Master Using Levels and Plum Bobs with These 14 Tips

Lasers Work Great for Long-distance Leveling

There are many types of laser levels that simplify long distance leveling. The inexpensive version were showing is a small torpedo level with a built-in laser light. To learn how to use a level, turn on the laser light and adjust the level until the bubble is centered between the lines. The point of visible laser light will be level with a reference mark on the body of the level. More expensive laser levels have self-leveling mechanisms that eliminate the need to adjust the bubble.

You can mount laser levels on a tripod, but if you dont own a tripod, thread a 1/4-in. No. 20 machine screw into the hole on the bottom of the level, letting it protrude about 1/4 in. to serve as a pivot point. Set the level onto the pivot and use shims to center the bubble. Mark the wall at the dot of light and measure up or down to the desired height. Then, swivel the laser on the pivot, level it, mark the wall again and measure up or down the same distance. Snap a line between the points.