Lost my 7 yr old laser level to a burglar last Jan. About to buy a new one. Have about $200 available from insurance settlement. Stolen level had a single beam; rotated to put beam where you wanted it, controlled by a radio remote. Can’t recall who made it.
Can’t find it any more. Went into Lowes last night & they have a DeWalt & a David White. Both cost about $200. Both have same features.
Comments on relative quality? Anyone use either of them?
Don
Don Reinhard
The Glass Masterworks
“If it scratches, I etch it!”
The Glass Masterworks
“If it scratches, I etch it!”
Replies
Don,
Was your old one yellow? If so, I think you had a Robo Laser made by Robo Toolz. Great tool.
Porter Cable bought them out - changed the tool a bit, added some rubber armor, made it PC gray, will now project a dot or a line.
Amazon.com (formerly Tool Crib) has them for $219. Amazon's #RT-7210-1.
Jim
Never underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.
Jim: That was it - "Robby, the Robot"!!! Worked great. Really liked it.Thanks. Still have a decision, though. Do I want the PC laser or the others which seem to have morre capability.DonDon Reinhard
The Glass Masterworks
"If it scratches, I etch it!"
A few weeks ago I was in Sears and they had one of these remote-control RoboToolz levels (RT-7210-1) on their return shelf for $94. Couldn't resist. Just wish I'd gotten it when I was digging the foundation and setting the joists for my garage.
After I bought it, I checked out the reviews on Amazon.com. Seems like quite a few people have had issues with them losing calibration, so I'll probably run a quick check whenever I set it up.
Don
Can't speak directly to calibration on the PC version.
My older (pre-PC buyout) version by Robo-Toolz would hold it's calibration well, provided you followed the directions packed with it.
As you know it is a self-leveling pendulum type. Opening and closing the "door" which covers the laser port also locks / unlocks the pendulum. The instructions are rather explicit in regards to not transporting or moving (excluding tool rotation) the tool with the door open (pendulum unlocked).
If you move the tool without locking the pendulum, it will bang around inside of the tool and quite possibly throw the calibration off. Don't ask how I know that it makes a noise when this happens.
When mine was brand new out of the box, I calibrated it in a large room of my church - good place, concrete floor, 110' clear throw. It was found to be off by 1-1/4" in 110'. Followed the directions and had it calibrated in about 45 minutes.
Tool is rechecked every so often, usually a 10 minute operation, and seems to hold well if transported according to the recommended procedure - namely lock it before you move it.
I am assuming the quick check you mention is the "rotate 1 full revolution at medium or low speed and check for laser blinks".
Unfortunately, this test will only tell you if the tool body is too far out of level for the pendulum to self-level throughout the full rotaion. It will not tell you if the tool is out of calibration.
Jim
Never underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.
I used the Dewalt that you mentioned for a while. It's manually leveled via two vials, but easy to do and worked great.
Actually, because it was manually leveled, unlike most self levelers, you could use it to indicate a proper pitch line, I suppose.
Heavy Duty, easy to use.
JT
Look at the PLS-2 before you go with a single dot unit again. It gives you horizontal and vertical lines. That's very handy, since level and plumb are properties of lines, not points.
-- J.S.
Don, If it were me, I'd add 60 bucks to that (or so) and get the pls2 from Pacific Laser Systems. I think you'd like it. Interior use only. Very compact.
A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
http://www.toolfetch.com/tools/pls2.html
their price has gone up to $245 ... but still looks competitive.
nice place to buy from.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
I have the Stanley FatMax version of the PLS2, got for under $100 at HD. Exactly the same features, I like it very much.
Not to discredit the PLS line; I also have a PLS5e which serves a completely different function.
Get your self a "Gizmo" !! Seriously this unit is better than anything up to about 8 to 10 times it's price. Gravity set, vertical or horizontal lines with 90 degree spreads. Put it in a corner and work a whole room. I have seen fellow craftsmen abandon their expensive transits after watching me retrace lines that took them 1.5 man-hours to make in less than 15 minutes with the width of two pencil lines for variation.
Any more info? manufacturer? Source? Cost?
thanksJake Gulick
Lateapex911@optonline.net
CarriageHouse Design
Black Rock, CT
http://www.mytoolstore.com/berger/gizmo23.htmlFThere he goes—one of God's own prototypes—a high powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live and too rare to die.—Hunter S. Thompson
from Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas
I use them, sell them, and only have one question.
What do you want the laser to do?
Personally I prefer a rotary laser, which is more or less what you had, but with a constant beam.
