• RichardDegenne@lemmy.zipOP
      3·
      20 hours ago

      It’s a nice tool to have. As other have pointed out, it’s doesn’t do anything you couldn’t do with a bubble level and a tape measure, but it’s still pretty convenient. For instance, mounting the second stand at the same height as the first was completely trivial and saved me a bunch of time measuring stuff.

      My recommendation would be to look at a set with a bunch of accessories to adjust the position of the level, otherwise you’re gonna have a hard time playing it at the correct height, especially when using the horizontal lines.

    • Rooster326
      5·
      1 day ago

      It’s a completely unnecessarily expensive toy for almost every job but I break it out every chance I can get with a grin.

      Makes setting up fancy photography collage walls super easy.

      I use it way more often to template off of something than I do to level. Want to get a picture at the height of (item that is 6ft away). Easy peasy. No measuring involved. Want to follow an existing line of items perfectly? Put the laser right over the existing items

    • sbv@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      3·
      1 day ago

      I got one recently. It sticks to the wall with suction.

      Pros:

      • Fun
      • If you’re trying to line up multiple points on a long line, it works reasonably well.
      • Lasers

      Cons

      • In my level, the entire level needs to be moved to get a level laser line. Other levels move the laser independently.
      • Bumps on the wall truncate the beam
      • Feels like measuring and a long straight edge could accomplish the same thing.

      I’m not sure I’d buy it again, but I use it when it’s helpful.

    • itsamelemmy@piefed.zipEnglish
      2·
      1 day ago

      I bought one when installing kitchen cabinets. Used my photography tripod. The tripod was not ideal, and it’s a really nice carbon fiber with a ball joint. Getting the precise height dialed in was challenging. It was worth the cost for that one job though, and I haven’t used it since.

      • Rooster326
        2·
        1 day ago

        There is nothing specific about a laser level tripod but yes it needs a quality tripod.

        All 3 legs better extend. You ain’t getting by with 3 mini legs and a long center pole like you will in photography

        • fakeman_pretendname@feddit.uk
          2·
          21 hours ago

          On the contrary, I’d say the other way round.

          A photo/video tripod has a pan and tilt head, which is completely useless for a laser level, and in fact gets in the way - if you want a level line, you want the platform perfectly level by default. They also tend to be able to run heights at between 50cm and 1.5m (approx 2ft - 5ft), though you can get ones smaller or larger than that if you shop around.

          In the other hand, using an actual laser level tripod gives you a flat platform, often on a long pole with tiny legs, which can be adjusted to any height between about 60cm and about 4m (about 2ft - 13ft). Some types use screw-in poles to adjust the overall height.

          I’ve found these cheapo Laser Level Tripods off Amazon are actually amongst the best available (though may be a little wobbly when the level is at the top, or if the floor is springy - but that just means you need to wait a minute for it to settle after adjusting it). They’ve got a handle for the main adjustment, then a screw on the platform for fine tuning.

          Your other option is using a platform with a clamp/magnet/hook on it, and clamping that onto a spare stepladder, or hanging it from a screw in the wall, or magnetising it to a girder (if you’re somewhere with girders).

          If you’re just using one occasionally, or know you’re rarely going above 2 metres, you can certainly get away with using a camera tripod (and occasionally popping it on a table for the extra height) - but if you’re using it basically every day for work, it’s worth getting a dedicated one.