Laser Level

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 5:50 pm

I guess I have sorta just done what you recommend.

I have peg board hung on one wall of my work area. I hung a plumb line on a peg in one of the holes and using that I checked a vertical row of holes in the peg board; they are very close to right on. ASSUMING the that the horizontal holes are in fact horizontal,

All of the leveling screws were withdrawn (no correction). I then checked the laser beam against the peg board. The laser beam (both horizontal and vertical) is right on.

One of the two bubble levels is close but the other is way off. If those spirit levels had been adjustable, this would have been a great tool. As is it is about 50% useful. I can do just as well with a chalk line and a bubble level that hangs on the chalk line string.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 6:05 pm

[quote="dusty"]I guess I have sorta just done what you recommend.

I have peg board hung on one wall of my work area. I hung a plumb line on a peg in one of the holes and using that I checked a vertical row of holes in the peg board]
Sell it on e-bay. You oughta get twice what you paid.

Oh! Put a Shopsmith logo on it. Then maybe 4x!:rolleyes:

reible · Post by **reible** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 6:33 pm

I have a different style/version of one of these. You know it sounded great and I figured I'd get a lot of use out of it. Not so much. The plan was to use a camera tripod (med. duty type, new just over $100). It has levels and you can get it level camera wise... not so level when the laser is mounted.

Added a $20 part that was to make the leveling easier and better that mounted between the tripod and level. I think they saw me coming on that, you tweak it then when you have it almost there it moves a lot rather then that last tiny amount you want. Makes it pretty much useless.

I gave up on both of those options unless I feel I need some stress in my life.

I may some day get a real base for it to sit on or maybe I'll just go for a self leveling version like they use on This Old House type shows.

I do still use it but mostly for other projects where I need it right on only one axes. Works fine for lining up a row of pictures, that sort of thing but it takes way to much work to be able to spin any where in a room an expect to use it to establish a plane.

While in HS I took an advanced math class when we got lessons in the use of a surveyor's transit (actually a really nice one). Then got to use it as field work on the trig part of the class. Got to do things like find the height of the chimney on the school, "treasure" map like start here go in this direction xx feet at 67 deg. etc. of course to make it interesting we had to find another way of doing it as the school was sitting in the way of the original map... Anyway I got quite good at leveling.

Later when while in the army I got to put this to use in FDC classes. Fun times if you like blowing up things you can't see. Only got to do that in practice so it was fun for me. Anyway weeks and weeks of leveling training. Bet all that is electronic now.

So I digressed a bit... Leveling can be interesting with these laser devices but if you want to spend time working on the project rather then playing with the device I think you need to spend a bit more.

Ed

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 2:35 am

Grumble Grumble Grumble I really did not need to blow an hour on this tonight, but I did!

Not the same as Dusty's, but similar design. The base also has a hinge on the front which allows it to project lines below it.

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Set it up on a known level counter and set front to rear with igag.

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Left to right was adjusted after mounting on to base. The front to rear was not altered.

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The lines projected(cross hair hor/vert) were correct(at least purty good for spirit level setting). The left to right vial is accurate, but the front/rear vial places the bubble near the rear line when base is level ala igag. The splitters were in agreement on the projected horizontal line.

One thing I do not like, is the laser itself although tightly secured by magnets in both the base and the level, does deflect some when pushed on the front. This is the result of no definite stop for the back hinge(the laser is hinged on the back, and the base is hinged in the front. That allows projecting hor line either below or above the laser.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 6:21 am

reible wrote:I have a different style/version of one of these. You know it sounded great and I figured I'd get a lot of use out of it. Not so much. The plan was to use a camera tripod (med. duty type, new just over $100). It has levels and you can get it level camera wise... not so level when the laser is mounted.

Added a $20 part that was to make the leveling easier and better that mounted between the tripod and level. I think they saw me coming on that, you tweak it then when you have it almost there it moves a lot rather then that last tiny amount you want. Makes it pretty much useless.

I gave up on both of those options unless I feel I need some stress in my life.

I may some day get a real base for it to sit on or maybe I'll just go for a self leveling version like they use on This Old House type shows.

I do still use it but mostly for other projects where I need it right on only one axes. Works fine for lining up a row of pictures, that sort of thing but it takes way to much work to be able to spin any where in a room an expect to use it to establish a plane.

While in HS I took an advanced math class when we got lessons in the use of a surveyor's transit (actually a really nice one). Then got to use it as field work on the trig part of the class. Got to do things like find the height of the chimney on the school, "treasure" map like start here go in this direction xx feet at 67 deg. etc. of course to make it interesting we had to find another way of doing it as the school was sitting in the way of the original map... Anyway I got quite good at leveling.

Later when while in the army I got to put this to use in FDC classes. Fun times if you like blowing up things you can't see. Only got to do that in practice so it was fun for me. Anyway weeks and weeks of leveling training. Bet all that is electronic now.

So I digressed a bit... Leveling can be interesting with these laser devices but if you want to spend time working on the project rather then playing with the device I think you need to spend a bit more.

Ed

I think that I have spent about all the time I am going to spend on this one. It'll go back under the work bench where it will be forgotten for another couple years.

My wife doesn't hang pictures in a straight line anymore anyhow. I think she calls it the gallery effect.

Oh well. At least the work bench is level even if the laser level doesn't indicate so.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 7:27 am

It is not in my nature to give up; at least not until I have destroyed any opportunity to "fix it".

Having sorta given up, I decided there was nothing to be lost by tearing it apart - in an attempt to fix it. I have torn it apart and I have a plan for fixing it but I cannot complete the job until I find my tube of syllastic (sp).

I stated earlier that if the viles were adjustable, this would be a pretty decent tool (for $30). Well, they aren't exactly adjustable but I'm going to adjust it (the one that is way off). The viles are glued in place at the time of assembly; probably at the time they are installed and adjusted.

I very carefully pried the suspect vile out and I will now reinstall it and adjust it as it should have been.

Getting it all back together without breaking anything is all that remains (once I find the syllastic).

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JPG · Post by **JPG** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 2:49 pm

Mine would not relinquish the vial, so -

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I have made my peace with it.

As has already been said, absolute accuracy not relevant.

Problem is, it can be(the laser projects a very straight 'line').

P.S. The vial 'calibration' matches the laser - the base be damned!;)

robinson46176 · Post by **robinson46176** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 3:43 pm

Ever try to use a long plumb-bob line in gusty weather...

I have an angle gauge that works by simple gravity like a little plumb-bob but behind a clear face where it gets no wind. Gravity always seems to know which way is straight down...

.

robinson46176 · Post by **robinson46176** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 3:55 pm

[quote="JPG40504"]
P.S. The vial 'calibration' matches the laser - the base be damned!]

My old static wheel balancer is the same way. I can plop it down anywhere and adjust the 3 leveling knobs so the bubble is in the center of the ring and it is fine. The floor is just not a factor.
In theory I should be able to sit a level on the flange around the cone where the wheel sits and it read level in all directions. I have never checked it because it simply doesn't matter in normal use. It will balance a round wheel and tire (not all of them are

) well enough for them to run smoothly well above 100 MPH and that is all that matters. Now for 200 MPH you would want a better unit.

.

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