Laser Level - How to protect eyes?

[California]

This question would be off-topic in the 'which laser level' thread so I'll start a new thread.

I just got the HF #92703 Self Leveling Laser Level, $39. (Incidentally, this unit's precision is surprisingly good.)

Claimed working distance is 40 ft so the laser can't be very powerful. Is there a risk in looking back at the laser from a distance, far enough out that the laser beam is hard to see as it strikes a flat surface in daylight?

How do professional surveyors deal with getting flashed by their more powerful lasers?

/s/ laser newbie

 

[kennyd]

You are only in danger if you stare into the laser for extended periods of time. It is no more powerful than a laser pointer.

 

[kmdigital]

The higher end laser units use an invisible laser, where you must have a target to determine the correct height, etc. Without the electronic target the laser level is totally useless.

 

[FULLPULL]

Sears has some laser levels they have glasses for you to use with there levels.

 

[LarryD]

The higher end laser units use an invisible laser, where you must have a target to determine the correct height, etc. Without the electronic target the laser level is totally useless.

It's always fun to stand between the laser and target and watch the guy move his rod all over the place trying to get a tone.

I've been on many job sites with laser levels in operation and never even seen a flash of light. Even the guys doing suspended ceilings which is a very visible light don't take special precautions, but then nobody is really staring at the unit.

 

[SPIKER]

My HF laser level uses the red light, and it came with a pair of glasses that were red tinted, I used my own glasses and a white hunk of 1 1/2" styro-foam board, which worked great very white reflective to see the laser... mine was the 26 buck one which wasn't self leveling and it's a hard thing to get to run level... though it does work I'll be putting ti into the yard sale this spring... and going after that self leveling one I thing if I replace it I got it for some landscaping around the barn. I did the laser setup at night and it seemed to work pretty well out to 80+ feet at night. spray painted the dirt where I was high/low with actual " marking.

mark M

 

[California]

white hunk of 1 1/2" styro-foam board, which worked great very white reflective to see the laser

Great idea! I gotta try that.

I wondered if a white bicycle reflector would work as a bright target. Has anyone tried this?

 

[KJM]

I have a cheap laser level of Chinese manufacture. Accurate, but a joke during the day. You can't see the light. I use it by sighting the thing from behind the staff (which is a bit of steel angle at the moment...). You can move up and down till the laser flash is "bright". Looking for the line projected onto the staff is just a recipe for working at dawn and dusk!

I've levelled the site for my 15m x 9m shed using this technique and now have the thing set so I can eyeball it from the tractor seat. Surprisingly quick and simple.

I think you'd have to stare into the laser at point blank range to damage yourself. These things are moderately safe!

/Kevin

 

[UPRAISER]

California

I presume you will place the laser on a tripod, just keep it lower than eye level and you should be fine. Just be sure to check the level in all directions.

The idea that they are invisible is only accurate when in bright sunlight.

The low cost "Chinese" units will work, but usually for a short distance. I have found that if I start close to the unit and then tract it out to the point that I want or need, it will work for about 50'.

The red glasses or goggles that come with the cheap units are not very good, BTW they do not protect your eyes, only let you see the red dot better.

I would not depend on the low cost units for very accurate work since the red dot is fairly large at 50' and the accuracy is limited by your ability to level it.

I have a couple of the cheap units (gifts), and one older higher quality level that I have had for several years. I tried the cheap one on a grading job and found it next to worthless. I used the older one which had a brighter and better dot. I did the rough grading with and and was within 2" over 50' each way.

Just to compare the use of a laser with the good old eye level or "pea gun" that I used for years. I can rough grade a site with it faster and just as accurate. I can also do that while setting on the loader.

I also have a self leveling professional unit with the remote control and target that I finish grade with. The red dot is a beam which is created when the laser head rotates around or back and forth. It is not very visible in bright light either. The red goggles that came with that unit are much superior, I can see the red in bright light fairly good out to 75 to 100'.

The professional unit must be calabrated on a regular basis, that is something that the cheap units do not have.

Curt