Unlevel spirit level !

kaseryn · 17 Mar 2010

As everyone says Stabila are the benchmark for level quality but a bit pricey.. for a much better value level the Draper series with Kapro vials are spot on!

edit: and if someone nicks it.. it's not the end of the world

muggles · 17 Mar 2010

kaseryn said:
the Draper series with Kapro vials are spot on!

edit: and if someone nicks it.. it's not the end of the world

They're far from spot on, accuracy of 1.75mm per metre according to the Draper website (http://www.drapertools.com/b2c/b2citmdsp.pgm?pp_skmno=41395&ipadd=) someone nicking that would be a good thing, reckon I could get things more level than that by eye.

FatMax XL levels are accurate to 0.5mm per metre in eight planes (interestingly most Stabila levels are only rated to 0.5mm/m when horizontal with the vial on top, hold them with the vial on the bottom, or vertically, and this mysteriously drops to 0.75mm/m, so although they have a good name they're not actually as accurate as the Stanleys, although I admit you'd struggle to see 0.25mm/m difference. Not aware of any guarantees on the continued accuracy of Stablias either)

gregers · 17 Mar 2010

use the i phone with the level app,
very surprised how well it works

kaseryn · 18 Mar 2010

I just don't really like the look of the Stanleys.

As for the Drapers.. i've had a few of these at 600mm and 900mm, and they've been absolutely bang-on as compared with a Stabila (which a mate had) or vertically against newly poured columns plumbed to 1mm/3mtrs..

Thats good enough for me!

Also like very much the solid vials.. hard to break. I guess you were less unlucky with yours?

joinerjohn · 18 Mar 2010

Place a £1 coin on the bottom frame that's supposed to be level. If it rolls, then it's not level.

However if your doing this for a customer then place the customers cheque/bunndle of £20 notes, on it. If it doesn't roll then,,, it's perfect !!!!

pompeyal · 23 Mar 2010

Quick tip, can't use a spirit level on a boat.....

diydazzler · 23 Mar 2010

I went to my local tool supplier who tends to specalise in builders tools.
He had 3ft Stabila at £45 and some similar loking cheapos at £10.
Cheapo was nice n heavy and when I checked the levels in the shop they all appeared good so went ahead and bought it.
Got back to the job and found everything was out but an hour later the frame was levelled,plumb,3 4 5 and diagonally square so I'm now a happy bunny

rizred · 23 Mar 2010

Just out of interest...

what is "3 4 5"?

(yep., i'm prepared for a deluge of "funny" answers!!)

Thermo · 23 Mar 2010

pythagorus. the rule of 3 (or its multiple) down one side of a triangle, 4 down another and 5 along the hypotanuse, will always give a right angle.

noseall · 23 Mar 2010

rizred said:
Just out of interest...

what is "3 4 5"?

(yep., i'm prepared for a deluge of "funny" answers!!)

As per Thermo....

"In a right angle triangle, the square of the hypotenuse (the long diagonal side) is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides"

3 squared = 9
4 squared = 16

9 + 16 = 25

the square root of 25 = 5

rizred · 25 Mar 2010

Thanks Thermo + NoseAll!

That rings some distant maths lesson bells!

diynot

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Unlevel spirit level !

joinerjohn

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