I like the Empire Duragaurd. Reasons,it is a rigid plastic has more protection than soft cases IMHO, also,screw on end cap. (will not pop open unexpectedly ). :thumbsup:

Well you could get a stabila and not worry about a case.

haha i could but i like wooden 2' & 4' i have the stabila torpedo which is awesome

JBM said:

Well you could get a stabila and not worry about a case.

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The Stabila levels got dethroned a couple of years ago. Did'nt you hear ?:laughing:



The new old king of the hill with levels is Sola. I say,new old because they are the oldest and largest level maker in the world. Reason they are the best kept secret in U.S. is because they just decided to make their debut in the N. American market in 2007.


Hands down,they have Stabila beat.


Oh,by the way,they are also a tad less expensive than Stabila !

JBM said:

Well you could get a stabila and not worry about a case.

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i have heard about them but i havent seen one in person

fjn said:

The Stabila levels got dethroned a couple of years ago. Did'nt you hear ?:laughing: The new old king of the hill with levels is Sola. I say,new old because they are the oldest and largest level maker in the world. Reason they are the best kept secret in U.S. is because they just decided to make their debut in the N. American market in 2007. Hands down,they have Stabila beat. Oh,by the way,they are also a tad less expensive than Stabila !

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I found a Johnson case laying beside the road walking my dog a few years ago. Has worked great since for my 4'er

Here is some info. on them. I do not own any however,planning on getting some next time around,they are on my radar screen. Best thing I like about them,magnified viles. especially at this stage of the game,lamps getting a tad dim.:laughing:


http://www.sola.us/1824_EN-sola.us-Levels.htm

socalmason said:

i have heard about them but i havent seen one in person

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I was going to pick one of those up but it only has a plumb bubble on one end. Like i got time to spin a level around all day long lol.

I don't keep anything in a case anymore with the exception of my lasers.

Then try this one on for size.



http://www.amazon.com/Sola-Profile-...F8&qid=1405128786&sr=8-2&keywords=sola+levels

JBM said:

I was going to pick one of those up but it only has a plumb bubble on one end. Like i got time to spin a level around all day long lol.

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Ill pick that one up when my 4 footer has had enough, but the 2 footer us chimney guys live and die by. 1 plumb bubble, deal breaker.

fjn said:

Then try this one on for size.



http://www.amazon.com/Sola-Profile-...F8&qid=1405128786&sr=8-2&keywords=sola+levels

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They also make 2 footers with two plumb viles.:thumbsup: Plus,you can get them in any color you want, as long as it is red.:laughing:




http://www.amazon.com/Sola-Magnetic...8&qid=1405129675&sr=8-16&keywords=sola+levels

JBM said:

Ill pick that one up when my 4 footer has had enough, but the 2 footer us chimney guys live and die by. 1 plumb bubble, deal breaker.

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Are you sure about this Fred,...Stabila can be traced back to the early 1800's although level production was around 1949/52. I can't find anything listing Sola the largest maker. I would think Johnson or so based on most folks buying cheaper stuff. Could be wrong about this of course.

I went with the Stabilia's on my most recent set. I've posted them before, but here they are again...I lov'em and the soft case ain't too bad either.

fjn said:

The Stabila levels got dethroned a couple of years ago. Did'nt you hear ?:laughing:



The new old king of the hill with levels is Sola. I say,new old because they are the oldest and largest level maker in the world. Reason they are the best kept secret in U.S. is because they just decided to make their debut in the N. American market in 2007.


Hands down,they have Stabila beat.


Oh,by the way,they are also a tad less expensive than Stabila !

Click to expand...

I think you may be correct about the oldest company however, I think I read in this article Sola is the largest.


But of course,leave it to FHB to want to charge to read it all.:laughing:



I do get the paper edition and this is where I think I read it is the largest.




http://www.finehomebuilding.com/tool-guide/articles/an-inside-look-at-box-beam-levels.aspx

superseal said:

Are you sure about this Fred,...Stabila can be traced back to the early 1800's although level production was around 1949/52. I can't find anything listing Sola the largest maker. I would think Johnson or so based on most folks buying cheaper stuff. Could be wrong about this of course.

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Here is a few thoughts on the two levels.

http://www.proudlybuilt.com/tool-reviews/tool-review-sola-levels/

Those levels are too clean. Those pics are from the day the arrived I assume?

superseal said:

Are you sure about this Fred,...Stabila can be traced back to the early 1800's although level production was around 1949/52. I can't find anything listing Sola the largest maker. I would think Johnson or so based on most folks buying cheaper stuff. Could be wrong about this of course.

I went with the Stabilia's on my most recent set. I've posted them before, but here they are again...I lov'em and the soft case ain't too bad either.

Click to expand...

You have obviously never seen the mans boots or tools.

jb4211 said:

Those levels are too clean. Those pics are from the day the arrived I assume?

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Just perfect Fred......I already own a million levels and now I want another one.

fjn said:

Here is some info. on them. I do not own any however,planning on getting some next time around,they are on my radar screen. Best thing I like about them,magnified viles. especially at this stage of the game,lamps getting a tad dim.:laughing:


http://www.sola.us/1824_EN-sola.us-Levels.htm

Click to expand...

Join the club. Stabila, Crick, Smith, Port Austin, and the two (or is it three?) Solas that I have.......they are great levels, no doubt, but once you have levels that are accurate (and most of the good ones are almost always that), it just becomes preference......the feel of wood, sight lines, amount of abuse expected, ease of handling, etc.....

Two very enthusiastic thumbs up for Sola......:thumbsup::thumbsup:

stonecutter said:

Just perfect Fred......I already own a million levels and now I want another one.

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