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Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 7:48 am
by Tony McC
As part of a course I'm going to be teaching later this spring, I'll need to use a laser level to demonstrate setting of levels for a typical pavement. I had one for a few years but, to be honest, it was more than a bit crap, and only a tad more accurate that "rack of the eye", mainly due to the fact that it relied on manual setting for level.
I'm looking for a self-levelling model that will give me a plane of collimation over a reasonable area (say 20m all round from centre), with a strong beam, all in a rugged, weatherproof but easily transported housing.
Any suggestions (other than "go and look at York Survey's website)???
Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 8:39 pm
by Dave_L
We don't use one that often, only have a Topcon level which is years old but it works!
Was on-site with a local groundworker the other day, they were having terrible trouble using a spinning laser level laying in 6 inch foul pipework - with a reciever on the staff all we could hear was lots of bleeping and loads of shouting as we were surfacing the footpaths!!!! 
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 10:11 am
by seanandruby
tony there are so many out there now. they do vertical/ horizontal. the boxes are quite bulky to protect them. they do a good job on a straight bone. once the engineer sets it up you can imagine the levels some lads end up with. they reckon if its beeping at all thats near enough, hence the puddles on new car parks etc. 
bring back the cowley a? we have about half a doz or so at work i will see if the paperwork is with them ( highly unlikely ) and let you have it.
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 12:35 pm
by Tony McC
Cowley levels - what a bloody nightmare! I still have a couple in the workshop but I reckon it muct be 15-20 years since I last used them. Funnily enough, I still see brickies using them when setting out, but then, that's brickies for you! :;):
Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 5:02 pm
by Nigel Walker
Up until recently when I had a load of gear stolen i had been using a Leica Rugby self level rotating laser lever.
Fantastic tool, even set out on a grade
Bought for £695 + vat
Will have to go and buy another now !!
Also stolen - Plant Trailer, Muck Truck, 3 Partner Saws, Pressure Washer, JCB Hydraulic Jackhammer, Petrol Mixer, Drills, Block Splitter, Diamond Blades, other small tools and believe it or not - a sweeping brush !! All in all £10 k worth to replace.
Not a nice way to start a Monday morning !
Nigel
Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 10:34 pm
by lutonlagerlout
but then, that's brickies for you!
oi ,i used to use a cowley,all them blooming mirrors and such===> nightmare.
we have a manual german thing now i will look in the morning,we just call it the dumpy level.very accurate though
our digger man has one of those spinning ones and he has a sensor on his back actor,he can actually set the level up to dig trenchs with a 1:40 fall or whatever he said it cost £650 brand spanking.the only drawback with the leccy ones is that they auto switch off after a certain time ,and the batteries run out when you least expect it
they are sensitive bits of kit though,you cant through them around
LLL
ps on a fairview site in london in the late 80's we set the whole job out with a water level