Affordable, transit level recommendations?

[paulsharvey]

"Thought I’d ask here, any recommendations for one that wont break the bank, $150-$200 that I could use by myself?"

The Use By myself part; you Do Not want a proper transit for that; and from what I'm reading into this; you really only need to "Level" this to what we call earthworks tolerances; plus or minus a tenth is fine; once you're ready to build the shop, you will shoot the forms and do fine grading to the forms and strings. A Lock Level is the way I would go, or a laser. Just know you don't want the visual style; they are Cheap, and are a pain in the butt; you would want the style with the recievwr that beeps.

By the visual lasers being a pain in the butt; what I mean; is, in the bright day, you going to struggle with seeing it; add dust and all, you end up with a laser beam that "blooms" and makes a larger, less defined mark on your grade rod

 

[Doorman63]

A good laser level has plenty more uses when building a building or anything really.

I’ve got a Bosch that’s a green laser that’ll shoot 100’.Bosch 100 ft. Green Self Leveling Laser with VisiMax Technology, L-Bracket Mount Plus Compact Tripod with Extendable Height GLL10040G+BT150 - The Home Depot

 

[paulsharvey]

I would Not recommend renting these. The price is Insane for a DIY're that might need to rent it 4 or 5 times for a day to complete a job.

 

[paulsharvey]

There is also the cheapest way. You set a pin in the center, and tape a 4 ft Level to a 15 ft straight edge, and build little "pads" of dirt out Level from the center pin, that serves as our benchmark. You can set secondary grade stakes out 15 ft and then repeat. You do introduce a degree of error every step out you make, maybe a 1/4" in 15 ft

 

[mike0000]

There is also the cheapest way. You set a pin in the center, and tape a 4 ft Level to a 15 ft straight edge, and build little "pads" of dirt out Level from the center pin, that serves as our benchmark. You can set secondary grade stakes out 15 ft and then repeat. You do introduce a degree of error every step out you make, maybe a 1/4" in 15 ft

That’s how I pretty much built our pool pavilion. Center pin and attached my 6’ level to a long straight board, at 24’x24’ it did just fine. I definitely have my terminology wrong it seems. I appreciate all the input, and education.

 

[CalG]

I use this

It's only an optical level.
About 25 X magnification

 

[paulsharvey]

If we want to get ghetto and creative at the same time; I'll bet there is a way to 3d print a swing bearing with a picatiny rail and a bubble level, and we can mount a 3-9×40 rifle scope in our 3d printed swing bearing

There are a dozen ways to get to where you want to end up; I just would look at the other jobs that might need it, the level of precision required, the ability to talk your wife into holding the grade rod while you take measurements, ect and pick what you need based on that.

The hose and water trick, I get, and it will work, but it's just not something I would mess with.

 

[paulsharvey]

If you really checked most concrete slabs, you would find most have atleast 1/2" of variation, even across 40 ft.

 

[JimRB]

I got my level at Sears, 28 years ago. I see one on Craigslist for $110. Our barn is 72x36. Scraped off 3 feet of dirt with a box blade.

 

[camshawn]

I have a sears craftsman transit I picked up at the flea market for $75 a few yrs ago. It works great but you need a second person or a prop to hold the stick square and plumb. I have used a rotary level (Dewalt) from my friend and it is now a one person job. Both work.