Need a good rotating laser level

[mfairbank]

Hello,
Im building a pole barn 30x40x16 and am needing a good laser level to get everthing level quickly. Im needing something that will not be to costly but that is accurate and good quality....any brands and styles that anyone has used and worked well for them??

Thanks,
Matt

 

[beenthere]

What is your cost limit?
What is your accuracy range?

 

[jeffxjet]

I just got this one to help me on the layout of my barn. I didn't think much of it before I bought it, but it has been a tremendous help. I don't know how I got around without it now.

Shop Bosch 800' Beam Self Leveling Rotary Laser Level at Lowes.com

The website is a little vague but at the store, that laser comes with a tripod, a measuring pole and a laser receiver that beeps when you have captured the laser(you mount it to the pole). This is so you can level by yourself. It's a little pricey but it's value is spot on.

 

[evo803]

Pacific Laser Systems pls360 will give a constant visible level line using optics instead of rotating the head. I have owned one for years and is an amazing tool.

 

[mfairbank]

What is your cost limit?
What is your accuracy range?

cost limit is around 200 buck give or take 50 dollars and the accuracy range is probably about 1/8" to about 50 feet

 

[EddieWalker]

I have a Spectra. There are two grades of laser levels out there. Both will do the job, but one is going to be alot more accurate over a longer range and weather conditions. What is your budget and how many other uses will you have for it?

For just building a pole barn, I'd buy 50ft of hose and make a water level. Cheap, accurate and easy to use.

Eddie

 

[grsthegreat]

if its only for a single job....... go to a rental yard. Ive rented professional grade lasers for $50 a day. and i can set everything i need to set in 1 day with no help.

I do own an old fashion glass site transit /linker rod from back in the 80's, and i still occasionally use it. but rarely.

 

[mfairbank]

Well the main reason im buying this laser level because of the pole barn but i do plan to be doing a complete kitchen remodel and a add on to my house. So im needing a level to last me several years....and i just like the convience of having my own tool. im sure you understand...lol
and of course the wife is gonna use it in the house for hanging pictures..and stuff.

Im currently looking at one its a Johnson Level 40-6515 Self-Leveling Rotary Laser Level
Amazon.com: Johnson Level and Tool 40-6515 Self-Leveling Rotary Laser Level: Home Improvement

At first i set a price range for about $100 to $200 but with doing more research i always want the best so i keep going up in price.

 

[bearcreek paul]

Water level cheap easy accurate and you can see it in daylight.60 ft 5 bucks at the box stores.That's what I ended up using after I could not see my fancy laser.If you decide to go with a laser go high end or you won't be able to see it.

 

[grsthegreat]

Water level cheap easy accurate and you can see it in daylight.60 ft 5 bucks at the box stores.That's what I ended up using after I could not see my fancy laser.

I have a water level also. used it to set up batter boards years ago. they do work great...and durn cheap.

 

[mfairbank]

Water level cheap easy accurate and you can see it in daylight.60 ft 5 bucks at the box stores.That's what I ended up using after I could not see my fancy laser.If you decide to go with a laser go high end or you won't be able to see it.

Im sure that you can't see the laser at 50ft with about every laser during the day light.
Has anyone ever tried using a laser at dusk and were they able to see the laser well??

One of my buddies said he just used his laser level at night and didn't have problem with seeing the laser and marked all his boards and started the next morning on building again

 

[2manyrocks]

Another vote for the water level. Add food coloring to the water for more visibility. Never gets out of calibration. No batteries.

Fi-shock used to make a water level kit with a water column at each end marked in inches. Very easy to see how much you were out of level.

Plain ole clear tube will work, too.

 

[grsthegreat]

Im sure that you can't see the laser at 50ft with about every laser during the day light.
Has anyone ever tried using a laser at dusk and were they able to see the laser well??

One of my buddies said he just used his laser level at night and didn't have problem with seeing the laser and marked all his boards and started the next morning on building again

They also sell red tinted glasses for the light emitting lasers. These make it easier to see in the light. Most contractor grade units have a remote unit that beeps and holds a tone when the right level is hit.

 

[smiley]

About 5 yrs ago I bought a used Dewalt rotary on ebay for about $75 and in a separate buy an audible target for around $25. With the audible target you don't have to worry about seeing the laser. It's not a $4000 dual plane superaccurate long range instrument but Dewalt is a well built rugged unit and has all the range and accuracy needed for most any building or small construction project. I just checked and the cheapest one I see on ebay right now is at $159.

 

[mfairbank]

thanks for all the good ideas guys

I have been lookin at one for about $299 at HD and for a extra $100 i can get the laser reciver.
Its a Johnson auto leveling laser level MOD# 40-6515
I thinking about getting this one because i can also use it to level ground for the concrete pad before i even start digging the holes for the poles.

But i will wait till i get home to buy this so i can recieve a extra military discount. Im in afghanistan right now and have been away from home for 12 months now and i leave for home really soon. and thats when all the construction starts

 

[grsthegreat]

thanks for all the good ideas guys

I have been lookin at one for about $299 at HD and for a extra $100 i can get the laser reciver.
Its a Johnson auto leveling laser level MOD# 40-6515
I thinking about getting this one because i can also use it to level ground for the concrete pad before i even start digging the holes for the poles.

But i will wait till i get home to buy this so i can recieve a extra military discount. Im in afghanistan right now and have been away from home for 12 months now and i leave for home really soon. and thats when all the construction starts

yeiks, isn't there a home depot there hehe

just joking. Thank you for your service to this country. god bless you

 

[mfairbank]

yeiks, isn't there a home depot there hehe

just joking. Thank you for your service to this country. god bless you

yea not to many home depot here in this country... Can't wait to see the great USA!!!
Thanks for the support

 

[jimgerken]

Hi. Don't know if you are still looking for a laser, but here goes. I own and use a water level. They suck. Heavy junk to drag around. Almost force you to have a helper to hold both ends up correctly, messy, yuck. Although they are real cheap and deadly accurate, so your choice.
I stumbled onto and bought this:
Factory Reconditioned Bosch GRL250HV-RT Dual-Axis Self-Leveling Rotary Laser
So far it seems like a heck of a bargain. I already had a construction tripod (add $50 for that) that is compatible. Setting up the laser takes five minutes, measuring with it takes even less for site grade type work. It is a very sweet luxury. Yes, I could rent one for less, but it seems like I need it for a few minutes one day, then a few minutes again in a week, then another job came up for field drainage improvements, etc...
I don't know why it is reconditioned, but mine looks brand new, in the case, with receiver, and remote control, and works perfectly. It has a one-year warrantee.
As said before, THANKS for your service, we appreciate it sir!

 

[cycle_gator]

First of all, thank you for your service.

It took a while but I located a really nice Porter-Cable unit on E-bay. I have had it for three years and decided it is not replaceable. It sets up in about 5 minutes and has a full remote control for one person operation. Get a good one, even if lightly used. Hou will not be sorry.

 

[2manyrocks]

For daily use, a laser level is going to be easier to use and more cost/time/ease of use effective.

For occasional use where you don't want to tie up a $100-$150, water levels are hard to beat. The key to avoiding frustration is to set one end and not move it. That end is used as the reference point. Typically, you have a jug or other reservoir of water and you just keep it at one point.

The other free end is then used to find the points of level everywhere else needed.

With the fishock level, I attached a board to the bottom of each level, and it was no problem to set the board in footers or septic tank fields. If you're just using a simple tube system, it would be more difficult because you'd probably have to set a stake, mark your reference point, and then measure down into the footer to find your point of level.

Come back safely. Thank you for your service.