Tool Laser Level options? what do I need? what do I want? what to look for?

[Janger]

I 'need' a laser level. Or at least I would like one. There are a bewildering number of them for sale with a crazy range of prices from $40 for an el-cheapo amazon basics to many in the $80 to $250 range, and many even more than that. I know a few things that I want.

- a horizontal, and vertical line. I don't think I need multiple beams, or do I?
- adjustable angle line - is that actually useful?
- a bright green beam Visible outside. red might be ok, if it is bright. What class is appropriate? What is safe? What isn't safe?
- it should throw a line 40' wide say the front of a house.
- reasonably accurate. 1/8" over 40'? many seem to say 1/4" over 30' which seems inadequate?
- I can supply a tripod
- do I care about self levelling?
- cheap. I think $150 or less.

Any opinions, examples? What do I not know? I'm sure you lot can help me spend money on this...:>

Amazon.ca

$56? not as accurate as I had hoped for.

 

[Doggggboy]

I 'need' a laser level. Or at least I would like one. There are a bewildering number of them for sale with a crazy range of prices from $40 for an el-cheapo amazon basics to many in the $80 to $250 range, and many even more than that. I know a few things that I want.

- a horizontal, and vertical line. I don't think I need multiple beams, or do I?
- adjustable angle line - is that actually useful?
- a bright green beam Visible outside. red might be ok, if it is bright. What class is appropriate? What is safe? What isn't safe?
- it should throw a line 40' wide say the front of a house.
- reasonably accurate. 1/8" over 40'? many seem to say 1/4" over 30' which seems inadequate?
- I can supply a tripod
- do I care about self levelling?
- cheap. I think $150 or less.

Any opinions, examples? What do I not know? I'm sure you lot can help me spend money on this...:>

Amazon.ca

$56? not as accurate as I had hoped for.

I have a Dewalt with horizontal and vertical beams, very useful but the green beam is absolutely useless outside in the daylight any more than 10 or 15 feet away. I'm not sure if the red is better but it can't be worse. If I was buying again I'd get one with the audible receiver. I was using it to level the pad for the above ground pool and ended up doing most of the layout late in the evening so I could see the beam. It's fine indoors.
I think it's this one.

https://www.homedepot.ca/product/dewalt-100-330-ft-green-self-leveling-cross-line-laser-level-with-3-aa-batteries-case/1001042810

 

[Bandit]

Get a tripod with a center column that is adjustable for height, MUCH easier to adjust the height of the light beam. I have a Bosh unit, think it is a 1/4 inch over 100 ft, reasoned, should be 1/8 over 50 ft. The green lite units are more money than red. This one is a cross beam, and a plum unit, can set your spot on the floor/ground and see the center above you on ceiling etc. and vice versa. CAFEFULL of your eyes.
The red does not seem to work any better then the green @Doggggboy it seems then, a shady area can help to see the beam, or dark/nite.
In past use the audible receiver did not seem to be very accurate, a high priced Stabler unit. But was faster. But was some years ago, 10? plus
The adjustable center column tripod also applies to using a building transit!

 

[Susquatch]

the green beam is absolutely useless outside in the daylight any more than 10 or 15 feet away. I'm not sure if the red is better but it can't be worse.

Watt for watt, green will outshine red all day every day. The human eye is most sensitive to Green. It's the last colour to fade as the daylight fades after sundown. The only way red could ever be better would be with much much more power. That's true in bright light and pitch black too.

Your Dewalt prolly has a very low power laser (or a crappy one).

 

[Doggggboy]

Watt for watt, green will outshine red all day every day. The human eye is most sensitive to Green. It's the last colour to fade as the daylight fades after sundown. The only way red could ever be better would be with much much more power. That's true in bright light and pitch black too.

Your Dewalt prolly has a very low power laser (or a crappy one).

Or I just need 2 functioning eyeballs, sigh.

 

[phaxtris]

I use line lasers, plumb lasers, rotary lasers, red, green, all of them on a regular basis. cheap 100$ plumb lasers to 500$ line lasers and 1500$ rotary lasers.

What are you planning to use it for ? None of them are any good beyond 20ft outdoors at midday, 50$ or 500$, green or red, the sun is just to bright. If you plan to use it outdoors at any kind of distance, plan on a detector, or using it early or late in the day when the sun isnt as bright.

You absolutely want it to be self levelling, that's the whole point of a laser level.

The accuracy you want, thats sort of project dependent. Are you wanting to level a deck thats only 20ft wide ? well 1/4 over 40ft is probably more than good enough. Trying to use it to set posts that are 100ft apart....well that last post is going to be pretty far out. Setting a picture frame, plenty good.

Adjustable angle is good for layout when you are trying to line up to a known point at any kind of distance, its pretty finicky tapping the laser left and right trying to move the dot or line 1/4 over 20ft away. That said, not really required, i wouldn't pay extra for it.

They are a handy tool overall, great for construction work.

The more you spend the brighter, more accurate and "sharper" the line is.

 

[Janger]

How do self levelling laser levels work?. I was thinking about pendulum or a plumb bob mechanism so I modelled up the below in CAD. Reading about them apparently the typical approach is to have two motors adjusting the x y axis plane driven by some electronic level sensors. This article briefly explains 3 approaches often used: https://www.laserlevelreview.com/guides/how-it-works-self-levelling/

Below, single axis self levelling pendulum style study.
-the red body holds the lasers and rotates on an axis through the center. little square bars hold the axle and body
-a steel weight is attached to the body so gravity levels the assembly
-Magnets held nearby the weight dampen the swinging while adjusting the angles to level.

 

[Janger]

Instead of buying something I decided to try to make one. This is my manually levelled laser level. Version 1. I found some laser line emitters on ali express a while back, 3V, designed up a basic case, found a spring loaded 3d printable battery holder, threw it together. It works but is fussy to adjust. I went back to the drawing board and am now working on version 2.

 

[Janger]

V2. Needs a lid, and a power switch. Bubble level on top.

 

[phaxtris]

In my experience only rotary lasers have the xy levelling motors

The more common dot and line lasers are all a plumb bob type arrangement, many of them include travel locks for the swinging mechanism when switched off

 

[Mike R]

I have this one:
Huepar Laser level

I used it extensively and my brother has a bosch red laser level. Side by side the green is definitely better and easier to see, but both are relatively easily washed out by strong sunlight.
Inside use is no problem but we used them to put up siding, eavestrough and do landscape work, and I learned that it was best to plan ahead and make all my alignment marks at dusk or after dark when the line is easily visible, or at least when there is shade.
I was actually impressed with that one, compared to a big name brand its very capable, has rechargeable battery that lasts a long time, and just needs USB-C to plug in to charge. Also durable (may have been dropped a few times )
There are also active "receivers" for laser levels to let you use them in bright light, but I have no experience with them. The default is a simple green target to make seeing the laser easier but in my experience the green target didn't help much in bright light.

As for self leveling, seems that the one I have is pretty good and repeatable.

 

[Elektrishun]

My laser level will audible alarm when not level.

When working as an electrician that tool was indispensable for running cable hangers, etc.

Still a great tool to have.