empire levels

W

Wooden Lungs

Member
Joined
Apr 9, 2011
Messages
178
Re :"Empire big blue levels"

Thanks to posts on here by members including Dean social and JMB I avoided buying a jamb set from DM consisting of three levels in a bag and instead cancelled my order and went back to the old trusty Stabila L 96 range.
A big thanks guys.

Received my level Stabila L96 with bag 1800mm yesterday and its a beauty....... On one house I am working on there are 30 door linings to go in so its level heaven  [big grin]

I have been using stanley and stabila levels for years, but thought I would try something new!! am happy I went back to Stabila.

Dont they produce the Festool levels??
 
When I was in the mason biz, my go to levels were Sands. The vials were not adjustable. The rails were I-beam aluminum with wood filler.  I think the wood was mahogany.  Those levels took a lot of abuse and stayed tru for years.  I have been out of the mason biz since 1982 and still have a couple of those old 48" and a 24" that are still perfect.  One of the 48" has one end vial very slightly out of level, but all of the other vials are still dead on.  I have several lightweight levels from other brands that are useless for anything but use as straight edges.  Those junkers do not get any of the abuse those Sands were subject to, but a light wind seems to misalign all of the vials.

When i had a crew, if my corner man had a plastic level (cheapest) or even an aluminum level with the adjustable vials, I would give him one of my Sands to work with.  They were heavy and expensive, but once introduced to Sands, those mechanics held on to them with a passion. they never went back to the light weights, at least not on my job.
Tinker
 
While I generally rely on my Stabila levels for pretty much any job, I still have and use my old magnesium-framed Stanley that was discontinued when I found it in '84.  I tested every 48" level in the store, and the Stanley was by far the most consistent of the lot, and it hasn't lost its true in nearly 30 years.  It's light, but most certainly not a junker like the so many of the levels I see. 
 
This is an old Sands that belonged to my father as long as I can remember, Tinker...

I'm pretty fond of my Stabilas though.

Tom

[attachimg=#1]
 
'Sorry to say that I don't, Michael. I haven't had any for years.

Tom
 
Michael Garrett said:
So you would recommend this: http://www.tool-home.com/products/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/16832
Click to expand...

It really depends on your usage.

Stabila makes, essentially, 2 grades of spirit levels or rather, level frames, and have recently introduced a 3rd.

The one you reference is the 80 series. It is tough but less tough than the 96 series. It is commonly used by interior finish type trades. It has a smooth body.

The 96 series levels are the ones with the handholds and are beefier. They are more commonly used by the rough-in type trades.

There is a new series that is kind of like the 96 series and has an "R" shaped cross section. It is geared toward those that make stuff one would walk on (think patio). It has enhanced strength over even the 96 series and its cross sectional shape lends it to being a precision screed.

Tom
 
Basically for joining rails and leveling CMS table.  I'm just a plain DIY'er and Hobbyist.
 
Tom Bellemare said:
This is an old Sands that belonged to my father as long as I can remember, Tinker...

I'm pretty fond of my Stabilas though.

Tom
Click to expand...

Tom, That Sands is even older than mine.  Mine had 3 sets of vials and the wood was not stained.  The rough treatment they got was that when running corners, block or brick, the mason would run several courses as close to plumb as possible by eye, and then, before the mortar would "set up", he would put the level to the work and, if necessary, hammer on the level to push the corner back to alignment.  On flat work, the bricks or stones were sometimes hammered into level by placing a 2x4 on errant pieces and hammered down to level.  Sometimes, the level was hammered on instead of a 2x. 

With most levels, the vials were adjustable.  Sands were factory set.  The vials at the end with the round hole for hanging on a nail would be the first to go out of "whack" from being "whacked" on while running chimney corners.  It took a few years before that happened, and they never went far off.  They were still close enough that you could still get a close plumb line.  You checked by using the other end vial, but not hammering on it.  Both of my 48" levels are a "hair" off at the nail hole end but still "dead on" at the other end.  I have never had a level with adjustable vials that could stand the sort of punishment the Sands took.

They were nearly double the cost of any other "good" levels, but, like Festoys, they stayed perfectly true for three or four times as long.  There was only one supplier in my area that carried them and about the same time I retired, they closed down their business.  I don't know if Sands is still in business or not, but I have looked in every hardware store i have been in and have never seen one since that commercial hardware store closed. They are not a big box store item.
Tinker
 
Yeah, Peter,
Those with the elongated vials are exactly what I have. >>> 24" and 48"
The vial at the nail hole end is the only bubble (twin bubbles in each vial) that ever went out of "whack"
I never "whacked" at the other end.
Once in awhile, the outer glass would break from general knocking around.
Tinker
 
This old Sands just has steel strips along the four edges. The frame is all wood.

Tinker, I'm guessing my Dad was 39 before you were driving...

Tom
 
The Stabila R-Beam level is awesome. Three straight edges. Doesn't fall over. Easy to hold up against a wall etc. to mark lines.

Took the rubber end-cap off mine to show you the cross-section. VERY strong level and very practical in use.

 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

woodbutcherbower
Victorian schoolhouse windows Part 1
Replies
11
Views
910
Crazyraceguy
Crazyraceguy
B
Dewalt owner's review of the Kapex + Domino 500 impulse buy (non-pro)
2 3 4
Replies
66
Views
16K
Ebuwan
E
Y
What's the difference?
Replies
12
Views
3K
Mario Turcot
Mario Turcot
1-FENCE
HOW FAR OUT Level Gauge makes Stabila levels even better!
2 3
Replies
48
Views
25K
1-FENCE
1-FENCE
T
Fein "Suction" Shroud and the Vecturo and/or MM?
2
Replies
37
Views
10K
pdxeaston
P
Back
Top