 06:36 AM
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#19
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Pro
Trade:
Remodeling
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Northeast, Pa
Posts: 945
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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.
__________________
'The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant; it's just that they know so much that isn't so.' - Ronald Reagan
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10-31-2008, 07:03 AM
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#20
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Aussie in Norway
Trade:
Carpenter and Painter
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Norway
Posts: 235
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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.
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