Needing a transit/level.......any advice.

[moeh1]

I went the Ebay route years ago for a reasonably priced used transit to layout for a home foundation. Made the measuring stick out of a busted tape measure screwed onto light gauge metal length of kindorf. A tripod was donated. I (and the neighbors) have gotten more use out of this than I ever imagined possible when I bought it. It is easy to keep around if you don't have alot invested...

 

[patrick_g]

Marty, I'm sorry but I looked at 8-10 Kindorf "hits" in Google and didn't find out what it means besides a brand of conduit clamps and special electrical "scafolding." Is kindorf AKA rigid thin wall conduit?

Anyway, sounds like you did good getting a transit. If you are just shooting grades and elevations and not depending on accurate angular mesurements (for trignometric calculations) then a pretty darned cheap transit will do as well as a seriously expensive one (so long as you can get a decent level adjustment.

Pat

 

[HomeBrew2]

I have used just about every kind of transit and level and think the IR units that use a detector on your pole (audio and visual indicatioin) is the cat's meow but pricey. ...

Please bear with me. I'm a recovering-surveyor and trying figger out what you're saying here.

I've lived a sheltered life so, I am unaware of any IR "LEVELS". I'd love to learn more about such things though. (assuming IR = infrared) All this po' bo' has seen is laser levels, ie, amplified visible light, either rotating or dot.

In case you're refering to an EDM and theodolite or, a "total station", which, for non-ultra-long-distance, use IR, and I agree with their usefulness. (Don't know what an IR "detector" is though, unless you mean prism or other "reflector".) But, in such a case, we are then talking about trig levels. If so, cool, that's happenin' for me. Attached is a pic of my modest "transit" earning it's keep today.

Cheers!

PS, I think the previous poster made a typo. Hope that helps you

 

[HomeBrew2]

I have used just about every kind of transit and level and think the IR units that use a detector on your pole (audio and visual indicatioin) is the cat's meow but pricey. ...

Please bear with me. I'm a recovering-surveyor and trying figger out what you're saying here.

I've lived a sheltered life so, I am unaware of any IR "LEVELS". I'd love to learn more about such things though. (assuming IR = infrared) All this po' bo' has seen is laser levels, ie, amplified visible light, either rotating or dot.

In case you're refering to an EDM and theodolite or, a "total station", which, for non-ultra-long-distance, use IR, and I agree with their usefulness. (Don't know what an IR "detector" is though, unless you mean prism or other "reflector".) But, in such a case, we are then talking about trig levels. If so, cool, that's happenin' for me. Attached is a pic of my modest "transit" earning it's keep today.

Cheers!

PS, I think the previous poster made a typo. Hope that helps you

 

[HomeBrew2]

I have used just about every kind of transit and level and think the IR units that use a detector on your pole (audio and visual indicatioin) is the cat's meow but pricey. ...

Please bear with me. I'm a recovering-surveyor and trying figger out what you're saying here.

I've lived a sheltered life so, I am unaware of any IR "LEVELS". I'd love to learn more about such things though. (assuming IR = infrared) All this po' bo' has seen is laser levels, ie, amplified visible light, either rotating or dot.

In case you're refering to an EDM and theodolite or, a "total station", which, for non-ultra-long-distance, use IR, and I agree with their usefulness. (Don't know what an IR "detector" is though, unless you mean prism or other "reflector".) But, in such a case, we are then talking about trig levels. If so, cool, that's happenin' for me. Attached is a pic of my modest "transit" earning it's keep today.

Cheers!

PS, I think the previous poster made a typo. Hope that helps you

 

[caver]

Marty, I'm sorry but I looked at 8-10 Kindorf "hits" in Google and didn't find out what it means besides a brand of conduit clamps and special electrical "scafolding." Is kindorf AKA rigid thin wall conduit?
Pat

Some electricians call Unistrut, Kindorf. Of course Unistrut is also a trade name.

 

[DDT]

I have watching the e bay very close. The used ones are I think worth there money I think, but there is a dealer selling new DW073KD for $200. This do have the clamp and detector (KD model) Since they are a dewalt dealer the 3 yr warrintee is good. If I have not been lead down the wrong trail this should work for me. They do not include the tripod darn-it.
Does this all sound right?

 

[patrick_g]

Please bear with me. I'm a recovering-surveyor and trying figger out what you're saying here.

I've lived a sheltered life so, I am unaware of any IR "LEVELS". I'd love to learn more about such things though. (assuming IR = infrared)

I'm not a surveyor which is a good thing for the world of surveys. One of my contractors showed up on site with a self leveling rotating LASER level that was IR (NOT VISIBLE LIGHT, EVEN AT NIGHT) You had to use the receiver thingy on the pole to detect the beam. The receiver looked like the "regular" ones to me but I'm not a pro. It indicated when you were high or low and was pretty difficult to satisfy and get the "right on " audio signal. He was going on about how superior it was: more accurate, smaller rotating dot, higher collimation, greater range, worked better through dust and smoke (the one benefit of IR I recognized) and I don't recall whatever else he went on about except he said it was quite pricey. I don't know how he defines pricey.

I think if you didn't have any dust or smoke on site the only benefit would be greater range at higher accuracy and bragging rights because it cost more or was new and lemon scented or whatever. I personally don't see how getting a foundatioin or whatever closer than 1/4 inch end to end at 20, 50, or 100 ft is a big deal. I personally don't have an instrument but have a friend who was an Army surveyor who drags his out when I need it. I can use my attachments on a couple hundred feet of garden hose and get within 0.1 inch or better in elevation within a couple hundred feet. Longer hose will work just fine but since you are dragging it around filled with water, longer lengths and multiple setups gets to be a chore.

Pat

 

[moeh1]

Pat,
Kindorf ( at least that is what we call it) is a rectangular kinda -C shaped metal, but it has small lips on the open side that do accept a bunch of specialized inserts. They have one version that is roughly 1-1/4" by 5/8" rectangle and 10' long - very stiff and still light. You can get it pretty cheap at any electrical supply house.
If you already have a busted tape measure lying around, you have a good measuring stick.
I really only used it for grade, I have 100' and 200' tapes and use the 3/4/5 rule or measure diagonals for square.
I used an IR setup once, wasn't thrilled becuase you have to get the IR detector to the beam, then guess how far the bottom is from the ground...Might be great for some folks, I didn't like it.
Best transit use I ever had was laying out the barn foundation wall stakes to hold cement - just kept pounding down til the transit guy said stop, screwed the plywood to the tops of the stakes - all done. We when quick on that job!
best of luck,

 

[HomeBrew2]

I'm not a surveyor ...

... self leveling rotating LASER level that was IR (NOT VISIBLE LIGHT, EVEN AT NIGHT) ... Pat

Fair enough ... technically, I'm not a surveyor either (no ticket) ... which might make both of us dangerous

Very interesting. I'll check out the IR laser. Thank you for the info.

PS, I did not intend my response to be in triplicate ... an undocumented feature of TBN, I guess.

Cheers!