-
Laser level or spirit level?
I was thinking of purchasing a self leveling laser level to make vehicle graphics easier to line up. What’s a decent one to buy or is it better the old fashioned way using a spirit level?
Cheers
Ewan
-
13 Replies
-
Hi
We have a number of Bosch DNM60L and DNM120L levels.
Very accurate, very tough.
Fantastic for ensuring everything is lined up to the same angle.
You can get cheaper ones with the digital unit on its own, i.e. not fixed in a spirit level body but we found these too short to be as accurate.
Cheers
Macky -
Ewan be very careful using a spirit level when doing vehicle graphics, easy to get it wrong if the vehicle is sitting on a slope or the tyres are flat.
I do sometimes use a laser level & align it with a prominent straight body line. But generally just use a normal tape measure. -
Thanks Mackay and Martin. I usually use lines on the body and measure from them but I’ve been reading it’s more professional to apply them level as your less limited to where you can apply them 😕
-
Most vans I do apply them level Ewan, don’t know about it being more professional as it’s what looks right at the end of the day. Not sure I understand what you mean by less limited where you can apply them either.
Must admit with some of the newer vans it’s getting more & more difficult to find a level line on the vehicle & less & less have a gutter channel you can use.
There was an angle gauge mentioned on the forum a while ago, think it was Jag signs that sell them. -
im with martin on this one you can have all the level devices you want but it has to look right to the eye when your finished, some modern van lines are really difficult to make look right.
🙂 -
The digi level helps if the van is in a slope, ie you choose the swage line to which the text etc needs to be parallel to, measure the angle, set it as the reference and then use this to line everything up to. Doesn’t matter how steep the hill is that the vans sat on! If you want you can even calibrate the level so that it reads zero on a swage line even if it’s at an angle ( but remember to reset it afterwards). This gives the added advantage if making an audible beep on 0, 90 degrees. Ie keep the level flush with the base if the graphic/text you are lining up, rotate both level and vinyl until it beeps and hey presto it’s parallel to your target without even having to worry about the angle.
It’s not a replacement for good ‘line of eye’ but helps speed lots of alignment
Hope this makes sense
Cheers
Macky -
For what it’s worth I’ve never used a level for anything but the most demanding situations where it’s impractical to use a tape. I’ve tried it – chalked it out and stood back, but scrapped it in favour of the tape and eye. Especially on vehicles, I think it has to suit the flow of the vehicle design. It’s a difficult one nowadays as the vehicles become less forgiving, but I don’t think it’s right to assume the job is good just because it’s level. "Never mind the quality – feel the width"
… just my 2p 😕 -
If the van has difficult lines I use magnets with string between them or even an old tape measure and measure up from the sill.
I also carry a strip of composite board with magnetic under to use for the same purpose
This can be used as a datum line to start work
Attachments:
-
quote Chris Windebank:If the van has difficult lines I use magnets with string between them or even an old tape measure and measure up from the sill.
I also carry a strip of composite board with magnetic under to use for the same purpose
This can be used as a datum line to start work
Chris, Have you tried magnetic vinyl? I carry/use a narrow strip of magnetic vinyl, rolled up and lives in a corner of the toolbox (I have a few different sizes). Neatly cut to ensure they’re straight, about 2 inches x 4ft or shorter. Works a treat as a straight edge for a line or as you say lower down for a datum line.
-
Hi
You don’t have to use the digi level to only work to the (zero) horizontal or (90 degrees) vertical. If line of eye or measuring from the swage line, or whatever, means that 5.78 degrees, for example, is what you need then set this on the level and quickly line everything up to this – and for the other side you know that you need (minus) -5.78 degrees to quickly install. Also if you have a fleet then you can record the exact angle that anything was installed at for subsequent installs.
Cheers
Macky -
Thanks for the feedback. I mainly line van lettering jobs up by eye using magnets to hold the vinyl but as you have all said it’s getting hard keeping different lines of text in line with each other on modern vans. I like the idea of what David suggested, setting the level to a particular angle that is suitable and using that angle to keep the rest of the text lined up for that side of the van.
Cheers
Ewan
-
Not sure why you’d need one?
Obviously like everyone else I use a ‘datum line’ or the good old mk. 1 eyeball, but once you got your main line of text on everything is measured off that surely? ie you shouldn’t need to keep using a level even if you use it once per side.
Just my opinion
Paul 😉ps
I’ve found vans the worse, with odd tyre pressures, heavy loads and sloping ground all conspiring to catch out folks who put a spirit level on things to show they are ‘right’ -
Thanks again for the replies. I wanted to see what the majority of people do ie: laser, spirit or by eye. I will probably keep doing ot the way I have been but I do like the idea at setting an angle from a laser and recording that angle to keep fleet work looking the same.
Cheers
Ewan
Log in to reply.