Laser Level

[Birdhunter]

I have a project ahead of me that a laser level would really help. I think I would prefer a green laser due to its brighter light, but that’s all I know.

I’ve read a number of reviews and watched some videos, but still can’t decide which level is best.

Help!

 

[tjbnwi]

Huepar 4DG.

Tom

 

[squall_line]

I've found that isolating the level from the rest of the surroundings seems to be the biggest trick, especially if it's gravity-based instead of gyroscopically stabilized.  When I've mounted my cheap-ish laser level on a camera tripod, it took forever for it to settle down.  Mounting it on a more stable tripod helped, as did finding other ways to isolate it from accidental movement.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

"Best" might open a very expensive can of worms.  [eek]
Those things can go for pretty much as much as you are capable of spending.
Good enough to do what you need is the thing here.
Even the cheapest ones do ok with "level", it's the line itself that makes the difference. The width of the line where it hits the wall is part of it, as well as brightness and color. How many surfaces you need it to hit makes a difference too. Some are a bit limited in this area, but if you don't need that, it doesn't matter much. Then you have the spinning models which hit everything in a 360 degree circle, but the cost goes up with it.

 

[Lincoln]

Recently upgraded from a nice Bosch mulit-line red laser, to an even nicer Hilti multi-line green laser, with tripod and wall bracket. Very happy with it. Would recommend both brands, for lasers, especially Hilti.

 

[gunnyr]

Not sure what you're going to use it for but the main reason for the green laser is visibility.  If you will be using it primarily indoors a red laser will work just fine.  I've had a DeWalt 3 line laser for a number of years and, each time I look into changing to a green laser I pass on it, the improvement is just not worth the cost for my most common use case.  As you've discovered each line (vertical, horizontal, and plumb add to the cost.

Short version, don't get caught up in red vs green.  What has been useful for me is the ability to level horizontally, vertically and to project a plumb spot from floor to ceiling.  It's much easier to locate lights by laying it out on the floor than it is to try and do it on a ladder with a tape measure!

 

[luvmytoolz]

I bought one of the Leica styled Asian laser level kits with the full tripod, wall mount, etc. They're the ones going for around $450-$500AUD on Ebay currently.

Absolutely invaluable and rock solid performance for many years use, the only thing I wish is that I had got green instead of red as during the day it was more difficult to work with. The wall mount I ended up using way more than expected, far more than the tripod surprisingly.

 

[jstout]

Agree with the Huepar recommendation. I was very hesitant but it's worked great for me at a fraction of the price of name brands.

 

[bidn]

I have had a Leica (red light) for about 5 years, but I did not find practical. I was never satisfied with it.

Since a year or two I bought a Milwaukee M12 green light laser. I do love and use it very much. It is so practical : magnetic attachment, M12 batteries, tripod saving so much space when folded.

I can absolutely recommend the M12 Milwaukee laser.

 

[MikeGE]

I have a project ahead of me that a laser level would really help. I think I would prefer a green laser due to its brighter light, but that’s all I know.

I’ve read a number of reviews and watched some videos, but still can’t decide which level is best.

Help!

I can't help with the best, but can recommend the LASER level that is best for my purposes.  I replaced a dead Bosch single-axis red beam unit with the Huepar HP-903CG three-axis green leveler and am very happy with it.

 

[rst]

I've been using red PLSs for years and three different ones with good results but decided to get a green laser and decided on the Milwaukee.  The horizontal adjustment is fantastic for fine adjustment.  I just used it to line up vertical lines of screws on a wall that was 16' long.  With a standard laser I would have to keep positioning for each row.  The horizontal adjustment allowed me to do five rows at a time.

 

[Adamsse]

I've been using red PLSs for years and three different ones with good results but decided to get a green laser and decided on the Milwaukee.  The horizontal adjustment is fantastic for fine adjustment.  I just used it to line up vertical lines of screws on a wall that was 16' long.  With a standard laser I would have to keep positioning for each row.  The horizontal adjustment allowed me to do five rows at a time.

I’m a big Huepar fan and got this one with the remote and fine-tune adjustment capability and have been very happy with it. Looks like it is on sale. Was informed about this by Hand-i-Craft YouTube channel. Links to product and channel below:
https://huepar.com/products/huepar-s04cg

 

[Birdhunter]

Thanks for all the input.

I talked it over with myself and decided that this project didn’t justify buying an expensive tool.

I know that I can get great results with the bubble level that I already own.

Maybe, the next project will provide a sufficient justification.

 

[Frank-Jan]

....
Short version, don't get caught up in red vs green.  What has been useful for me is the ability to level horizontally, vertically and to project a plumb spot from floor to ceiling.  It's much easier to locate lights by laying it out on the floor than it is to try and do it on a ladder with a tape measure!

A few years ago a job came up that would benefit from having a crossline laser at my disposal, but since I needed it quickly, I limited myself to version that were available locally. (I wanted one with the plumb dot, for the floor to ceiling transfer of layout Gunnyr mentioned.) There were a bunch on my shortlist, but I ended up getting the red laser version of the bosch combilaser, that worked with the 12v batteries I already had a few off. (The green version had to be ordered everywhere, and I had 2 rotarylasers with receivers for outdoor use already)

Soon after I used it for the first time I ordered the remote controlled stand, and I still like it  a lot. (the base draws it's power from the battery in the laserlevel, and both can be controlled via bluetooth with the bosch app). The motorized base can turn at 3 speeds, and the lowest speed results in very tiny steps, so I could locate the laserlevel at 1 side of the room , with the dot at certain distance from the wall, go to the other side of the room, and use the remote, to land the line at exactly the same distance at the far end. The machine itself also came with a stand with a manual fine adjustment knob, but the motorised base turns so smoothly you don't have to wait for the vertical line to stabilise.

I later used it for a metal stud ceiling, and I can see the advantage of a 360 degree laser for that application.

 

[smorgasbord]

Are the super cheap units like this onehttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09G6R1DL1/

Useful for a homeowner looking to do simple things like hang a few pictures at the same level, maybe using the vertical line to align a hand-held drill, etc?

Or are they to be completely avoided?  For $30 and free returns within 30 days, might be worth a shot?

 

[woodbutcherbower]

Are the super cheap units like this onehttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09G6R1DL1/

Useful for a homeowner looking to do simple things like hang a few pictures at the same level, maybe using the vertical line to align a hand-held drill, etc?

Or are they to be completely avoided?  For $30 and free returns within 30 days, might be worth a shot?

A few years back, my spinning Hilti started intermittently cutting out, so it went back to them for repair. Faced with a little job where I needed a laser level, I bought a £30 one from a chain of grocery stores over here (Aldi) who occasionally have cheap power tools on offer as specials. It’s been remarkably good for the comparative pennies it cost, and accurate to within 5mm over what was an 8-metre span. Definitely worth a shot.

 

[luvmytoolz]

[member=77266]smorgasbord[/member] I've had several including the Leica style ones, but the best one I've found for home use is the Black and Decker Bullseye, absolutely sensational, and the most convenient for marking out for hanging things.
https://shakespearesolutions.com.au...black-decker-auto-leveling-laser-stud-finder/

 

[Boski]

I have the Huepar S04CG, its an amazing bit of kit, with the brackets for adjustment etc.