Laser Level recommendation?
 

I am a new home owner and I would like to get started on things like
shelving projects etc. I am looking for a laser level that can emit
a reasonably far (not just 3 - 5) but won't be too expensive either.
Saw some brands like Craftsman and B&D.

Please let me know your recommendation
BTW I have a tri pod for my camera would that work for the level?

jj3000 wrote:
I am a new home owner and I would like to get started on things like
shelving projects etc. I am looking for a laser level that can emit
a reasonably far (not just 3 - 5) but won't be too expensive either.
Saw some brands like Craftsman and B&D.

Please let me know your recommendation
BTW I have a tri pod for my camera would that work for the level?

Frankly, a basic bubble level is my choice for shelves and most home
projects. It seems you have already found part of the problem with them.
If you start really using them, I believe you will find them not very
convenient to use despite how great the commercials make them look.

It is a shame that Sears, that for many years sold nothing but basic top
quality tools has decided that the TV infomercial products will make them
more money.

The laser tools can be very useful for things like suspended ceilings,
but the ones you need are expensive and you don't find them at Sears.

--
Joseph E. Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math

jj3000 wrote:

I am a new home owner and I would like to get started on things like
shelving projects etc. I am looking for a laser level that can emit
a reasonably far (not just 3 - 5) but won't be too expensive either.
Saw some brands like Craftsman and B&D.

Please let me know your recommendation
BTW I have a tri pod for my camera would that work for the level?


I have a laser level (Sears), and I have a camera tripod that I mount it on.
Laser levels are nice when you have a big project to do that won't
require repositioning of the laser during the job, like putting up a
suspended ceiling, or mounting chair rail moulding, etc. When it comes
to those things that they show on TV, like hanging a picture or two, it
is just too much trouble to set it up with the positioning of the laser,
the leveling of the laser, the height of the laser line, etc. By the
time you do all that, you could have done the job, and a couple of
others, using a regular level.

The "Holy H" now carries a Ryobi device that projects a level (or plumb)
line on a wall. I just received one as a gift and it seems to work pretty
well. Doesn't replace a good 24" traditional level but could be useful.

"jj3000" wrote in message
om...
I am a new home owner and I would like to get started on things like
shelving projects etc. I am looking for a laser level that can emit
a reasonably far (not just 3 - 5) but won't be too expensive either.
Saw some brands like Craftsman and B&D.

Please let me know your recommendation
BTW I have a tri pod for my camera would that work for the level?

jj3000 wrote:
I am a new home owner and I would like to get started on things like
shelving projects etc. I am looking for a laser level that can emit
a reasonably far (not just 3 - 5) but won't be too expensive either.
Saw some brands like Craftsman and B&D.


I share the dissatisfaction with laser levels. A standard level works much
better.

But works even better and faster for me is to just use a tape measure and
measure up from the floor.

"John Harlow" wrote in message
I share the dissatisfaction with laser levels. A standard level works
much better.

But works even better and faster for me is to just use a tape measure and
measure up from the floor.


Measuring up from the floor is good as long as the floor is level. Or the
trim is level. Or whatever base you are working with.

The place laser levels are handy is to shoot a line along a wall for lineup
of multiple items, or across a span like setting footings. Every tool has a
place where it shines. For leveling one shelf, a plain old bubble level is
best.

Laser (just something else to put batteries in) levels are a perfect answer
to a question nobody thought to ask. In other words, a gimmick, for all jobs
but true survey/squaring/triangulation/range finding jobs. I have 9", 24"
and 48" levels. With such a selection of old technology, plus a sharp
pencil, you can do myriad shelves and other projects around the house.
Further, lasers depend totally on integral bubbles, which are just as likely
to be inaccurate as any other level. If you buy a bubble level, check vert.
and horiz. with several other samples to make sure you don't buy a "sport".

I am a new home owner and I would like to get started on things like
shelving projects etc. I am looking for a laser level that can emit
a reasonably far (not just 3 - 5) but won't be too expensive either.
Saw some brands like Craftsman and B&D.

On 17 Nov 2004 02:05:00 -0800, (jj3000) wrote:

I am a new home owner and I would like to get started on things like
shelving projects etc. I am looking for a laser level that can emit
a reasonably far (not just 3 - 5) but won't be too expensive either.
Saw some brands like Craftsman and B&D.

Laser levels usually cost more than they're worth in terms of use. I
was given a B&D laser level as a gift, and I find a use for it a
couple times a year, but an assortment of bubble levels is more useful
for about the same cost.

Shelves are not a laser level chore. Hanging pictures in a line is.

Jeff

Laser levels can be had so cheap you might as well have one. I got one for
under $5 once. There's lots of them under $20. I wouldn't buy a expensive
one. Certainly there are those that are more than there worth. What I'm
talking about is a 16" bubble level with a laser on one end. I suspect that
some of the gimmicky ones marketed for homeowners are less accurate than
these. I'd still want a good 2 ft and 4 ft level.
John