Budget Laser Level

[united]

I have been keeping my eye open for a 'budget' self levelling laser for a while now.

I know I should buy quality and buy once but my budget does not allow. I also know this is not an essential tool but after using John's laser a few month ago I have noticed on a few job that I could have done with one.

Anyway I have found a 'deal' and just wanted a few opinions

 

[Carrie Bloomy]

We both the same one for my father birthday. I haven't aksed him is it good or not.

 

[united]

Thanks Carrie, I look forward to his response

 

[aph257]

Hi Mark,
Good price, but accuracy of +-6mm in 15m is a concern though.

 

[furness tiles]

just to be straight does this laser level put a line right round the room? or is it just across a wall as far as the beam will go.

 

[Aston]

hi mark

i know your not gonna like this but you are wasteing money not saving it by buying these kind of laser levels. they are designed for the home user and they lose their calibration easily!! the lasers are normally very poor in daylight and they arnt as accurate.

you really need to be paying a minimum of £100 for a half decent laser level for domestic tiling situations..the stabila is a really good option for that kinda money.
id hang onto you money and save up a bit longer and use your standard bubble level untill you have the sufficient readies to get a stabila, dewalt etc...pay cheap pay twice definately appies to budget lasers mate

ed

 

[SLR]

hi mark

i know your not gonna like this but you are wasteing money not saving it by buying these kind of laser levels. they are designed for the home user and they lose their calibration easily!! the lasers are normally very poor in daylight and they arnt as accurate.

you really need to be paying a minimum of £100 for a half decent laser level for domestic tiling situations..the stabila is a really good option for that kinda money.
id hang onto you money and save up a bit longer and use your standard bubble level untill you have the sufficient readies to get a stabila, dewalt etc...pay cheap pay twice definately appies to budget lasers mate

ed

I agree good advise Aston,

My chippy mate bought a similar one to your link United and it just wasn't anygood hard to see and terrible accuracy! I ended up getting in touch with my mate from a hire center and he done me a good deal on an ex hire hilti kit which had just been serviced and cost me £130 well worth the money easy to see beam and more accurate than we could get with a stabila level over 40ft run! Try your local hire centers as most do sell on ex hire stuff from time to time just drop in & give em a business card you never know! A cheap claw hammer is one thing but a laser level is a completely different ball game all together mate.
Hope this helps.

 

[united]

Thanks for the advice I thought it wouldn't be up to much.

I have decided to get the Stabila LAX 50 It looks good for what I will be using it for (small domestic bathrooms mainly)

 

[Alan.P]

Hi united, search for C & G fixings morton park Darlington they have a De Walt ( cant remember the model ) for £145 inc very nice laser, comes with magnetic bracket and clamp in a case.

link

 

[furness tiles]

iv never use a lazer level before, if you set it up does it go right round the room or do you have to move the lazer round the room, i'm just trying to work out if it would save me time.

 

[david campbell]

iv never use a lazer level before, if you set it up does it go right round the room or do you have to move the lazer round the room, i'm just trying to work out if it would save me time.

that would be a rotary level,in which i think would be the best option

 

[Alan.P]

As David says, a rotary level will give you a beam all around the room, a 'standard' laser level, depending on position will give you almost the full room, depending on room size and laser power.

 

[SLR]

iv never use a lazer level before, if you set it up does it go right round the room or do you have to move the lazer round the room, i'm just trying to work out if it would save me time.

My hilti one is rotary and puts a beam all the way round the room its an awesome bit of kit with a really strong laser so its easy to see, but more importantly its accurate! suspended ceiling fixers use them all the time to fix perimeter battens etc. If your trade then its worth shelling out good money on trade quality tools that will serve you well. Especially If its something that will ultimately save you time, help you do your job, and that you will use quite a bit! It'll pay for itself over and over again in which case its got to be a good investment! but if you will probably only use it the once or twice then hire one rather than buy a cheap one! Hope this helps!

 

[furness tiles]

yes in the trade, havent had a problem using me levels for the 8 yrs been trading but it can be tedious at times so a rotary one would be better by the sounds of it. Do most of the tilers on here use them or do they just use the normal level?

 

[SLR]

yes in the trade, havent had a problem using me levels for the 8 yrs been trading but it can be tedious at times so a rotary one would be better by the sounds of it. Do most of the tilers on here use them or do they just use the normal level?

I am a novice when it comes to tiling so am not in a position to advise you to get one! I am a joiner carpenter and for me my rotary laser level has paid for itself over and over again in fact on the very first price job i used it! I am a great believer in investing money to make money and if it makes my life easier as well then thats just a bonus! If i were you i would post your question in a new thread. There are some really good experienced and helpful tilers on here who have advised me well for which i am eternally grateful, i am sure they would do the same for you! Finally in my experience laying floors be it hardwood/laminate/floor boards or fitting kitchen units or anything that sits directly on the floor i will always look to see how far its out of level and apart from the new builds i have done that have had a pumped screed, most are out or have pits and bumps! my kitchen floor is approx 23m2 if i wanted to make it perfectly level i would have to raise it at one end by a massive 3" but apart from that its in twist also! I will obviously do what i can to straighten it out and put it closer to level, but as the saying goes you can't ice skate up hill!! I personally think its more important the floor is flat or as near as dammit, rather than level but thats just my opinion!

 

[craig1010]

I bought a Bosch from Homebase a couple of years ago. It's self leveling, does horizontal, vertical and cross, cost about £70 or £80, and came with tripod and batteries. I bought it because a woman wanted 6 mozaic borders at different stages on the job I was doing. The bathroon was pretty big and L-shaped, and it made the job so much easier and quicker. It's just the green model, so not really for the everyday abuse it gets, but makes setting out a good bit quicker, and I'm in the middle of 2 bathrooms just now on a new build, 1000mm tiles with 1mm joint. With the lazer you can get the first row so accurate the rest of the wall will follow. As soon as it gives up the ghost, I'll buy the new Bosch one that's out, about £155, 'cos I couldn't do without one now.