Which laser level?

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Hi, i'm looking to get a laser level for stud work and tiling -
would people recommend a Dewalt DW087k or the updated DW088k or a Stabila Lax 50 or something totally different. The stabila comes with a tripod and extension pole which is handy.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/DeWalt-DEW088K-DW088K-Line-Laser/dp/B005LD4XRC
http://www.my-tool-shed.co.uk/p2240...kword=DW087K&gclid=CKOag_Diz64CFUEMfAodgCtrCA
http://www.buyaparcel.com/pageview.php?page=show_product&ecommerce_stockcode=STBLAX50

Thanks in advance
 
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Do yourself a massive favour; don't listen to the hype about DeWalt and buy a Leica laser level instead - Leica make some of the best laser levels on the market and generally only builders of the hairy-arsed type will use a DeWalt.

I expect some people on here will disagree with that statement... but please, before you do... check for a hairy-arse because you've probably got one!

Why not hire a leica laser level for a week and see how you get on with it?
 
I've had a DeWalt DW807k for years, and they are brilliant.

I know of loads of contractors with them and they all love them.

I don't know why the poster above has an issue with them? Maybe he works for lecia?
 
Do yourself a massive favour; don't listen to the hype about DeWalt and buy a Leica laser level instead - Leica make some of the best laser levels on the market and generally only builders of the hairy-a***d type will use a DeWalt.

I expect some people on here will disagree with that statement... but please, before you do... check for a hairy-a**e because you've probably got one!
I sort of have to agree with that one. I've owned a DW087K in the past. It was OK, but, and it's a big BUT, you can't lock the pendulum for transport. Same applies to the PLS (don't know about the Stabila). That means it is possible for the optics to get damaged as they are constantly banging around inside the casing when you transport the thing around - that happened to mine twice, and I've heard of others having similar problems. If you are doing site work don't buy a laser without pendulum lock; they're just too fragile

I first of all went to a Leica Lino L2 (the earlier model) which I still have as my backup - much clearer line than the DW but the wall bracket wasn't quite as good IMHO (although it was still more than adequate) - now I have a Bosch GLL3-80P and it's the dog's danglies. Why? because it projects a line on 3-axes, not just 2-axes, but also all three lines are a true 360°. What that means is that I no longer need to carry a laser plumb bob - the Bosch does that too. It also allows me to project a line to define a complete stud wall (floor, walls and ceiling), allows me to project lines onto ceilings, etc (Great for boxing-in ductwork). If you don't need that they do a 2-line version, the GLL2-80P. Nice thing is that Leicas and Bosches come with the all important pendulum lock

I know of loads of contractors with them and they all love them.

I don't know why the poster above has an issue with them? Maybe he works for lecia?
And I know a few people who've had them and had problems. The problem may be that until relatively recently laser levels were mainly the province of specialist survey equipment and DW were one of the few firms to put their gear into tool retailers (and I well recall having to special order my first Bosch rotary laser about 15 years ago - the dealer didn't believe that they sold them). The issue I raised above is a weak point on some lasers and is why I'm agin the DW and PLS and in favour of Leica and Bosch - and no I don't have associations with either company

The stabila comes with a tripod and extension pole which is handy.
Sorry to rain on your parade but almost nobody on site uses either in my experience. Just attach the base to a piece of tin stud screwed to the wall and slide up/down to where it is required (ir find a bit of metal lath which isn't yet drylined). Tripods are inviting some big-footed labourer/apprentice/site agent to knock the thing over and my experience of poles (other than the eastern European variety) is that they are invariably too short where you need them........
 
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Why do you think you need a laser for stud work & tiling :confused:, If this is just for DIY, apart from wasting your cash you’ll waste even more time setting it all up & then be no better off as far as accuracy goes. Just get yourself a decent spirit level & acquire some battens for the tiling; straight timber will do (but only use each piece once) but old aluminium double glazing window/patio door section from a skip fits the bill perfectly.

If you really want laser, go for a Leica IMO but it's so way OTT & you’ll never use it in anger for what you’re doing.
 
If your doing commercial stud work then a laser level with "lay down" facility is a massive benefit. Never done it but seen guys using the Hilti system for commercial jobs a lot.
Proably a bit ott for domestic work in small areas.

Leica are superb levels. Way ahead of anything else on the market imo. So I would agree with the guy above.
We use the Leica Rugby 280dg.
Worth its weight in Gold bullion.
 