There is one super deal right now at Toolking for a Robotoolz RT-3620 for $129? with a detector. The detector and rod bracket go for $90!.
Sure it is a manual laser, but I've managed to level for a few decades, and this laser levels up sweet. The bonus is it has a dual beam projecting 90 degrees, and can be used either in horizontal mode or veritcal.
I would buy that laser and any one of the CST/Berger x-Beam lasers, branded Lasermark/Stanley/David White. They are totally slick, and blow the doors of any Pacific laser for price. PL2 = $250, Cst brand under $100. Pinch me.
Now there is one thing neither of those levels do well. Instant plumb from floor to ceiling. There are lasers to do exactly that. They are instantly self-leveling, and small enough to carry without a worry. They are really popular, but they are a one trick pony. $85
One series of laser will do most of the above, but not with a rotary function. CST/Berger makes 5 beam lasers. They are self-leveling point beam lasers. One, The David White does a chalkline to one side. Pretty cool. If you HAVE to have only one, these work pretty well.
Do you see where I am going with this? Every laser does One thing well. So what is it you need for laser to do?
I will say this, I defy anyone to beat that deal on the Robo 3620. I will always have a rotary laser, and if you can beat that deal I will kiss butt.
One futher comment. I don't care for Dewalt lasers at all. In time they will make their place in the market, but they have a ways to go.
Hope that helps.
My wife bought me a Black & Decker auto-leveling laser combo kit from the Home Depot. It contains a 360 degree auto-leveling laser and a Crossfire auto-leveling laser. The package special is 20 percent off the individual prices and I received a 20 % discount on top of that.But this really doesn't mean much if the products are obsolete. I say that because I called B&D and they told me they're not marketing this package any more.Anyone out there familiar with these laser levels?Thanx.
haven't heard anyone mention the stabila yet and had to chime in, got it about 3-4 years ago for about $400. came with a sensor and rod in a nice hard case and these really cool glasses that i like to wear all the time cause they just make the world look better!
i noticed right away that the mounting thread was same size as my camera tripod screw so i tried it an it worked great, and with a little patience i can set it up to project at just right height, but i usually make a little shelf exactly the same height as the laser beam so i just attach top of shelf at desired height and bingo,
it is a manual adjuster, but its easy to do, and the laser rotates at three different speeds and it will also paint a line, it kinda vibrates back and forth real fast for a segment.
it also shoots a plumb line which i use a lot, just make a square X on the ground and center unit (little groove marks on center of all four sides) over X and bingo
one last thing is that whether its manual or self adjusting i always try to "two peg" every time i take shots, in other words i set it up in at least two different spots to see if it hits the same marks. its also a good idea to make sure that you see if the laser is still on the first mark after you make the last mark
it was expensive for a manual but it is a stabila, and even though it hasn't been abused it is still perfect after 3-4 years
If you are talking about the laser I think you are then it has been mentioned. I do believe I said it was my favorite laser.
It wouldn't happen to be this one>>> http://www.toolking.com/productinfo.aspx?productid=4959
That is the old Robotoolz RT-3620, http://northwestpowertool.com/laser/rt36202.htm
Robo has been bought out by Porter Cable, it is not the same laser. Now it is made in China, and they cheapened it up a bit. But do you know what? They sell for $200 anywhere and Toolking is clearing them out for $99 with the detector and rod bracket.
This is such an awesome deal I will start a thread for it. Seriously.
yes that is it, i sincerely apologize for missing your post, more shame on me since i recognize the name Qtrmeg and respect your opinion. sorry
How could you know they were the same level?
I will tell you that is my favorite laser of all time. They are sooo sweet. The new porter Cable ones are not the same. Well they are kinda, but they are not as rock solidly built as the German models. I can and have had any laser, and the one I will keep is the yellow Robo/Stabila.
And what's with this Qtrmeg worship stuff? I'm just one of the guys. Every decade or so I may say something that makes sense, that's all. Your post brought out a lil bit more and we all learn just that much more.
Thank you.
Lasers are a very hard topic, and the more input we have the better. I really feel strongly that there is not just one laser for everyone. I also think I need three levels, and I can buy all three for much less than the price of a self-leveling rotary. But that is just me.
Your milage may vary.
I haven't paid very much attention to those as they are a homeowner item.
It certainly sounds like you got them for a fair price, and I am sure they will be useful for you.
I wouldn't worry about them being obsolete at all. After time you may find that you need more range or better accuracy, and if so you should be able to sell them for about what you have into them.