Replies

1. 
   glenaspen | Jun 29, 2012 01:01am | #1

   Framing gun

   I don't know why I didn't add this to the first post. I'm also in the market for a framing gun that shoots both 16D and 8D nails. Any suggestions. Thanks in advance.

1. 
   DanH | Jun 29, 2012 08:40pm | #4

   Hmmm... I don't recall ever seeing a combo framing gun and laser level.  But check Sears.

2. 
   calvin | Jun 29, 2012 05:29am | #2

   glen

   I have a PLS 180 with outdoor sensor.  It will work well for what you ask about.  It will fit on a camera tripod or with an adapter-to a regular builders sight level.

   Plumb, level, plumb level (crosshairs) or locked on square crosshairs.

   Good company, good compact tool.

1. 
   glenaspen | Jun 30, 2012 02:17pm | #5

   Thanks, Calvin. Sounds like it will work fine.

3. 
   [email protected] | Jun 29, 2012 06:28pm | #3

   Any brand name is about the same.

   I haven't noticed a big difference in any of the consumer grade units.  They all seem to be about as reliable, and have accuracies of 1/8-inch at 30-ft.  And, most are manual leveling.

   The next step up is pro units.  Again I haven't noticed a difference in the quality, and the accuracy starts getting to 1/8 or 1/4-inch in 100 to 200-feet.  In this range most are slef leveling if you get them to within 6 to 10-degrees of verticle.

   Finally you get to survey grade, which are accurate to 1/4 inch at 1000-ft, and are all self leveling. 

   Features you might find handy are remote controls and sensors, which puts you into the pro level units.  The sensor, lets you do thing like move concrete forms up or down, according to a low or high tone, until you get a mid tone that tells you that your on grade.  Considerably quicker than moving the form and then looking for the laser on a card or your rod, and then adjusting again.  The remote control will let you turn the unit on or off, or change things with out having to go back to it. 

1. 
   semar | Aug 22, 2012 11:18pm | #6

   or you could get one with a rotating laser line. Then you can adjust your forms to the laserline.