HOW TO CHOOSE A LASER LEVEL - a good inexpensive laser level, rating and reviews

Laser level and laser level are similar meters. These concepts are often considered synonymous. But there are differences between them, and they must be taken into account when the question is: a laser level or a level?

Which laser level (level) is better

Laser devices perfectly project horizontal and vertical planes on working surfaces, beat off inclined planes, mark right angles and transfer points from one surface to another. To choose a laser level, first decide on the scope of work for which it will be needed.

The building levels are divided into two groups.

Positional

This includes self-leveling line builders and point building levels.

• The former are suitable for indoor work. They are simple and do not need to be manually adjusted or aligned.
• The latter are distinguished by high accuracy and range of operation, but due to the "intricacies" of the meter, it is more difficult to use.

Rotary

They are characterized by the ability to draw horizontal, vertical and oblique lines using the rotation of the laser. The devices give out a laser point, which, due to the rotation speed, turns into a line.

Rotary levels are better than position ones. They are suitable for working outdoors and over long distances. But they are more expensive.

Before buying a level, look at the thread to which the tripod is attached: its common sizes are 1, 4 ″ and 5, 8 ″.

• 1.4 ″ - for a standard tripod.
• The 5.8 "thread is a powerful tripod that is designed to handle heavy equipment.

Some models have two threads. These are convenient to use under any rack.

Laser level: how to choose

When choosing a laser level, pay attention to the technical specifications to determine its capabilities for yourself.

Level alignment type

The most important parameter. There are two options - manual and self-leveling (stabilization). In the first case, you level the level yourself using the bubble level. Stabilization is more convenient, the device itself reaches the most level position. The larger the alignment angle, the easier it is to operate the level.

If necessary, the alignment is disabled (not in all models) when you need to deliberately place the device at a certain angle.

The devices fix the moment of self-leveling in different ways:

• some models are disabled,
• others, until they stabilize, shine with flashing lines,
• still others squeak.

There are variants of levels with a combined notification.

Laser beam color

This is not for everybody. Red is clearly visible, but green is more contrasting. Compared to red, it adds about a meter of working range. Does not fade in the sun when you have to work with the level outdoors.

Levels with a green beam are convenient to use as a second device to distinguish between the laser when used at the same time.

How to use a laser level to check its accuracy

Method number 1 - using a pencil.

• Place the level on a tripod and turn on the horizontal beams.
• Unfold one of the edges and make a mark on the wall.
• Rotate the laser level around its axis to "reach" the other edge.
• When the laser is stabilized and aligned, look: if the beam matches the mark, then it is not knocked out.

Method number 2 - using a construction plumb line.

• Hang the plumb line from the ceiling with a self-tapping screw.
• Calm down the load and aim a vertical beam at it.
• If the laser reflects the filament from top to bottom, then the level is even.

Good inexpensive laser level: TOP 5

Bosch Professional GLL 2-10

The level builds 2 planes - vertical and horizontal. They can be projected together or separately. A sweep angle of 110 ° is more than enough for marking work. Differs in incredible accuracy for a household meter - 0.3 mm / m.

The beams are bright and can be clearly seen indoors at a distance of up to 10 meters. In pulse mode using the receiver, the operating range increases to 50 meters. The magnetic compensator quickly aligns the beams, even when vibrating at the construction site. If you need to mark at an angle, you can use the compensator lock. This option is useful, for example, when building stairs. A protective bag and battery are supplied with Bosch Professional.

Stanley Cubix

This is a basic model with two cross beams: vertical and horizontal. Includes bracket for attaching the laser detector to the rail.

The lines are visible up to 12 meters away. With the receiver, the working distance can be increased up to 35 meters. With the help of a rotary base with divisions (limb), you can direct the rays to the desired object with maximum accuracy. There is also a blocking of the compensator for inclined markings. The Stanley Cubix kit includes the minimum required - a bracket, batteries and instructions.

Oleg writes in his review about this model: “Pislya kalibruvannya will show for sure !!! for the whole level, it is necessary to change, on the pendulum below there are є adjusting bolts, the principle of calibrating can be looked at in YouTube.

Advantages:

- compact, lightweight, clear lines, the ability to fix the laser, do not squeak during self-tuning.

Disadvantages:

- sagging 5 mm by 10 m».

Dewalt DW088K

This level builds two planes - vertical and horizontal. Indoors, the rays are visible up to 10 meters. But it is possible to extend the working range up to 50 meters using the Dewalt DE0892 receiver.

The pendulum mechanism with a marking accuracy of ± 0.3mm / m aligns the beams in just a few seconds. By disconnecting the expansion joint, you can work with inclined surfaces. The Dewalt DW088K features magnetic swivel brackets for easy attachment to metal surfaces. The set includes 3 AA alkaline batteries, a mounting device and a suitcase.

Yuri left a review about the meter Dewalt: "Cool device! Accurate, bright, strikes far».

Stanley Cross 90

The level has three beams visible at a distance of up to 10 meters. With the receiver, the working range increases to 40 meters. The device projects two vertical and one horizontal lines with an accuracy of 0.5 mm / m. You can create intersecting horizontal and vertical line projections. Suitable for indoor and outdoor use.

Before starting work, a compensator is triggered to level the beams. This fragile mechanism is locked during transportation. The Stanley Cross 90 kit includes a bracket and batteries.

Bosch PLT 2

This plane builder successfully solves simple marking tasks. The device generates two highly visible laser beams at an angle of 90 °. This feature makes it easy to accurately lay tiles and laminates. A functional base plate with a special edge for use, for example, on a door frame, equipped with a 90 ° scale with 5 ° division. Wall mount and magnetic base plate are invaluable for hanging shelves and paintings on the wall.

Three built-in levels align the Bosch PLT 2 in a straight line or diagonal in seconds. The working range of measurements is up to 7 meters. This is enough for indoor work.

At a reasonable cost, the presented devices have decent functionality. Here is a summary table of parameters.

Read: "How to cut tiles to get a perfect cut without chips"

Watch the video how it is convenient to work with Laser Level Pro 3 with a built-in tape measure