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by Peter Brett - August 2003
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01444 440188
Self Levelling Success
In many ways lasers are a perfect measuring product. All one needs to do is to overcome one’s initial wobblies about possible inaccuracies and setting up difficulties and then one is converted. People in the building trade that I have spoken to are almost 100% complimentary about them. They have a few niggles like the fact that the lenses get dirty in building site conditions, and whether when they get dropped inaccuracies may occur. I have heard comments on how expensive lasers can be, but that is getting less so, even as I write technology is moving on. Many users are looking forward to the next generation of laser tools already.
Draper is a brand name that many users tell me they equate with quality at a reasonable price, and with that in mind I took a long look at the Draper Expert self levelling Vector ProLASER. Part number: DVPL888 – Stock Number: 69588.
Packaging is important, and the first look at this laser in its red padded cylindrical nylon holder is a good customer come on. It is about the size and shape of an expensive telephoto lens holder, with effective neoprene padding inside. The cylinder is divided into two parts, the bottom zipped compartment holding the laser itself and the top compartment holding the goggles, wall holder and batteries. A shoulder strap completes the package.
The self levelling laser unit itself is about the size of a tin of baked beans but feels a bit heavier. The outer covering is a black grippy rubber on a robust shock proof ABS plastic casing that would be able to provide reasonably good protection from shocks should it fall accidentally. The lenses are protected by "eyebrows" of rubber that protrude from the casing. This means that they are unlikely to come into contact with the ground should the laser unit fall. However, great care should be taken in the use of such precision equipment.
By turning the base about quarter of a turn the self levelling mechanism is released from its transit position. A warning beep and a flash of laser light warns the user that it is ready for action. Self- levelling is achieved by the use of the simple notion of a plumb bob – left without disturbance a string hung from a height with a weight on the end of it will find the perpendicular. It is a simple matter for the laser to then have a fixed light to mark the horizontal. By switching on any of the choice of three laser lines on top of the casing, presto – you have one, two or three continuous lines of vertical and horizontal light to start your marking out. The surface on which the level is placed should be reasonably level, otherwise the laser will flash and the warning beep will sound, if outside ± 3.5 &Mac251; tolerance. The unit will not self level if outside this parameter.
Of course lasers don’t leave pencil marks on walls (unless you mark them from the laser line), you don’t have plumb lines hanging around the place and levels can be marked all round a room vertically and horizontally. It’s no wonder to me that the building trade has embraced laser use. Just think of the time saved…..
As you can see from the above it really is that simple to use the laser level effectively. It is a lot less hassle than laying out from spirit levels and plumb bobs, and it only takes a few minutes to learn where best to place the laser level to get the line that you want. Being battery powered it is completely independent of power sources, although a DC adaptor can be used as an accessory if necessary.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that the red goggles supplied with the laser really did make a difference to the visibility of the light to the eyes. (See pictures)
The laser level can also be used on a tripod via the 5/8th inch bush on the wall mount so really, all the angles are covered.
After having used this high quality professional laser level I am convinced that this laser in particular is a very useful and timesaving device. At a typical retail price inc. vat of £264.95 it is worth investigating. It feels like a quality instrument that will give years of valuable service. Further to that, lasers in general are guaranteed a "bright" future in my view, because time saved is money saved, efficiency gains are always welcome, especially when they come as easy as this.
Independent Review by Peter Brett
Airstream Communications