Cross Line Lasers - whats todays consensus?

[StoneTooling]

If any of you are interested in the Stabila 03200, I have 5 that I am willing to close out for a great price.

[Davy]

I have the PLS180 and really like it when mudding floors. I set it on top of a bucket, run my mud screeds around the room and simply measure down from the beam to the screed and set all my heights on the same measurement. Hardly use a level. Very handy tool.

[tilenewbie1]

also a PS2 guy for the last 1o years or so. Dont have the 180 yet but looking forward it the future. Tried other lasers but the PS2 takes abuse and keeps going.

Davy, Have you tried to set the laser directly on the floor? Then when doing outside rails just smack your wood float down till the laser line falls neatly into the corner, Also not sure how you do your rails in the main floor I will lay my screed on top and tap them down till the laser line hits the edge of the screed.

If there is one thing i would like to see about the ps2 is to have a line a bit closer to the floor though. even though of all the lasers i tried it has been the lowest.

[Davy]

Jim, I would have to measure but I believe the beam is about 1 1/2 inch off the floor.

I have set screed sticks in walls by setting the laser on the floor and measuring from the beam to the stick, top and bottom and making sure the measurement is the same. I'm sure there are more ways to use it than what I have thought of. I'm getting it out of the truck more and more, nearly every day seems like. The self leveling part is what makes it so useful.

[Davy]

A funny story, a few weeks ago I was doing some tile work and at the same time watching some carpenters set some wood beams on the kitchen and living room ceiling. There was an opening in the wall between the two rooms and the decorator wanted the beams to line up from one room to the next. They had a laser set on the island top, an older one that has a level bubble, not self leveling. They didn't realize that they needed to set the bubble level to shoot a plumb line to the ceiling. When they turned on the laser, it shot the beam about 30 ft away onto the living room ceiling but since the beam wasn't plumb, the line was at an angle with the room, at least 6 inches off, not parallel with the walls at all. They set a bunch of beams and had to redo them all. After they took them down I went to the truck and got my laser and set it up for the poor guys. I had a good laugh over that.

[Houston Remodeler]

Had some not-to-great-to-work-with electricians set the backsplash receptacles all at different heights even though they were told about the tiles which would show any mistake. When I commented by asking if they owned a level, they got snotty. I flicked on the laser which cut the first one in half, then showed how dog toothed the others were set. They weren't too pleased but the HO was happy.

[Topspin]

Originally Posted by Paul

When I commented by asking if they owned a level, they got snotty. I flicked on the laser which cut the first one in half

Jeeze, your laser must be way more powerful than mine. What do you do to the other electrician?

[Houston Remodeler]

Lunch

[Marge]

Just a quick followup on our PLS4. Some of you know we bought a 1970's home in March and have gutted it (buy Advil stock, it should be going up). This laser has been amazing in plumbing walls, marking canned light and ceiling fan locations, outlet placement (like Paul said!), grout lines, pencil rail, etc etc. Really pleased with it.

[Houston Remodeler]

Marge,

Do you find yourself reaching for the laser before the level?

[Marge]

In a lot of applications..yes. What is slow coming is realizing, at the moment, that it can be the go to tool for multiple applications.

Have actually tested it against some "manual" methods a few times now. Impressed and comfortable with the results.

[Davestone]

Been using a cheaper Ryobi on showers for years,but last time i was off a little,but used a level also,they didn't jive,might have to get a new one.

[Brad Denny]

Originally Posted by Davy

I have the PLS180 and really like it when mudding floors. I set it on top of a bucket, run my mud screeds around the room and simply measure down from the beam to the screed and set all my heights on the same measurement. Hardly use a level. Very handy tool.

I like to do the same thing, Davy. Waiting for a big job to justify a high quality rotary laser to stretch out accurately for mud.

[cx]

Lordy, Brad, how large an area do y'all mud at one time?

[Brad Denny]

Originally Posted by cx

Lordy, Brad, how large an area do y'all mud at one time?

Every once and a while we'll get a commercial kitchen or stone install that exceeds a thousand sq ft. I don't trust the little lasers and I don't trust the operators of the water level onna floor that big. Plus, it'd be a fair reason for a new toy.