I need to buy a new 48″ level and am looking for recommendations. Try to keep it under $50-ish.
In the archive I noticed some Stabila fans (which would mean mail order, cuz I don’t think Lowes, Menards, HD or Sears carries it).
Is Stabila the best 48″ level out there?
jt8
The reason so many people never get anywhere in life is because when opportunity knocks, they are out in the backyard looking for four-leaf clovers. — Walter Percy Chrysler
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Replies
I'm sure Starret has something better but for my use Stabila is all there is.
I don't worry about its accuracy. If it ever were to go awry they will replace.
Jon Blakemore
another vote for stabila
Stabilla is good - I'm not sure they are the best but they are real good, and I likes mine a whole bunch.
I don't think you are going to put your hands on one for under $50 though. The main thing I would look for in a cheaper version is a milled vial. After that, the thickness of the box beam and the warranty would get the most attention from me.
They sell them all over, you don't need to mail order.
http://www.stabila.com/Dealers.asp
Kapro is cheaper, but Stabila is a quality tool.
Amazon
-zen
I worked with a guy that had an Empire 4'. Man, that thing was built like a tank. You could use it as a crowbar ;-) if you needed to! He said it would outlast any level 2 to one... I'd like to get one, buy my old mahogany level is still holding up fine... Also, there is not that many places that sell 'em.
I'm on my second Empire in 30+ yrs. ($30.) Magnetic.
Only reason I had to replace the first one is it turned it into a boomarang when I totaled my truck.
I also have the Stabila magnetic jamber set, but I reserve that for more"formal" occasions.
The Cat in tha Hat!
Is goin' to Mexico!6 16 17 97 99
Look at the new Stanley Fat max series levels. IMO there pretty impressive for the price they sell them for. Good luck
http://www.stanleytools.com/default.asp?TYPE=PRODUCT&PARTNUMBER=43-502
I also am a Stabila fan - especially the 196 series - they are the most accurate and read the same up or down
This is the one I have
View Image
http://www.7corners.com/7c_store/showdetl.cfm?DID=1&offerings_ID=-97849880&ObjectGroup_ID=-838189122&CATID=1086966225
But as others have mentioned - be hard to find for $50 ish
Saw Amazon has a kit with the 48" and a 16" for $80
john, stabila's are quality. I have a plaster set mahog, which has more and more been replaced by the stabila. An agravating, yet nice addition to theirs are the rubber tips on one side of the level. Keeps that level from sliding down the wall so easily. If you were taught to set it safe, or lay it flat, you won't need those. The end caps are tapered strongly, makes transferring your mark around a corner. Some pop off the end caps for that reason.
I think it might have been empire came up with a prism type vial. If it works, it sure was easy to see the vial from any angle. No need to paste your head to the wall. It was a BLUE something or other. Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
I have a set of Stabilas too, but I bought them because so many told me they were the best.My question is ---- what makes the Stabila any better than the other levels? Are they actually more accurate?Sorry Calvin -- meant to address this to "all."
Edited 3/2/2005 10:53 pm ET by nikkiwood
I read here someone saying that a Stabilla rep was doing a demo at his hardware store. He was chucking the level across the parking lot all day and it stayed true.
I know that when i bought my first level it was rated at accurate to 1mm/m and that it was ok but cheap.but my stabilas are twice as accurate and onr to the things you notice is the the graduations on the vial are much closer together then on some levels so the bubble is almost a perfect fit in the gap. on some levels I've seen it can be 1/8' to get the bubble from one line to another.
Calvin, the little rubber nubs on one side of Stabila levels are designed to keep the level from sliding on a finished wall while the user makes a mark - not as a storage aid. Just thought you should know.
I was asking about levels a few years ago and Ed. Williams sent me a Sand's four footer. Good tool. Stout. Accurate. They don't sell them anywhere I've seen here in the Pacific Northwest so I don't know what they cost, but I wouldn't think twice about buying one for my son or daughter.Free the Sancho!
http://www.sandslevel.com/
they make them just down the road from me in kansas...
don't own one myself, but used one or two, they seem pretty good.
http://forums.prospero.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=54570.1
FWIW I have the Karpo and it was dead on when I got it and has remained trueful ( Nothing worse than ####lying , good for nothin' level----Except its' lying good for nothin' friend ----The tape measure)
All in all I have 5 levels and with the laser and/or the flip test it is a snap to check them before diving into a project.
If you can stretch your budget a little, Lee Valley has the 48" Stabila for about $68 and a 32" for about $50.
I have a nice Johnson level that didn't cost that much, and it seems to be very well made. It claims to have a high degree of accuracy.
I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.
If you can stretch your budget a little, Lee Valley has the 48" Stabila for about $68 and a 32" for about $50.
Same as this one on Amazon?
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/detail/-/hi/B0000A9918/qid=1109869403/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/104-1509652-4123911
$69.50 plus probably around $10 s/h means you get the 48" for $79.50....which is 50 cents more than getting the 48 AND 16 from Amazon (with free shipping, and if you rack up a few other items and get over $199, you get $25 off).
I really like Lee Valley, but I have a hard time spending basically $35 (price of a 16") more if its the same item.jt8
The reason so many people never get anywhere in life is because when opportunity knocks, they are out in the backyard looking for four-leaf clovers. -- Walter Percy Chrysler
Ed,
EVERY man thinks he has a "nice" Johnson!!
Personally I think mine is exceptional but that is just MHO
Mr T
I can't afford to be affordable anymore
Well shoot, I've got a 72" Johnson!
jt8
The reason so many people never get anywhere in life is because when opportunity knocks, they are out in the backyard looking for four-leaf clovers. -- Walter Percy Chrysler
If you are considering the Stabila, you should move quick!
Our Stabila rep said that they are headed for a substantial price increase.
(Gee, maybe I should start a new thread with that info...)
Our Stabila rep said that they are headed for a substantial price increase.
The Euro has been REAL strong against the dollar since the Iraq thing. That in itself could represent a 30% increase.
jt8
The reason so many people never get anywhere in life is because when opportunity knocks, they are out in the backyard looking for four-leaf clovers. -- Walter Percy Chrysler
Another feature that I like about the Stabila is that you can see the bubble in a darker environment than levels with a clear liquid. That greenish- yellowish liquid makes the bubble stand out when you are in a closet or you are outside at 5 PM in December.
Hmmm. I wonder what that greenish yellow liquid is.....????
Mr T
I can't afford to be affordable anymore