OK……got the Strait-Line “Laser Line Generator” begining of the week.
Had been thinking about it for a while…..but at $60…..was guessing the price was too low for a laser that would do anything.
Had another tile job to layout……kitchen…diagonal…..with the patern to run around a few corners..and into a whole ‘nother room..a small bath.
So..though I’d give it a look when I had to make a run to HD for a cheap new trowel.
It was marked for sale at $40…….and the sales guy saw me reading the package…and he said they were playing with them one nite…..and it shot a line the whole way across the store. Said the line was easier to read looking toward the thing…as opposed to looking over it.
Bought it and tried it out……I love the little thing! Interior…pretty well lit room…it shows fine across the 25′ span. A mostly solid line the whole way. Even shows runing up the opposing wall a few inches.
It has 2 cheap tiny spirt levels….and 2 metal retractable pins…..so you can stick it to drywall. I checked the tiny levels against my Stabila……pretty close.
For laying out my floor…I laid my 3-4-5 square on the floor…shot the line over one leg….made a pencil mark…then shot over the other leg..another pencil line……made a dot at the corner……then just 3 nails at each dot and I snapped my real chalk……quick and easy.
I uesd it thru the whole install to laser line check the runs of tile…..both directions…..lots cleaner then setting my 7′ level down into the thinset…and longer
Used it to extend my layout line across the floor and into the bath…as I was laying all full tiles first…and had to skip over an area that was all cut tile……no straight edge would extended there….and chalking a one man line woulda been a major pain.
The laser is by no means a precision tool….and I’d not rely on their levels for anythinmg other than rough layout……..but used creatively….I see lots uses for a $40 tool.
Good purchase. ….looks cool…chicks dig it.
Jeff
…….Sometimes on the toll road of life…..a handful of change is good…….
Replies
Marked down already? Didn't it just come out?
Thanks for the review. I've been wondering about it.
I also got one of these when they came out and I had extra spending money. IT was $50? then, came out about a year ago - I think it was Christmas time when I bought it. Very handy, wish I remembered to use it more. Lots of times I'll do things the hard way, and then at or near finish, "Oh yeah... I could have just used..."
I don't think it's discounted like they're trying to get rid of 'em, it is a useful tool, but maybe they're just not selling?If everything seems to be going well, you've obviously overlooked something.
Jeff
My sentiments exactly! I got it when it first came out so I payed full price. I use it exactly as you described, nothing fancy, but I no longer have to worry about troweling the thinset over my chalkline.
And yer right...chicks do dig it, my 8 year old daughter thinks its the coolest thing ever!
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
"DO IT RIGHT, DO IT ONCE"
Has anyone tried any of the other "cheaper" laser tools on the market? Not necessarily less than the Strait Line. I have been looking at several around $200.00.
Edited 10/18/2002 3:21:52 PM ET by geez
I have the Robotoolz torpedo 3-way level. Works well with limitations. Not self-leveling, so the plumb line and/or levelness is only as good as you can read the bubble. But the two horizontal beams are 90* square and are great for tile layout. Cost $99 at Lowes.
Elcid, I went looking for the $40 version Jeff commented on and ended up finding the $99 one you bought. They had a $49 dollar one but the beam splitter on the $99 unit seemed like the most useful aspect of getting one so I bought the $99 one figuring I would rather try it out and return it if it wasn't useful than buy a cheap one that I wouldn't use much. Ultimately I want to buy it because I will get good use out of it not because it was cheap and $40 vs $99 isn't that big a deal.
I am writing all this to find out if you would buy yours again, if the beam splitter is useful, and to see if you have any additional opinions having owned it awhile?
I thought I had my compulsive tool purchasing under control, I guess not.
Karl
Depends on you application. For leveling, it's only as good as you can read the bubbles, and thus only as good as a torpedo level of the same length. You might consider using a longer level that would be more accurate, then lay the laser on top of the longer level. For square layouts, it works real well. Also works well for extending the chalk line a long distance.
Thanks for the follow up. I guess I am getting a 50 dollar laser torpedo level and a 50 dollar rt angle beam splitter combined into one package. Since I will probably get more use out of the beam splitter it is a deal at the 50 or 60 dollars more than I would pay for a laser torpedo level alone.
Karl
OK this thread is a year old.
how do you feel about it now?
thinking of asking santa for onebobl Volo, non valeo
still using it.
They're around $35 now ... I think.
Still just what it says ... a lazer chalk line. Looked at those little tiny vials once then forgot they were even there.
In the basement I'm on right now .... I had one wall plane that was split by 2 big cased openings. .. but I wanted the little stub walls on each end to line up with the bath wall in the very middle .... all over the course of 45' or so ...
Not a problem at all. Just made some quick reference marks .... then shot the lazer to line it all up. At the end ya gotta pick the middle as the line gets fatter ... but plenty good for framing.
I just wanted things to line up so the eye didn't catch something outta whack.
JeffBuck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
thanksbobl Volo, non valeo
another cool thing ...
the guy came down one morning and asked if I could "move this wall" to hit the corner of another ...
eyeball said it'd be close ... so I just shot the lazer line along the base plates ... say it was exactly 3.5" off ... so building out the short wall I had planned on leaving block would do the trick nicely.
Took all of 5 seconds to decide the change would work just fine.
JeffBuck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
It's a neat toy, but watch those pins in the bottom. Sharp little buggers, and yes, the level aspect of it is decorative only.
Joe H
I love those pins!
When I first got it .... everyone wanted to play with the new toy ...
I'd say ... slide that red cover up ...
and they'd all push the pins down ..... into their fingers!
Never failed ...
and good clean job site fun was had by all .......
Jeff
Buck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
Yup, stuck myself good about 20 seconds out of the box.
JoeH
I got one of those things a year ago (back when they were twice the price they are now). My idea for using it was for tilework. The beauty of it is that you can spread the thin set without losing the line.CARPEnter DIEM
Yes, I've found the gadget useful for tile, too. Also, great for setting bolts in footings for sleepers for ground-level decks.
this is a handy tool... for everything from laying out a floor to hanging a series of pictures to the same height. My father laughed at me when I bought one, but he was over last week to borrow it.
only drawback is that it doesn't work very well outdoors in sunlight.
PS- fun to play with as well.
I have to admit it is a good tool for t he price. Don't count on the little levels on it to be accurate though. Annoys the hell out of the cat.
Can't I go 1 day without spilling my coffee?
We had to get rid of the cats...but I'll tell ya a 10.5 month old will chase that line around for a while too!
Jeff.......Sometimes on the toll road of life.....a handful of change is good.......
cheap ten dollar lazer pointer(looks like a pen) comes in handy, for instance, guys up on a ladder, your're on the ground giving instructions, " fold flashing here.... tooth in siding here...leave that piece.... tooth in this piece......listening for the secret.......searching for the sound...
Jeff,
Saw one at HD for $40. Got it and am happy. Thanks for the thread.
One more guy at the site bought one......another tells me I own him one for X-Mas for one favor or another.......and the electrician might pick one up till his supplier get's in a multi-point laser dot deal......
I oughtta be getting a percentage of all this action!
Jeff.......Sometimes on the toll road of life.....a handful of change is good.......