Customer Reviews

CST/Berger 57-LMETL8 8-Inch Laser Torpedo Level

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I just bought one and will be returning it immediately. The main unit is okay and the vertical and horizontal bubble levels seem accurate (I did some rough verification). I was impressed that it was usable outside on a semi-cloudy day at well over 100 feet. But the main unit would not attach to either of my two photo tripods - the female screw hole is too deeply recessed into the underside groove to work. Also, the bubble sights are recessed so far that they are difficult to see at odd angles and in low light.

I was not at all impressed by the attachments. Mine came with the beam bender (reflects the beam 90 degrees) and beam spreader (creates a line). The BB was okay but the only thing that guarantees 90 degrees is the magnetic contact surface. Junk between the two surfaces could drastically alter the angle. I have nothing more than a guess to back this up but this attachment wasn't all that interesting to me anyway.

The BS I thought would be great. It has its own two bubble levels so that you can check the vertical or horizontal aspect of the projected line. Cool. But the problem is that it also attaches magnetically so getting it to be perfectly level is almost impossible -- you turn it and it wants to rotate back -- you turn it further and it either sticks too far or returns to not enough. I spent many minutes trying to get it vertical -- when it finally appeared to be verical, I used a another (very accurate) level to check the projected line -- it was about 1/4" off over 5 feet of vertical - that is simply not acceptable for anything more than rough work.

The angle dial (rotating bubble) is not very accurate at all. I set it to 90 degrees and found it way off from the built in 90 degree bubble. Same for 0 degrees. I take this to mean I cannot trust it for 45 degrees. And I was hoping for enough angle accuracy to do some rough site surveying and this clearly doesn't have that kind of accuracy....

Back to the store it goes.

My daughters gave me one for Father's Day. After playing with it in the house for a day or two I used it to help build another section of low brick wall around the patio. I'll never be a good brick mason, but that little laser level helped me keep this section within an 1/8 inch of level compared to a 1 inch mistake in the previous section. Plus it survived a 1/2 inch thunderstorm with no problem.

Overpriced for the quality, accuracy, and ease of use. Laser is in the middle of the unit with just a thin ledge at laser level - can be difficult and tricky to get things just right.

bought it for my husband, he loved it said it was the top of the line!