Water Level

[brandoro]

I have a cheap laser that clamps to a fairly good 3 foot level and use that for some things. Almost as much for its entertainment value as anything. Most of the time I find myself with the water level for setting elevations and string for making straight lines. Cheap, pretty accurate and no batteries required. Gravity is persistent.

[R W]

Take a look at WatrLevel - Home Page

[Keith01]

I agree, water levels are extremely accurate. I made a simple one for laying out the footers for my garage.

You do not need to have alot of the clear tubing, the major cost. I bout 24" of clear tubing and two garden hose repair ends. The type with the barbed end, one male, one female. Cut the tube in half, jammed a repair end into each, then attached them to a garden hose. Filled up the hose, and worked all the air out. Total cost was about $4, I already had the garden hose.
I only had 12" of clear on each end, but I didnt need that wide of range. The only problem I had was the water level would bounce after I raised or lowered one end. Using a resevoir would eliminate that, I do have some 5 gallon buckets!

Keith in SC

[JRP]

The water level is good, but you must make sure you don't have bubbles in the lines.

One advantage of a rotary laser is that you can set them (some) to slope mode for drainage, and also lasers work with moving equipment such as scrapers and box blades better than a water level does. The water level hose can get tangled or cut by the box blade.

Seriously, one box blade application of a water level is to mount one across the back of your box blade with a scale on each end. If you have T&T you can easily verify the box is level or adjust the 3pt to the desired slope.

[CurlyDave]

My Rotary Laser says it is accurate to +/- 3/8" at 100 yards. I don't know if I believe that or not, but I know for sure I can measure with a tape to a lot less than that.

As far as the curvature of the earth goes, whether you want to include it or not depends what you are doing. For drain lines, you want the water to drain. A water level is more accurate because it automatically compensates for this admittedly small effect.

The guys who make float glass want that to be non-curved, and have to compensate for the earth's curvature.

Personally, I have done a lot more drain lines than float glass factories, so the water level has an advantage there.

OTOH I use the Rotary Laser level more just because it is fast and convenient.

[turnkey4099]

Another advantage to a water level is something a laser can't do. Level around a corner or obstructions.

Some warnings. Water levels are extremely accurate IF:

1. The entire line is at the same temperature. Put 1/2 in the shade and half in the sun will throw it off some.

2. There are no air bubbles in the line. I have never understood why, but a bubble will also throw it off.

I have layed out two foundations for my house, installed steel siding using one around the corners to be sure it lined up, and a 30x50 machine shed for my brother. He didn't trust it so had a contractor re-run with transits. No change.

Harry K

[8NLUGNUT]

My house mover uses his own homemade water level to level the tops of the sonatubes.

I read somewhere the Egyptians used water levels to level the pyramids.

I don't think they used a nice clear plastic hose though.

[chickenman]

one could hire some out of work roman aquaduct builders