shoot the grade
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Wannafish
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Clear tubing filled with water to 4 - 6 inches from ends with ends elevated evenly. Both ends need to be open for air to escape. (Hold both ends at approx. the same height or you will get wet!)
Water will be level at each end of the hose.
Water will be level at each end of the hose.
Egon
Epic Contributor
Could use an ordinary level on a 10 or so foot board.
Hand level that can be sighted through.
cheap hand held lazer
String level
Egon
Hand level that can be sighted through.
cheap hand held lazer
String level
Egon
BB_TX
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Cheapest would be a string level. Just drive a stout stake at each end of where you want the grade, pull a string tight between the two stakes, hang the string level in the center of the string, and adjust one or both ends of the string until the indicator shows level. That should be accurate enough for what you want.
If you wanted really accurate and still fairly cheap, your could buy some clear plastic tubing a little longer than the area you want. Using a black marker, make a mark near each end of the tubing. Turn each end of the tubing up and fill with water until it reaches the mark at both ends. The tubing needs to be large enough for the water to move freely. Then (and this takes 2 people) pull one end of the tube to one end of the grade area, pull the other end to the other end, and raise/lower each end until the water is at the black mark on each end. That is level. Mark your stakes to level and then to the grade desired.
If you wanted really accurate and still fairly cheap, your could buy some clear plastic tubing a little longer than the area you want. Using a black marker, make a mark near each end of the tubing. Turn each end of the tubing up and fill with water until it reaches the mark at both ends. The tubing needs to be large enough for the water to move freely. Then (and this takes 2 people) pull one end of the tube to one end of the grade area, pull the other end to the other end, and raise/lower each end until the water is at the black mark on each end. That is level. Mark your stakes to level and then to the grade desired.
BB_TX
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Dang!! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Rick and Egon both beat me.
you didn't give a distance both ideas are good but if the distance is to far you could use a line level(clips on string) real cheep, or a pop level (little level you look through with line froe level) good for about 50-75 feet. cheep one about 25.00 good ones 50.00 and more.
AndyM
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<font color="blue"> Clear tubing filled with water to 4 - 6 inches from ends with ends elevated evenly. Both ends need to be open for air to escape. (Hold both ends at approx. the same height or you will get wet!)
Water will be level at each end of the hose. </font>
If you need to figure the grade on a long distance (50 to 100 feet), you can use the above method, but with an ordinary garden hose with small lengths of clear hose attached to each end.
This web page shows some pretty good pictures--
http://home.att.net/~therealms/water.htm
They also add that you can use food coloring in the water to enable you to see it in the clear tubing easier.
Water will be level at each end of the hose. </font>
If you need to figure the grade on a long distance (50 to 100 feet), you can use the above method, but with an ordinary garden hose with small lengths of clear hose attached to each end.
This web page shows some pretty good pictures--
http://home.att.net/~therealms/water.htm
They also add that you can use food coloring in the water to enable you to see it in the clear tubing easier.
is this POP level something TSC would have. I have seen out there some lazer levels that I like, but was not sure if they were really that good.
Being an amatuer I was never schooled in the water level thing, but I know they work. I have about 40' to shoot, so I am not sure if that would be what I need. Besides, getting the wife to hold the other end is impossible, unless of course there is money tied to it
Being an amatuer I was never schooled in the water level thing, but I know they work. I have about 40' to shoot, so I am not sure if that would be what I need. Besides, getting the wife to hold the other end is impossible, unless of course there is money tied to it
RobS
Super Member
<font color="blue"> I have seen out there some lazer levels that I like, but was not sure if they were really that good.
</font>
Danny, I just reported on my experience with a laser level over on CountryByNet. You might want to read that.
<font color="blue"> getting the wife to hold the other end is impossible, unless of course there is money tied to it </font>
You can drive a stake in and keep one end fixed. Mark your clear tubes for level and that becomes your datum over the entire area. Measure up/down from that datum for whatever pitch you may want.
I used to have a water level with a beeping device for one person use but I think it got lost in a move. Didn't much care for that model anyway /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
</font>
Danny, I just reported on my experience with a laser level over on CountryByNet. You might want to read that.
<font color="blue"> getting the wife to hold the other end is impossible, unless of course there is money tied to it </font>
You can drive a stake in and keep one end fixed. Mark your clear tubes for level and that becomes your datum over the entire area. Measure up/down from that datum for whatever pitch you may want.
I used to have a water level with a beeping device for one person use but I think it got lost in a move. Didn't much care for that model anyway /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
I used to know a old carpenter who would sight foundations by using a 55 gallon barrell with the top on it and a 1/2 in steel water pipe that would span he width of the barrell.
First he would set the barrell at a simular elevation to the area to be graded and then he would use a level and level the top of the barrell in all directions forcing the bottom solidly into the ground. He could then put the pipe on top of the barrell and sight all corners of the soon to be foundation. He would guarantee to be within 1/2 inch in 100 feet. I never knew him to be off that far.
First he would set the barrell at a simular elevation to the area to be graded and then he would use a level and level the top of the barrell in all directions forcing the bottom solidly into the ground. He could then put the pipe on top of the barrell and sight all corners of the soon to be foundation. He would guarantee to be within 1/2 inch in 100 feet. I never knew him to be off that far.
