Good but not super expensive laser for laying out panel moulding?

[ear3]

Since most of my installation work has been in galleries and museums, I've always been able to borrow a decent laser for throwing lines parallel to the floor for hanging pictures or framing out a moulding square.  That won't be the case for the current project, though.  I may end up just using some plywood squares to consistently space the panel moulding I have to do, but it's a very large room (40'x26'), and I may just want to get a laser to do it right and quick.  So can anyone recommend one for my application that won't break the bank?  I won't be using it all that frequently, so I don't need a bunch of bells and whistles, just the ability to cast laser lines on a 40 foot wall.

 

[tjbnwi]

PLS or Bosch. Any one worth owning is going to cost you.

Tom

 

[peter halle]

Tom gave you some good brands. Your wrote the you have been borrowing....  Might be time to invest if this is your profession.

Peter

 

[stillwaterBR]

PLS gets my vote.  We have both a rotary and line laser from them.  A good solid line laser that self levels and has both horizontal and plumb lines is very valuable.  Once you have one you will find yourself using it for a lot of different tasks.

 

[Alan m]

I have the dewalt self levelling one

great tool. don't use it that much but when I do its a lifesaver

don't waste money on cheap ones

 

[nickao]

Do you need rotary, do you need self leveling, rotary horizontal and rotary vertical? It makes a big difference in price.

What is your break the bank? Are we talking, 100.00, 500.00, 800.00 a 1000.00?

Johnson makes a rotary that's pretty darn good for only 397.00 and it gets much better reviews than the comparable DeWalt. Anything less than the 397.00 for a name brand quality you probably won't get the rotary feature.

The Johnson gets you horizontal and vertical rotary for 597.00 and it gets some great remarks from users. Just the horizontal rotary will cost you the 397.00

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=self-leveling+rotary+laser&tag=googhydr-20&index=tools&hvadid=53133821963&hvpos=1t2&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=916135637665320028&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_4ywvp0snbf_b

I just get away with this little cross laser and works for me, not as cool as the other units with all the features, it's a different category, but only 80.00.

http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-GLL-Self-Leveling-Cross-Line-Laser/dp/B00NQUJ2AK/ref=sr_1_8?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1438126711&sr=1-8&keywords=self-leveling+rotary+laser

 

[mastercabman]

I just get away with this little cross laser and works for me, not as cool as the other units with all the features, it's a different category, but only 80.00.

http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-GLL-Self-Leveling-Cross-Line-Laser/dp/B00NQUJ2AK/ref=sr_1_8?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1438126711&sr=1-8&keywords=self-leveling+rotary+laser

I bought that little laser but returned it and got the gll 45
The gll 2 wasn't bright enough and the further the line the worst it got
I had a hard time with white cabinets
Great little laser but not for large areas

 

[tiralie]

... to consistently space the panel moulding I have to do, but it's a very large room (40'x26'), and I may just want to get a laser to do it right and quick.  So can anyone recommend one for my application that won't break the bank?  .

Plum bob, chalk line, level and BuildCalc on your iPad or android/apple phone will be the cheapest. BuildCalc will save you more time spacing the panels consistently than a laser will.
Tim

 

[pingvinlakrits]

Don't buy Leica lasers. I haven't had one where the battery compartment hasn't broke off or other plastic clips have snapped off. And I pamper my lasers. Great accuracy but flimsy build in the lower end Leica line. Yes, they have a lower end.

Bosch has worked fine for me. Never a problem. But I got the Blue ones.

 

[Dangermouse]

I use a dewalt DW088k lazer level, it projects horizontal and vertical lines, if your using it in a well lit area you might need a target board to make seeing the line eaiser, but for the money it's spot on, I assume there available in the U.S.

 

[WastedP]

I've used more expensive units, but I finally bought my own last winter when I found a Bosch GLL2-40 on discount for $80.  I haven't done a ton of work with it, but I have found it to be accurate and sufficient for cabinet installations, although I really wish it had a couple of the higher-priced unit's features. 

In the past, I used a PLS rotary laser to do several hundred feet of solid surface wainscot.  I don't recall the exact model, but I do recall that I had to shut half the lights off to be able to see the line, indoors (windowless operating theatre).  I did some work after that with an installer that had a higher quality Bosch cross-line laser (higher price, too), and I was sold on that route.  That model shot plumb dots above and below, which was great for aligning cabinetry with overhead soffits.  The tripod mount/magnetic base also had a fine adjustment for the altitude.  Both are features I would shop for if I was looking again.

 

[GregBradley]

PLS continually impresses me. I just bought another one. Also have 4 Bosch and 3 Spectra units.

One of the earliest Bosch units just died but it said "RoboToolz" on it before being Porter Cable, then Bosch.

I like the Bosch GLL2-50 for cross lines on one wall. It comes with a nice magnetic height adjustable bracket. One of mine says RoboToolz Crossliner and the other one is several years newer and says Porter Cable RoboToolz but those are the same unit now sold as the Bosch GLL2-50. One of the only lasers that will sit on the floor and give you a horizontal line 1" above the floor. The GLL2-40 is much lower end and you lose the nice bracket but has to be well worth $80 if it meets your requirments - spec say range is 30'.  [eek]

I really like my GLL2-80 with the two 360 degree lines. I bought mine when first introduced at a Bosch event for $180. I'm not sure its worth the current $400 they get now. The pulse mode for outside with their suggested detector is very poor. Glad I borrowed a detector as I wouldn't have been happy paying $165 for it.

I love my PLS90. That's the way a detector should work in sunlight and the micro adjuster is a big plus.

I just bought the PLS360, a dedicated horizontal only unit using the same great detector for outside work. The entire unit is short so low or high lines are easy. 5 bright lasers give me a horizontal line that works almost as far without a detector as the Bosch worked with the detector. Looks like it will replace a rotary for anything out to a couple hundred feet. 3 D batteries instead of 3 AA like most use has to be helpful.

 

[demographic]

I have had a PLS 2E for quite some time and the horizontal line has now failed.
It lasted well and I have borrowed a PLS180 which I like better than my old 2E.
The beeper/detector for the 2E still works with the PLS180 if I'm doing a large job outside where the lines aren't so visible and can put the detector onto a bit of 2x1.

I would have another PLS anyday but don't leave those little AA bateries in it for too long, if they leak they can damage the expensive unit.
Nowadays I think I would use 4th generation rechargable Eneloop batteries in them.

 

[Scorpion]

Just got a PLS 180 last week.  It's a game changer but a couple hundred bucks.  Combined with a Bosch laser distance measured I t took me maybe 5 minutes to measure and draw out an entire built-in that I plan to build in the office.  Almost took the fun out of it.  Also found out that my cabinets in nearly all my rooms aren't level around the room (who knew).  Would make your molding project a snap.

 

[Mbconstructionjoinery]

The Leica lasers get my vote I have both rotary and cross line lasers from them, they are in the higher price bracket but very accurate and well made.