Laser Recommendation for Cabinets/Tiling

[Bugsysiegals]

I’m remodeling my bathroom, installing tile on the walls/floor, and will eventually install cabinets in the house. I’m not sure what projects require 3 versus 2 laser directions. That said, what’s a good laser setup for these projects?

 

[tjbnwi]

The green one. I have 3dg's probably more than you'll need.
https://www.beiterlaser.com/laser-level-on-sales/

If you (or anyone) can find the original Laser Jamb to hold the laser(circa 1988ish) buy it. Nothing else comes close. Not even the new models. The Bosch tripod is pretty nice.

Tom

 

[Bugsysiegals]

I’ve never heard of them before. Wow, $699 for the Green 3DG ... do they go on sale?

Is it worth the extra $180 versus the Dewalt DW089LG? 
https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DW089LG-Line-Laser-Green/dp/B017LTFSSG/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=Dewalt+laser&qid=1574569622&sr=8-5

 

[tjbnwi]

Mine are very accurate.

For me the multiple included power suppiles make it worth the money. Green lasers eat batteries.

There are options that come in the 3D kit, no one else offers.

Tom

 

[ForumMFG]

Hilti, stabila, or leica is what i would go with...

Probably a hilti.

With festool would get into some laser levels.

 

[Bugsysiegals]

Mine are very accurate.

For me the multiple included power suppiles make it worth the money. Green lasers eat batteries.

There are options that come in the 3D kit, no one else offers.

Tom

Thanks Tom, I’ll give them a closer look!

 

[Bugsysiegals]

Hilti, stabila, or leica is what i would go with...

Probably a hilti.

With festool would get into some laser levels.

I’ll have a look at these also.

I’d spent $600 on the laser below to use for grading my yard and plan to sell it once I’m finished but perhaps one of these can work outdoors with my tripod/stick and a receiver?

$599 - Topcon RL-H4C Rotary Laser Horizontal Level Dry Batteryhttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B000078ONM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_PNP2Db17JNE1V

$85 - CST/berger 60-ALQRI20-O Heavy Duty Contractor Aluminum Tripod, Orange (Discontinued by Manufacturer)https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000PDOJNQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_6QP2Db38XPS5E

$35 - AdirPro 9-Foot Aluminum Grade Rod - 8ths, 5 Section Telescopic with Carrying Casehttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KVJKSH0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_OSP2Db11PQQXY

 

[tjbnwi]

Why can't you use the laser you have indoors?

As I understand how a laser reciever works---it senses the pluses of the beam. In the case of a rotary laser the beam moves past the sensor as it spins and the sensor picks the interruptions up. On the fixed line lasers the electronics pulse the beam, the sensors picks up these interruptions. All of this happens so fast it appears to the eye as a solid line.

The one on sale I linked will work with a reciever, the receiver is available as an option. The kits I have the reciever was included.

As long as the clamp on the reciever is wide enough it will work with your grade rod. My guess (only a guess, is the rods are a standard width?).

My favorite option and why I bought the brand initially is the fine tune rotating base. Came standard in the kits when I bought them.

Tom

 

[Bugsysiegals]

Why can't you use the laser you have indoors?

As I understand how a laser reciever works---it senses the pluses of the beam. In the case of a rotary laser the beam moves past the sensor as it spins and the sensor picks the interruptions up. On the fixed line lasers the electronics pulse the beam, the sensors picks up these interruptions. All of this happens so fast it appears to the eye as a solid line.

The one on sale I linked will work with a reciever, the receiver is available as an option. The kits I have the reciever was included.

As long as the clamp on the reciever is wide enough it will work with your grade rod. My guess (only a guess, is the rods are a standard width?).

My favorite option and why I bought the brand initially is the fine tune rotating base. Came standard in the kits when I bought them.

Tom

It will work indoors but is only a single horizontal beam versus the 3 beam of the 3DG. I suspect you typically use at least 2 indoors?

 

[tjbnwi]

Depends on what I'm doing.

Just setting benchmarks and cabinets, one will do. Set properly you can get both planes set with just one.

Have used as many as 5 to set elecritcal outlets to a very elaborate tile lay out. Used the lasers to set the boxes off the device mounting screws on the outlets (what most call a box, is by NEC definition the outlet).

Tom

 

[demographic]

Combination of PLS 180 and traditional bubble levels here.
Got the detector for outside work and when the red laser isn't so visible.
Its small enough to just stick on a plasterboard cornerbead with the magnets on the bracket of I sometimes screw a bit of wood onto the wall and screw the bracket onto that. Means at the end of the day I can remove it but next morning the screws go in the same holes and its exactly the same height.
The ones on a tripod? Naaaaah. Someone ambles past and bumps it? Knackered the settings up from then on in.

Inside the red is visible anyway and outside who cares cos I have the detector.

Oh and rechargable batteries for it.

 

[Jiggy Joiner]

We have a couple of PLS 180’s over here too, and the receivers, they have as said a magnetic bracket, we also have floor to ceiling telescopic poles for ours. Not sure if these are available in NA though? When I first bought one, they were supposed to be brightest in class.
I would really like one of those Beiter’s though, not seen them on this side.

 

[Bugsysiegals]

Thanks for all the recommendations!

Do any of you with the 180 miss not having 360?  What projects would it have made your life easier?

 

[rst]

I have the 180 and 360 so I'm not much help.  That being said I used my 360 outside with the detector to grade my parking area and to level my siding.

 

[Bugsysiegals]

I have the 180 and 360 so I'm not much help.  That being said I used my 360 outside with the detector to grade my parking area and to level my siding.

Thanks, I was just reading about this so it seems 360 is better for an all in one laser.  I suspect the lower brightness of the 360 versus 180 laser is negligible for a Green laser being used indoors?

 

[rst]

I've had my lasers for more than 10 years but if I was buying new it would be green lasers.

 

[Bugsysiegals]

I have the 180 and 360 so I'm not much help.  That being said I used my 360 outside with the detector to grade my parking area and to level my siding.

Do you have issues using the 360 inside or you just prefer the 180 inside?

 

[rst]

I've used both in and out as I have the detector for both.  No issues, unlike my Bosch GLL3-80 where the horizontal laser has gone faint...not disappeared, just faint.

 

[demographic]

Thanks for all the recommendations!

Do any of you with the 180 miss not having 360?  What projects would it have made your life easier?

Naah, I just put it near enough to the corner of the room and it covers the entire room.
Sometimes I have to turn it on the bracket which just isn't  a big deal at all.

 

[wakyct]

I've used a basic Dewalt red 180 for many years, and honestly it's so much better than not using any laser that most of the time I don't even think about not having the features that get you from 90% to 99%.

That said my coworker's green Stabila with the out of level line lock is pretty sweet.