Screwfix laser levels - any good?

[Dave]

Has anyone bought any of the cheaper laser levels from Screwfix, are they any good? Is there a better/cheaper place to get them?

Dave S

[abraham]

b&q are cheaper, 25 quid

[mrcheerful]

the ones I have on ebay at present are probably at least as good as screwfix and less than b and q at present, but only a few mins to go. I take the liberty of putting a link in: to keep it short go to ebay and look for item:

4321300479

mrcheerful

[EricP]

I regularly borrow that exact tool and your description of it is very fair and accurate.

[Dave]

If only I'd seen your reply sooner :-(

Dave S

[mrcheerful]

There is another one listed now:

4322668169 I must admit I hope it makes more than the last, I lost money on that one!!

mrcheerful

[mrcheerful]

Thank you. I can't see the point in misdescribing, it will only annoy buyers.

mrcheerful

[Lobster]

Expect you will; after the subtle advert you'll probably have half of uk.d-i-y chasing it now!

Incidentally, to the OP, Aldi sometimes stock these things as well; no idea about quality but pretty sure they're cheaper than Screwfix if that's the main criterion.

David

[Ian Stirling]

Focus (or was it Homebase) had the exact same model as the Aldi one, for about 2.5* the price. The laser is only 1mw however.

Then again, you can't really obtain useful lasers for them. I want one that you can level it off to a nice level with the bubble level, turn the laser on, traverse it, and you've made the cut.

[troubleinstore]

Just out of curiosity, what colour is the laser beam from these things.

-- troubleinstore

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[mrcheerful]

The laser colour is usually (alwaya?) red, I expect that red lasers are cheap to make, must be annoying if you are clour blind though.

Mrcheerful

[Dave Liquorice]

As the enhancement goggles are red, I'd say red.

[Andy Dingley]

There are two colours - both red. However the long wavelength red is cheaper to make, and thus ubiquitous. The short wavelength red is at a more sensitive part of the eye's reception and appears brighter for the same power. You'd need to buy a Leica or something to get one.

There might be green ones before too long. Cheap non-red diode lasers are getting much cheaper.

[Andrew Gabriel]

I don't have one but used one once. Always found myself needing to make a mark at the beam point which was well out of reach. Someone needs to make one which has a momentary beam power boost button; 1kW pulse should be enough for the beam to burn a small mark on most things ;-)

[Malcolm Reeves]

Of course laser levels are no more accurate than a level + long straight edge since it all comes down to the bubble. Best long distance level is a water tube. I made one from a old bit of hose with some clear plastic tubes I had (eprom carriers to be precise). You need a good seal and to make sure there is no air trapped as you fill it (i.e. raise both ends so it is a smooth curve down and back up. With that I can get say a 10m wall level +/- 1mm.

[troubleinstore]

> id=yorkie_8&sort=2&rows=25&since=-1&rd=1

Exactly Mrcheerful, looks like I shall have to stay with the old methods.

-- troubleinstore

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[dave]

The 1950's chinese nuclear reactor type protection/enhancement goggles are red for the rotary laser level bought just two days ago. 5 watt output with horizontal and vertical adjustment. 19.99 plus vat.

[Bill]

In message , dave writes

Ouch ????????????????????????

[raden]

In message , Bill writes

Prolly for sensing levels remotely on the moon

[Dave Liquorice]

Flippin heck! What ever you do don't turn it on without eye protection for everyone in the room. The scatter from that could easyly damage eyes, permenantly.

I suspect that there is a lowercase "m" missing... even so thats still quite a pokey laser wouldn't want to look directly at that either.