I would think that a good old fashioned height gauge would be the proper
tool to use. A laser would only illuminate 1/2 the hemisphere and you would
have to reposition the light or the item being marked. Do you have any
metalworking books that show the use of a height gauge used for laying out?
Pretty simple instrument for what it does. From looking at the art work
that you are doing I would think that you could fab up something that would
do what you need to do. You only have to hold the marker at a fixed height
while you move it around the piece being marked out, while the piece being
marked is held steady and the sliding marker is on a flat surface that is
parallel to the to the line you wish to draw. For precision metal work
this is done on a surface plate. You could probably get away with a piece
of glass or a good flat counter top. I could send you pictures if you like.
lg
no neat sig line

"Catherine Jo Morgan" wrote in message
...
I think a small laser level would help me a lot, but I'm not sure. Let's
say
that I have a curved surface, a rough hemisphere for example. I'd like to
cut the hemisphere in half, or at least slice it so the cut edge is
straight
and can be fitted onto a flat surface. Could a laser level lay a straight
line onto the curved surface, so I could mark it for cutting?

Perhaps there's a better way to do such marking? I know a laser level will
give me a pretty broad line at close range. Is there a way to distinguish
among the different models to find the one that will have the thinnest
line
at close range? Are the lines or dots always smaller the closer you are?

Also - would it be kind to my eyes to wear shaded glasses when using a
laser
level? I do know not to point the laser AT my eyes (or at anyone else.)
But
the line itself is pretty bright, right? So maybe shade 3 if I can find
some
clip-ons? TIA
--
Catherine Jo Morgan
http://www.cjmorgan.com
online artist journal: http://radio.weblogs.com/0120691/