Laser levels. How many lines?

I feel the need to a laser level. I am building a workshop then a extension.

I know very little about the different types, I have a really single line one and tripod, but don’t know how many lines etc I should go for. Saw a review on line by Bradshaw Joinery and he loved a rotary one he bought from Huepar. What the advantage of a rotary one? A lot more money but what does it bring to the party. A receiver / detector looks useful for outside work.

Rotary basically gives you a 360 degree line, which for some jobs is invaluable. I have the basic Stanley one, which only gives you a horizontal and/or vertical line in an arc in front of it, so it needs to be moved if you need more coverage. For most things its fine, for setting out an extension the 360 one would be more useful.

I bought a 16 line laser level for around £70 off eBay. Works well indoors. I can only compare it to a basic 2 line cross laser I had and I can say it’s a big improvement. Nice case and a few accessories. I use it on an old camera tripod.

I got a cheap crosshair laser level from eBay a couple of years back. It’s great, so much easier than using a spirit level. Probably one of my favourite tools. It’s normally self levelling, via a pendulum, but you can lock it in place and set the angle. Really useful for popping a handrail on the wall above some stairs to match the angle of the stairs.

Used it for picture rails as well, which on an old victorian house where the ceilings and floors aren’t always level was great. 360 would have saved me 60 seconds but it was just on a tripod, so just a case of rotating it a couple of times.

Edit: Also used ot for laying floor tiles.

This one is not listed a rotary but is 360 degrees? what am I missing

Huepar 904DG – 16 Lines Green Beam With Li-ion battery Remote Control

Bought a cheap Stanley + one when we were building and it did the job – if you’re doing a room it’s not difficult to turn it to a different section and line up with an existing line. A decent tripod is pretty much essential (or at least saves a lot of time).

However, my strategy on tools now is to buy pro quality (via eBay if you can find in good condition) and then sell again – you get the best tools for less than the cost of renting them

I’ve a cheapish bosch one (1 line each way) and used it in place of a line when building a brick wall outside with a curve in it. It worked well but was too faint to use in strong sunlight, worth considering if you want to use it outside

too faint to use in strong sunlight

mine came with some red lensed glasses which helped but used to do outside stuff first thing or late in day

Have a look at the cigman ones on Amazon, 3 lines each individually controlled so you can have all or just one on. Green lines work better outside too

too faint to use in strong sunlight

I was planning on getting a detector to solve that issue.

Got a Bosch Quigo from Amazon Warehouse. Cheaper but not that cheap. I’m going to return it as (always) the condition description didnt match what arrived. I was able to try it out though.

Downsides are small axis adjustment is limited to one axis and is done via the clamp. Doesn’t seem like you can lock it, although if you tilt beyond its self leveling range it sort of locks.

Any recommendations for one with the following:

Green laser
Two axis micro adjustment (can be the clamp that’s fine with me)
Locking
Probably only need 2 lines and not 360

However, my strategy on tools now is to buy pro quality (via eBay if you can find in good condition) and then sell again

Ask for the original receipt or invoice if buying from eBay. This can help avoid buying stolen goods.
Some car boot sales only allow selling of power tools if the seller has an invoice.

Get a rotary for setting out your levels etc – recommended for outside work,

then a cross line for indoor work

more money you spend , generally the more accurate they are.

most of the cheaper end is around +/- 3 mm over 10 m , which is ok for diy etc

Spectra kit with a decent tripod and staff and listen to the beeps until they flat line , if kept clean and undamaged you will sell it no probs losing £100 max

most of the cheaper end is around +/- 3 mm over 10 m , which is ok for diy etc

Worse than that IME. I’ve got a wall/window opening done with a laser level that is 8mm out over 2.4m. Following that I’ve checked and corrected with a quality spirit level placed on a long straight rafter.

Worse than that IME. I’ve got a wall/window opening done with a laser level that is 8mm out over 2.4m. Following that I’ve checked and corrected with a quality spirit level placed on a long straight rafter.

Maybe my old boss’s son did the setting out on that one . We had an eyewateringly  expensive Hilti rotary level at work, which he used to set out the steel on a riser up in London . Only he forgot to unlock the prism, so instead of being level , it was only as good as what he had levelled the tripod  to, using the bubble.   I think it was something like 80 brackets that had to be altered as he had marked out and drilled  all the holes in the concrete walls using the level . Doh !

All very high end and futuristic. Cant you just use a length of clear plastic tubing filled with water ?

Even the quality ones are under 20 quid

I have this one and can’t fault it

https://amzn.eu/d/5NaWYQw

Water level I was shown how to use at one at Kirkcaldy Tech in the late 70’s, would I ever buy or use one definitely not

I would use a plum bob if required

All very high end and futuristic

I did find my first use quite underwhelming. Very much “ooh green lines! Ah wait, so I have to faff about with a tripod/clamp/ladder to get the horizontal line exactly where I want it”. Some slight naivity on my part too