Advice for a 500-700 dollar rotating laser level
Last spring I was doing a ton of dirt work and I almost pulled the trigger on a 600 and some dollar laser built by Pacfic laser. It seems to have nice features (remote dual slop, decent range). Anyhow I got cold feet on the deal at the last minute and did not do it. Now I have quite a few projects lined up for this fall where a laser would be nice.
I have been checking around and it seems that there are quite a few simialar lasers in this price range. Some from the bigger more main stream brands (Spetra, CST, etc). Does anyone have any experince with lasers in this price range. I would like to be able to manually set slope, and a remote is preatty well a must have. How about Pacfic Laser systems anyone have experince with them?
I was going to order tonight but maybe I will put it off tell morning.
Here is kind of what I was looking at. http://www.tigersupplies.com/Departments/Construction-Lasers/Self-Leveling-Lasers.aspx
Thanks,
Will
Replies
I have had a CST for 3 years now and it's been functional but not particularly well made. The rotating head unit itself is still going well, but the clamp that holds the sensor unit to the stick... they should sell 'em in six packs. After replacing it twice (stripped clamp threads), I gave up and just use a large spring clamp instead.
I paid $600 back then and still didn't get self-levelling for that; hope the market has come down some by now. Overall the CST feels cheap - the carry case started coming apart shortly after purchase too. Accuracy started to drift but the calibrating process is fairly easy and I check and adjust once a year.
I should add that I'm not a heavy user, I do around two foundation/frame jobs a year, plus some other misc laser work. I'm looking for something else pretty soon, noticed a self levelling PLS the other day for $950; I'm sure shopping around will reveal better deals yet. Not considering CST this time.
Positive Experience with CST Levels
I've used CST laser levels for years and have nad nothing but good experience. I don't use them for home repair stuff much but rather use them extensively and heavily at work for topographic surveying. I presently have a couple CST LaserMark LMH levels - I believe they run in the $800 range. They are self-leveling and accurate up to something like 2,000 feet (and I test their accuracy every time we survey by closing survey loops). I am pretty hard on equipment, typically in rough and brushy terrain, and have never found these levels (I've used 3-4 of them over the years) to be unreliable or not well made. I also have never had a problem with the target clamp stripping or otherwise failing. I do always match the target bracket to a stadia rod of the proper shape (a rectangular stadia made for a leaser level). I'm not sure what model slykarma uses and why he's had these problems but just thought I'd pst is support of CST levels, which have never failed me after years of heavy use.
Will, PLS is a good company with good tools.
I would never hesitate to recommend PLS (Pacific Laser Systems) to anyone interested. They have a range of various tasked lasers and if you find one that suits your needs, think about dealing with them.
As an example of customer service-when I first purchased a pls 2 from my drywall supply I needed it NOW. Trying it out at home I thought something was wrong with it and immediately called the company (PLS). Mike there agreed that it indeed was not right and told me he would ship next day air one to my door. Put the other one in the box and ship it back after you get the replacement. Got it the next day and have been a satified customer since.
Since, I have bought the 180 with ext. detector. Very satisfied with their product and service. Mike has come here on occasion to answer questions (with no marketing tactics). He's also donated lasers several times for our give-aways at the Fests.
I mention the above not to insure getting another donation next year, but to tell you it's a good company with real people. Not the usual in this world today.
Best of luck.
I ended up ordering a Spectra ll300. For 700 bucks which I did not think was too bad of a deal. But I did not realize that it did not come with a remote. Further if you want to do any sort of slope work you need the remote to set it up. Which costs another hundred bucks. So at this point while the machine seems top notch so far. I don't know if I would make the same decsion twice.
Will