Thanks for the info. I get it now - as you said, this particular level seems
to do well at projecting a straight line.

What I was not understanding was how to get a level line around a room when
the device only had a indicator of level in a single direction. The real
answer is not to use this level for such a purpose or that I would need
another level to make sure its level in the other direction too.


"SteveB" wrote in message
news:6dfMe.41088$DW1.6231@fed1read06...

"Steve" wrote in message
...
I feel kinda of stupid asking this. I received a laser level as a gift.
I've used a normal level successfully in the past, but I've never used a
laser level. This one seems handy and its mounted on a tripod. I can't
seem
to project a level line though and I am hoping I am missing something or
not understanding.

I turn it on and get a horizontal line on the wall. The line is
obviously
not straight though. However, the device doesn't have a leveling bulb in
the horizontal position. In this position only verticle leveling is
allowed. Some on the flip side - if I project a verticle line, the
device
allows only horizontal leveling in that position. Am I totally missing
something?

It is not the specific one in this link although it looks similar -
http://www.kimcousa.com/HM06015.html
I just want to know how to project a level horizontal line on the wall.
I
promise not to use any power tools, ever if you can fill me in


Do this little experiment:

put it in the center of the room. level it as good as you can by the
bubble. go to the wall and put a pencil dot there.

go back and make it unlevel again. now, relevel it. do not look at the
dot
on the wall. go see how close it is to the dot.

a bubble is hard thing to get just right. it can look right, and be off,
and if you multiply that out 20 or 50 feet, it grows.

you can swing it around on the tripod, but the chances of getting it level
in every direction are small.

in a room, the best level is one that has a diffuser. a laser beam is
projected. mirrors scatter it around the room to make a line, either
horizontal or perpendicular. a weight makes it true plumb. if you smoke,
blow smoke into the laser light to help understand what the laser is
doing.
if you need a line high or low on the wall, shoot anywhere on the wall,
put
a pencil mark at each corner, then measure up the same distance from the
mark to where you want to be and pop lines.

diffusers are better to use when you need a line around a room. the
torpedo
type you have is better when you need a straight line. I have found that
they work great on some things, but not all things, because they go off on
a
timer, and you have to keep turning them on, and the slightest bump, and
they are out of whack from where you want to be.

they do have their uses and areas where they shine, but it takes a while
to
get the hang of them and how they work. sometimes by the time you get
through fooling with them, you could have done it the old way.

Steve