Milwaukee tools

[KAMIKAZEE DIY]

Any thoughts on Milwaukee spirit levels?

Any good? What I have just now has seen better days. Its just for general stuff at home.

Four footer on Amazon for £20 although their premium line levels costing over £100, I can't justify that for my needs.

[kwdConstruction]

The basic Stabilia is only a couple of quid more, I'd go for that.

[joydivision]

We switched to, 'OX' levels a few years ago. A seriously good level, at a reasonable price.
I personally wont pay Stabila prices. The basic ones are flimsy for trade use, maybe ok for your home use, and the top end levels are a fortune.
We went to Stanley fat max, which are ok, but the ox levels are better.
Just pick one up and feel the weight of it!

JD

[Tony McC]

20 quid for a 1200mm level? You do tend to get what you pay for with spirit levels and 20 quid doesn't seem very much.

[Nigel Walker]

I have been using OX levels for past 3 years.
Fantastic quality and you can feel the weight in them- I decide to saw off the rubber stubs at the ends. They get in the way !
I have a 1.8m level 2 x 1.2m 1 x 900mm 1 x 600mm 1 x 300mm

I find most OX tools are very good. Brick hammer, claw hammer gauger trowels pointing trowels etc.
The only tool that I insist on having a certain brand is my MarshallTown bricky trowel.

I guess most of us stick to what we like but I do tend to find that Joiners use Estwing hammers and Stabila levels.

What brand of tools does everyone else use - or which would they like to use if they could afford it !

[KAMIKAZEE DIY]

Nigel,

Thanks for recommendation. Read reviews on amazon and ordered ox pro 1200 level. Bit more expensive than I planned but if the hype is true it'll last a lifetime (guaranteed).

In response to your question I'm trying to upgrade my hand tools all round. Amazon warehouse deals, can offer top brand tools that have been returned for whatever reason that are sold on the cheap. I got an estwing hammer a couple weeks ago for £19 - in full packaging, hadn't hit one nail. Worth a look for a cheap buy....

[country boy]

ox levels are heavyweight but the bubbles tend to expand this happened on a 2m one barely used and on 3 600mm ones but i use and abuse a 1200mm with no problems.
i do think they are better than fatmax, but not a patch on stabilla which i always return too.

[seanandruby]

I have jcb boat, 600, i metre and two metre magnetic levels. Also Stabila 600 magnetic. All good no complaints, just check regular for accuracy. Mostly just use the boat level, easier to carry and string lines do the rest.

[Dave_L]

Expanding bubbles on levels are a big problem, definitely on the Fatmax stuff. Sent he lad for a new bubble but he couldn't get any

[kwdConstruction]

What brand of tools does everyone else use - or which would they like to use if they could afford it !

Bricklaying and small stuff I have decent Stabila levels (83S, 96 and 196) and Marshalltown Philidelphia brick trowel. Not precious about anything else as long as it isn't holding me up, well except for a couple of ancient mauls that have been handed down from my Dad, you can't buy a new one to match those battered beasts.

Longer levels is a bit of an issue, after having decent long levels pinched, I've been making do with lesser brands. I even did OK with a Wickes 6 ft for a good while (not like the ones they sell now, it was milled top & bottom and had twin vials for level not just plumb, probs a rebrand. It was decent but handle holes were a PITA, and when one of the vials didn't read true I taped over it and worked with the one that did, which again could be a PITA as half the time you're on the wrong end of it! :laugh:)

Stabila R-Type will be next 6 foot level I go for, they look a decent shape for screeding with gloves on and that's always been an issue for me and my apparently huge hands.

IMO Stanley are only good for tapes and knives, rather screed by eye than trust their levels, gave my Dad his back and that was rare once I'd procured something of his :;):

[KAMIKAZEE DIY]

I've seen gradient levels for sale, draper was most known brand selling them on amazon, using two vials, when bubbles centred would mean gradient of 1/100 or 1/200 if I remember correctly.

Anyone tried one?
Have the top end manufacturers never made these?
Are they just a cheap n cheerful gimmick?
Great idea in theory......

Don't need one and won't be buying one just wondered.

[seanandruby]

Two-axis digital inclinometer
Traditional spirit levels and pendulum-based electronic leveling instruments are usually constrained by only single-axis and narrow tilt measurement range. However, most precision leveling, angle measurement, alignment and surface flatness profiling tasks essentially involve a two-dimensional surface plane angle rather than two independent orthogonal single-axis objects. Two-axis inclinometers that are built with MEMS tilt sensors provides simultaneous two-dimensional angle readings of a surface plane tangent to earth datum.

Typical advantages of using two-axis MEMS inclinometers over conventional single-axis "bubble" or mechanical leveling instruments may include:

Simultaneous measurement of two-dimensional (X-Y plane) tilt angles (i.e. pitch & roll), can eliminate tedious swopping back-and-forth experienced when using a single-axis level, for example to adjust machine footings to attain a precise leveling position.
Digital compensation and precise calibration for non-linearity, for example for operating temperature variation, resulting in higher accuracy over a wider measurement range.
The accelerometer sensors may generate numerical data in the form of vibration profiles to enable a machine installer to track and assess alignment quality in real-time and verify a structure's positional stability by comparing leveling profiles before and after it is set up.
Now that's a level. A guy was hired on a soup farm to level the fitting on the brushes that sweep the top of the tank and skim blades. Told me he was put up in a 5 star hotel and was getting £500 a day. All he did was slio a piece of metal paper 0ne ml thick under the level and job done. Showed me a Wyler 555 that cost him £600 and was suze if a boat level. Said i could of done same job with a Boat level :laugh:

[Tony McC]

I've always used Stabila levels - they just work, and the vial fluid doesn't bleach over time, becoming colourless like so many other brands.

Trowels - Marshalltown wherever possible.

Laser measures - Disto

Tape measures - a wide range of manufacturers, but a big steel one for official court assessment jobs. I ditched the cheapo B&Q one bought for me by the Hard Landscape Training Group because it started at -150mm for some completely unknown reason. WTF! Why start a tape at -150mm???

Spades and shovels - Bulldog

Specialist paving tools - Probst, Optimas and MKD

[Nigel Walker]

Laser Level - Leica Rugby 270SG
Block Splitter and Cart - Probst
Wheelbarrows - Green Hammerlin 90litre
Compactor Plate - Belle 500 and a Wacker 350 plate
Mixer - Belle 240v
Masonry Saw - Husquarvana K760
Chain Saw - Husquarvana
Tape Measure - Hultafors FISCO Big T 8m long
Trailer - Ifor Williams Tipper
Knee Pads - Toughbuilt Gelfit Fanatic KP-G3 *Fantastic - Hinged cost £55 a pair but well worth it
Cordless Drills/Electric Drills/Hand Breaker/Circular Saw -MAKITA
Trowels for Resin laying and plastering work - REFINA - quality
Trowels for bricklaying - Marshalltown
Hand tools - hammers, chisels etc - OX or Stanley



Edited By Nigel Walker on 1519232964

[joydivision]

I use,
Ox levels, 600mm, 1200mm and 1800mm.
Only Marshaltown 11inch for my trowel.
Again, only a Marshaltown brick jointer.
Brickies line pins can only be, Footprint, takes some to bend those!
Estwing brick hammer.

One thing I am not precious of is a general tape measure. Working in the sh1te all day, they soon get knackered, and as nice as a new 8m Stanley fat max is, it gets ruined as quick as a B&Q cheapo!

Whatever you do, don't give me a Chillington wheelbarrow!

JD