The $40 laser level I mocked is now my daily driver

I spent 8 years using bubble levels on every job, laughed at a buddy's laser setup outside Fort Worth. Then I borrowed his Bosch for a dropped ceiling and finished 3 hours faster. Anyone else hold out on a tool for years then feel dumb for it?

2 comments

2 Comments

taylor_wells2d ago

Biggest thing I learned is the laser pays for itself on the first job you use it on. I fought it for years because the bubble level was always in my bag and it worked fine. The math just looks different when you're setting a whole row of cabinets or running a long shelf line. My advice is buy a decent one with a self leveling feature and a bright beam, not the cheapest thing on the shelf. You'll still grab the bubble for quick one off stuff, but you'll never go back for the long runs.

river_thompson2d ago

Read this piece last month from a contractor forum where a guy did the math on a job with 40 linear feet of shelving. Said the laser saved him about 2 hours of measuring and re-checking levels with the bubble. That stuck with me because it's the same reason I finally caved. I kept telling myself the bubble was fine, but it's not about being fine. It's about not having to crouch down and squint at a line every 4 feet. Once you set that beam once and walk away, you get why people get weirdly fanatical about these things.