Best laser levels according to redditors
We found 56 Reddit comments discussing the best laser levels. We ranked the 35 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
We found 56 Reddit comments discussing the best laser levels. We ranked the 35 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
They most likely use specific Drywall Screwdrivers which have a better version of that dimpler already built into the drill. Like this one
Or you could just buy a real, self-leveling one for about $35.
https://www.amazon.com/Tacklife-SC-L01-50-Self-Leveling-Horizontal-Cross-Line/dp/B01N33JJ3R/ref=sxin_2_b2b_sx_ftd_qd?keywords=self+leveling+laser&pd_rd_i=B01N33JJ3R&pd_rd_r=ff7da6a5-c4b5-466e-932f-f1151ecae3d6&pd_rd_w=IgbHy&pd_rd_wg=HUoOl&pf_rd_p=96f4a28d-bbd4-4b1b-b36b-32fdf628e1b1&pf_rd_r=C1XHJF5E4S9Y5W3T90HB&qid=1568934347&sprefix=self+leveling+
Black & Decker BDL220S Laser Level https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000B8GBBS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_wHpFybMPT44NN
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N33JJ3R/
$32 USD. Works great.
I'm going to be honest with you, If you want a "Basic" self leveling laser, don't get any of those. They're all over 100 dollars.
you know what you need? This
50 dollars is pretty steep too, but you get a tripod with it.
don't need a tripod? Here.
Mine is a "parkside" I got from Lidl for 20 bucks, works fine. If you're not using it every day, cheap is fine.
The bottom of a laser level: you nail/attach the tack to the wall then can swivel the laser where you need it. Hold on, looking for a pic... ETA: Like the base of this one. I have the exact one in your pic, but I'll be darned if I can remember who made it so I can find a pic. The bottom of the actual level is magnetic and sits on the ring, and has a little thing that turns the level and the base stays stuck to the wall. (Edited a thousand times because I'm not making sense today. Yay cold meds.)
Occer 12x25 Compact Binoculars... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N33JJ3R?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Link says binoculars but it’s the level.
Try a laser level! For projecting a straight line onto the model. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PQ4PJYC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_xjMXzb7ZKQVJ3
Here's a video review -- pay special attention to the second half talking about the laser. https://youtu.be/YwuVKTynlYY
Proffesional Commercial and residential GC here. I use various types of lasers all day. DeWalts crossline laser is hands down best bang for your buck and most versatile.
DEWALT DW088K Cross Line Laser https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B009O94W3E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_-jVPAbFRJJ31J
Canadian tire has them for $10 cheaper and will go on sale a couple of times a year.
I, and most people I see who use them, use a laser level which you can find in most any hardware store or, of course, online.
As an added bonus, they make deployment a breeze (see player on left). Just measure your 7" or 10" close to one table edge, lay the laser down at that point, and measure again along the opposite edge to make sure it's...well...level. Then you can quickly and accurately deploy your models without constantly remeasuring or relying on a scattering of dice/markers.
Cheaper one are available
Semlos Multipurpose Laser Level Measuring Tape Standard and Metric Tape Ruler (8ft/2.5M) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XHVXPSJ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_2mMKDb7BS99YF
Not HF but I bought this $38 self leveling laser level from Amazon and it's actually been working well -- always tested true level with my bubble levels
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N33JJ3R/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I moved from Boston to Athens GA and bought my first real (but still cheap) home. Its a great functional house but all the storage space had this very cheap wire shelving that absolutely sucks. The 120sf master closet was not functional at all. Neither was the laundry room. Or the 4 other bedroom closets. Or the pantry.
So I called California Closets and Inspired closets. Two national chains and the only providers of a service like this in Athens GA. They both had very slow response times and took more than 3 weeks to visit my home to do a walk through and then another 2 weeks to get a quote. Inspired never showed up.
They were PRICEY. California came with this proposal for $2,929.
Our goal was to get rid of our dressers in our master bedroom and have some drawers in the closet so we could fit all of our clothing in there. California let us know that an option with 16 drawers (8 for each of us) would be $5,000 or more plus tax. He also let me know the install team is backed up and it would take 6 weeks until they could get to the job. I didn't bother hassling him for a quote.
So I shopped around a bit and decided to buy some Easy Track systems from Build.com. I looked around my house and decided to not only build out my master closet but also my laundry room, pantry, three guest bedroom closets and basement bedroom closet.
I measured each closet and drew some designs on a notebook. This and this.
Then I made this list of the Easy Track systems I would need to order to accomplish all of this.
Then I compiled my order on Build.com. I called them and was able to get a 10% discount on the pricing. Here is my receipt.
$2,710.02 + $189.70 tax for a grand total of: $2,899.72
Then I borrowed my neighbors miter saw and got to work. First I ripped out the old wire shelving and then spackled the holes and repainted. This took about an hour. I drank 2 miller lites while doing this. If you end up starting a business I recommend skipping that step.
I drank two more miller lites and listened to this audiobook while I put together all 16 drawers with wood glue and a rubber mallet. This took about 3 hours total and was the hardest part of the entire process.
