Rotating Laser Level

[_RaT_]

Any recommendations for a nice rotating laser level? Auto level would be nice. Budget would be under $1000. RaT...

 

[PineRidge]

Rat my eBay search found about 28 rotating lasers

 

[Junkman]

I have a DeWalt one and while it is good, the accuracy drops off after about 100 feet. For my purposes it is fine. They have come a long way since I purchased mine two years ago, but price determines the quality. Will you use it often enough to warrant the purchase? If not, it might be best to rent and save the $$$$$ .... Mine is the model DW073. I found this auction for the self leveling model that came out after I purchased mine. e bay auction.. Junk...

 

[v8dave]

Don't know what your use amount will be. But, on the off chance that it's occasional, I rented one (rotating laser, tripod, rod and detector) at Home Depot for use in developing a contour plot/survey of my property. I can't recall how much it was. HD was the only rental place I found that rented the laser equipment. They sell the rental equipment too. I seem to recall it was fairly reasonable. Try it before you buy it?

 

[DannyD]

I have been on a search for a level to do some work on my place. Have not found a lazer that is more than 1/2 inch accurate at 100 feet.

Did find a transit at Lowes, scope type, way more accurate and only around 250.00, with tripod.

Most lazers I have seen are +/- 1/4 inch at 50 feet, I can do that with my eyes, and a shelf off even 1/4 inch is not going to hold much

 

[_RaT_]

Just to give some background. I have a auto scope that nails everything dead on, problem is, it requires two people to be productive. Lasers can be inaccurate, it does depend on how you use them and without a doubt, the quality of them. We always calibrate ours (at work)every morning. By going to the two extremes of your project approx. 180 degrees from each other and marking your pole, you get a good idea where your at. Taking the average of that reading makes for some pretty accurate shots. I also find it best to come up to the mark with my receiver rather then down. For setting forms, lasers work well. It's rare on residential work to shoot 100' since the laser will be set up somewhere near the center of the project. For commercial work which the only place I have any real experience with lasers you will frequently encounter long distances. If the shots critical, we shoot it with a scope like a auto level. For much of the rest, we set up a laser, a $5000 model that works pretty well. It just so much more productive in the forming stage to use laser when 3 or 4 teams are all working the trenches setting forms. When you get in over your head (literally), lasers can really aid since you have sight or sound to guide you with less interference from all the racket that one finds on a job. My need for a laser will be ongoing since I am in the process of getting geared up to build my home, for the most part by myself. I typically double check myself with my scope.

 

[dummy]

We have a Hilti PR-16 and a Lasermark LM30. The Hilti has performed well under all outside conditions. The lasermark leaves a couple things to be desired. The most annoying with it is on the receiver volume, low is too low and high is too high, no in-between.
These robotoolz are supposed to be good ( no experience just word of mouth) robo but if you want whats supposed to be the cadillac Spectra

 

[wroughtn_harv]

I've had good luck with this brand and this supplier. And this unit looks like the cat's meow for what you're doing. I use laser levels all the time because I'm just contrary enough to have to work by myself. But of course the good side of that equasion is I get to work with a great conversationalist.

http://www.whitecapdirect.com/store/worker?command=prodsearch&command=prdcompsrch&destination=%2Fstore%2Fproduct.jsp&text=299RT76902&searchby=productid&method=exact<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

 

[_RaT_]

Harv, your link did not work. What brand are you talking about. We have a WhiteCap here in town. Intersting place.

 

[_RaT_]

I understand that Spectra is suppose to be one of the best.