Replies

1. 
   RobP22 | May 16, 2002 06:30am | #1

   All you have to do is fill some tubing (what ever length you need) with colored water (food coloring will do), then plug the ends. Hold one end to your reference point and hold the other end whereever you need to and layout your mark. The water will "find" its own level. It usually works best with two people though.

1. 
   nuvue | May 16, 2002 06:47am | #2

   Heyguys

   You can't plug the ends, it won't find its level. But yea, clear tubing and food coloring work well. Be sure the water has no bubbles part way in the tube, it will throw off the accuracy. Siphon some thru till it flows well and clears out the water column.

1. 
   RobP22 | May 16, 2002 09:40pm | #3

   The "plugs" I refered to would allow air through but not a significant amount of water.

1. 
   DavidThomas | May 16, 2002 10:43pm | #4

   You can buy 12-inch clear plastic tubing already fixed to male and female 3/4' hose thread. So all you need is garden hose to connect them. They came with little caps and have small holes to the atmosphere. When using non-clear tubing (i.e. garden hose), "burp" it a few time. Walk a high spot from end to end, hand-over-hand to move any air bubbles to the end.

   If you use your own tubing, there are practical limits. 150' of 3/16" tubing is cheaper and lighter than 1/2". But it takes a LONG time to equilibrate. All the resistance in tiny tubing and only a 1/4" of head to drive the flow.

   If you make a big reservior (gallon jug with tubing coming out the bottom), you can park it in a central location. A large cross sectional area in the reservior makes it more accurate if the tubing gets bent or squashed somewhere.

   They make electronic beepy things that monitor one end of the tubing for you. At the right level, it beeps, so you can work alone and around the corner from your fixed point. They come with 25' of tubing for $40 (?) and another 25' of tubing works okay, but you want to wait a bit for it to equilibrate.

   David Thomas   Overlooking Cook Inlet in Kenai, Alaska

2. 
   scottyb | May 17, 2002 03:06am | #5

   I've used a water level for years for drop-ceilings,decks,chair rail.... anything that needs needs a level line in a small area.The largest area I've used one on was about 1700 sq ft drop ceiling and it was right-on.

   I always use the Hi-Tec coffee can with a slit in the lid, filled with water and 3/8 clear tubing and a step ladder for basements or upstairs trim,drop ceiling.

   Lets see....$8.00 for coffee,$8.00 for 50 ft of tube,can reuse both many times... how much does a water level cost at Home Depot?

   I think the Greeks knew about this and the square thousands of years before Jesus was born.Luck

1. 
   JohnSprung | May 17, 2002 09:46pm | #6

   > I think the Greeks knew about this and the square thousands of years before Jesus was born.Luck

   Egyptologists believe that a grid of small interconnecting trenches filled with water was used to level the ground under the pyramids, circa 3300 BC, IIRC.  That was long before the Greeks, who were more like 500 BC.

   -- J.S.