The next morning I hung the track system on the wall using my laser level (which is the most handy tool ever for a home owner) and started the install. This took a total of about 8 hours for the master closet. I got a lot faster on the second half. If I were doing it again I would probably get it done in closer to 5 hours.
This is the final product:
Master closet empty. Full. Laundry room. Pantry.
We cleaned out all three of our dressers and fit all of the things from the previous closet layout in with ease. Then we listed them on craigslist.
I went on and did the other 4 closets and easily multiplied my available storage space in this home by at least 8x overall.
How much would all this work have cost me if I hired it out? No telling. Maybe $8k? $10k? 15k? Not to mention the fact it would have taken about 10 weeks from the desire to get it done to actually getting it done.
I spent about 20 hours and $3k. I think I could do the next one in 10 hours total.
Are you a little handy and a fast learner? Set something up and start offering this service! Doing this while you have a full time job is the perfect way to start. More on that here.
Don’t like closet building? Check out this list and take your pick.
I'm not a huge DIY guy mostly posting because I want to see what others have to say, but as someone that is not that great at hanging things, an electronic leveling system has been amazing for hanging things easily [like this] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0793LFSP4/ref=sspa_dk_detail_1?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B0793LFSP4&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=f0dedbe2-13c8-4136-a746-4398ed93cf0f&pd_rd_wg=Xl8Z1&pf_rd_r=2YZ9NC9C8N5XZ80YJWJ5&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&pd_rd_w=18A0T&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pd_rd_r=b4759eb3-f315-11e8-a029-3b664630e258)
Thanks!
It's just a laser level. I picked it up when started this project. I used it for framing, tile, cutting in the niche and setting my shower doors plum. Great tool. http://amzn.com/B00NQUJ2AK
Welcome to the world of wood construction; where walls are never straight or plumb.
Working off chalk lines, or using a laser will help you:
https://www.amazon.com/HAMMERHEAD-HLFL01-installation-Alignment-Wallpaper/dp/B074J7VV52
A 3 plane laser is a wonderful tool for layout. I have a Bosch GLL3-33 CG and it’s saved me countless hours on the jobsite. Absolutely worth it.
Oh, it will be used for way more than just the tiling. I have loads of projects and generally always do that this would be put to use with. I get what you are saying and yeah, there are other ways to do the job just dine, but if you get down to it that way, you don't really ever need a laser level at all. It for sure is a very "nice to have" tool.
In my research, I have see lots of good things about this one and, besides the magnets, seems to be a pretty decent value. Not a "name" brand really, but reviews I have seen and the specs seem like an honest investment at that price.
Huepar Self-Leveling Green Laser Level 360 Cross Line with 2 Plumb Dots Laser Tool -360-Degree Horizontal Line Plus Large Fan Angle of Vertical Beam with Up & Down Points -Magnetic Pivoting Base 621CG https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FKFCMDN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_ztNWCb3ZQTYBS
I have had a Stanley fat max locking cross line laser for probably 10 years with no complaints. This bosch looks good for the $$$ Bosch Self-Leveling Cross-Line Red-Beam Laser Level GLL 30 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GJ40TOM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_YnbFDbZATZBMW
There is no such thing as an objectively ideal fit.
Fit is about balancing goals.
For someone in your situation (two bikes with different current setups) there are three major ways to start to explore this.
1 - Make the bikes identical, and start tweaking from there as you discover "problems" you want to try and address.
2 - Leave them different and compare and contrast.
3 - Use a camera with a timer or a friend to photograph you on the two bikes and start to look at current body position vs "goal" body position and evaluate your own fit.
I'm 110% with Andrewcooke that the way to start is a bunch of cheap stems. I have everything from 50 to 130 with a variety of angles at home. Cheap stems are $10 or less used. You only really need two seatposts (straight and setback) in your fit parts bin. (TBF, that's less and less true every year as 27.2 becomes less standard)
Using trig or this great stem comparison tool you can calculate the changes to stack and reach.
Using a $50 XY laser you can easily measure your own true stack and reach numbers, and transfer fits between bikes with different geometries.
The value of #3 is that a lot of fit (and why I have paid for a fit more than once) is about you, and the rotation of your hips, how you hold your arms, and how you position your body. Depending on hip rotation you can take a "good fit" and cause yourself pain.
And last, after all that aimless musing on my part, don't rush into this, there's nothing better than miles to help you decide on reach and stack.
Saddle height, that's a different issue, that's much more black and white.
There are units which throw a straight line rather than painting one while spinning.
http://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DW088K-Cross-Line-Laser/dp/B009O94W3E
http://youtu.be/Ojj4-W1svw4?t=1m43s
I have worked with a lot of brands of lasers and have never used any that work in the manner you are looking for. What you want is a pole mount for lasers. Something like these:
http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-BP350-Telescoping-4-Inch-20-Inch/dp/B001U89QH4/
http://www.engineersupply.com/CST-berger-12-foot-laser-pole-58-lp12-um.aspx
Buy a mounting pole that works for you and you should be able to use almost any line laser on it.