If your doing commercial stud work then a laser level with "lay down" facility is a massive benefit. Never done it but seen guys using the Hilti system for commercial jobs a lot.
The "lay down" facility you refer to is usually only ever seen on large self-levelling rotary lasers, the class of machine used to grade roads or set-out public halls, etc (in other words tools such as the Leica Rugby series). It is necessary because rotary lasers cannot generate a cross line, only a horizintal or vertical one (and this facility is obviously unnecessary with a cross line laser). Such tools are generally extremely expensive (£800 plus) and whilst they are great for grading a road or setting the level on the ceiling of a 5000 square foot basketball stadium they are really cumbersome and far too inflexible when used in smaller domestic and commercial settings (because, for example, they can't project a cross line). The modern generation of pocket-size cross line lasers has displaced them very rapidly over the last 3 or 4 years for all but the largest work. I still have a Laser Systems (now part of Leica Geosys) rotary self-leveller just like that. I only keep it because it has virtually no resale value (it's 7 or 8 years old). It's been out on a job once in the last 18 months; a rare large scale job where the remote control "clicker" and rotation stop was an absolute necessity. For any smaller tasks the pocket lasers rule the field these days. BTW I do still do some commercial stud work
 
I don't know why the poster above has an issue with them? Maybe he works for lecia?

No, I don't work for anyone but myself! I just find that Leica products have never let me down. I've had Topcon and Spectra lasers before - which are both also great - but my personal preference is Leica just because the support is better, lots of places will fix and calibrate them and spare parts are easily found in the UK (unlike my old Pentax which I had to buy spares for from Belgium! - which is why it got eBay'd)
 
I've used a Dewalt DW087k for about 18 months now for installing AV screens and video walls . . . I'm not a fan of Dewalt myself and tend to stick to Bosch equipment but in all honesty I can't really fault it. I was considering the Bosch level at the time I bought it but money was tight so I went for the Dewalt purely on price and the fact I'd seen so many on sites being used. Occasionally I would like to be able to lock off the laser and use purely as a straight line device but its only a minor gripe which wouldnt stop me owning another.

I havent used the Leica (or ever seen one on a site) but I have used their laser measures which are bomb proof, can only assume they would be the same ??
 
Hilti pride themselves on durable tools.
Was asking the guy in a Hilti store once about the resiliance of a Hilti rotary laser level to knocks and drops (can't remember which one but it was close to £1800 quid at the time) and he duly removed it off the tripod, set it down and kicked it as hard as he could nearly 10 meters across the floor shop. :eek:
It went spinning like a rugby ball.

Then looked at me and said " Thats how much confidence we have in the durability of these levels"
 
he duly removed it off the tripod, set it down and kicked it as hard as he could nearly 10 meters across the floor shop. :eek:
It went spinning like a rugby ball. Then looked at me and said " Thats how much confidence we have in the durability of these levels"
Did you check it still worked :LOL: :LOL:
 
Norcon - if you ever swap your big, heavy, unwieldy single plane rotary laser for a small, lightweight self-levelling cross line laser you'll soon wonder why on earth you bothered lugging round such an oversized, overpriced monster for so many years. Oh, and at £1800 that Hilti was probably twice the price of an equivalent Leica rotary (just like all their other tools) and is about 8 to 10 times the price of a self-levelling 2pocket" laser level from Leica, Bosch, Makita, and yes even deWalt - so Hilti reps can probably afford to take a few back on warranty coz' guys have played footie with them.......
 
A small cross line laser in our line of work would be like pi$$ing into the wind. Have considered acquiring one but just don't think it would ever get out of the van.
Have a look at the last two images in this link...
//www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=230869&start=15

The straight line alignment on those concrete columns over a 150m distance was acheived using the Rugby 280dg. No small feat.
I agree with you about Hilti regarding pricing though.
 
A small cross line laser in our line of work would be like p**sing into the wind. Have considered acquiring one but just don't think it would ever get out of the van.
But the OP was talking about studding and tiling - small scale work. Don't get me wrong I have a large rotary laser with a remote, but as I don't do large scale work all that often it really is overkill. I'm sure that 90% of joiners would be of the same opinion. I also have to say that I've worked with more than a few civils guys who insist on using optical levels because "lasers aren't accurate enough.....". Odd when I think of how many buildings I've worked in where walls and floors were all over the place. On small scale work, however, laser innaccuracy of +/- 1.5mm per metre is within visual tolerance for the vast majority of jobs
 
I've borrowed my mates Leica and it's great. He's scottish, researches things until you ready to stab yourself to death, so based on that....

ok. my girlfriend has some Leica binoculars and they are stunning.


Leica are the best for optics.
 

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