I got a laser level from walmart, it's nice because I can put it on the table and it casts a line, so I don't have to worry too much about my hand shaking, just line up the arc lines with the cast line.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/BLACK-DECKER-BDL220S-Mounting-Accessories/sim/B000B8GBBS/2
Buy This. Then putt. Keep the red on the ball as long as possible. http://www.amazon.com/Blackhttp://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-BDL220S-Laser-Level/dp/B000B8GBBS/ref=sr_1_2?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1380586268&sr=1-2&keywords=black+and+decker+laser+level-Decker-BDL220S-Laser-Level/dp/B000B8GBBS/ref=sr_1_2?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1380586268&sr=1-2&keywords=black+and+decker+laser+level
I have an army painter line laser, and got one because I saw two other people using them (in a fully lit room). The price seemed a little high. The non-line thing, the crossover x, really? That sucks. The word is that they are finnicky - the QA must suck because some are fine and other aren't. I've heard about other laser line levels having a curve to them perhaps because the lens was mismounted. I haven't heard about the non-line ones, but people were talking about how even with fresh batteries the line didn't work very brightly on some of them.
I had a similar issue, bought mine, tried it out same day, worked great. Left the batteries in there, came back to play with it a week later and, same as you, working, but barely. Just mega-dim.
So, I got new batteries. Tried them, they work fine. Now I store the batteries next to the laser in a snack bag. When its game time, pop in the batteries, then take them out hours and hours later when the games are done. I haven't needed to buy a third set of batteries after the first mistake of leaving them in there for a week straight. I have RC things as well, and those batteries are way more problematic. Storing the batteries out of the device isn't a big deal.
The army painter target lock laser works fine if you're good about battery care. Can we get a pic of the X thing? I bet if you send that pic to army painter they'll help you out.
A quick googling shows that this is being talked about on the FFG forums. Here's some things I found:
(germany)
(remove the saw attachment, best deal, same quality as army painter)
($15)
We have an old Schondstedt like /u/HighArctic shows, and it's a great backup. The thing must be like 30 years old but still trucks along.
Our MagnaTrak 202 worked great for a long time. Now Bosch bought out CST / Berger, and I got the run-around to get it repaired from our local dealership. I'll probably end up sending it out to this guy in Texas that always advertises in the survey magazines.
I have heard really good things about the newest Maggie. Supposedly it is a similar technology to their old pistol style locators but in a more ergonomic package and normal batteries. I loved that old pistol for sectional work as you could sling it across your shoulder in the holster and basically forget about it till needed. Nice and compact.
This one is awesome
Here's the one I got, for reference: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07F5L69GD/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I kind of wish I had more projects to use it for... should I just start tiling random walls? ;)
The big thing to look for is that it does 3 planes (rotary/vertical/horizontal) which means you can align it exactly with how your screen hangs from the ceiling and get a perfectly orthogonal line traced on the ceiling.
Simple operation and works pretty well
https://www.amazon.com/Leveling-Alignment-Horizontal-Batteries-Construction/dp/B07CVZHRQ2
This is the one I have.
It may be overkill for your application.
Good info. First off, you'll definitely want a green laser for visibility outdoors. You're right - Dewalt has great 20v ones in the $1000+ range -- but I suspect that something in the $500 to $600 range could do a great job for your applications. For ex: this Topcon gets great reviews, and is construction rated for shock, dust and water resistance, along with having far greater range than you describe needing. It appears to be accurate to +/- 1/8 inch at 150 ft -- or better, and is self leveling. I see users commenting that they get better than the promised 40 to 60 hours battery life, and you can swap in either rechargeable or off the shelf batteries (D cells I think). If it were me, I'd start looking in this range, compare a few models and reviews. Here's a link to the Topcon:
https://www.amazon.com/Leveling-Horizontal-Resistant-Construction-Receiver/dp/B079V4QCT3?SubscriptionId=AKIAI4T22JU7SBN4REAQ&tag=tools1st-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B079V4QCT3
Buy a super cheap laser level. They are too dim to use in bright daylight, but they'd be bright enough at dusk:
http://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-BDL220S-Laser-Level/dp/B000B8GBBS
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DV5PM12/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_3?pf_rd_p=1944687502&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000B8GBBS&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0K9ZX5Y7JC72XMC01PRQ
Here is what I found, use it at your own risk:
If you must drill, the holes should be smaller than the screws, almost half the size, so that the screws hold. But if going into drywall, I would not pre-drill.
Good luck, you are going to have a blast. And worst case scenario I am sure you could trade some VR time with a friend with mounting experience!
Wow, prices have really come down since I last looked. I was looking at a few different Bosch models, and they all seemed good. Something like this
Something like this should work, even laying on its side, putting the laser pretty flat with the floor.
Did you know Amazon will donate a portion of every purchase if you shop by going to smile.amazon.com instead? Over $50,000,000 has been raised for charity - all you need to do is change the URL!
Here are your smile-ified links:
MagnaTrak 202
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