Customer Reviews

Stanley 77-190 SP1X Laser Topedo Level Kit

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

 

 

BASIC THOUGHTS:

If you are planning jobs that don't require a great plane of accuracy & you don't have a bunch of other leveling and squaring tools, this is probably useful. For the price of ten dollars, I suppose that's OK. But, for work requiring accuracy enough to, for instance, hang kitchen cabinets; this is not the tool for the job.

Looking below, one will see lots of complaints. So, then, why is this a 2-Star review and not a negative fifty star review? Because the package costs ten dollars and I received a ten dollar product. That would normally be 5-Stars; but comparing its performance to the manufacturer's advertising claims knocked it way down to 2 stars.

Why did I buy this level kit? I didn't need the level. I bought it because it included a beam splitter & this was the least expensive way to get one. Bad Idea! (More on that later)

GENERAL ACCURACY:

This level is not, by any means, a precision tool. (But, it was only $10.00) The accuracy is fairly good if, AND ONLY IF, the beam is projected left-to-right or top-to-bottom. I tested it against two other (matching accuracy) levels. In the above projection, it was within about 3/8" at 28 feet. Not what they specify it as, but tolerable. I guess.

A ONE WAY TOOL:

If the beam is projected right-to-left (The natural motion & necessary for at least half of each lay-out job) it was off by 1/2" at ten short feet. Bottom-to-top (for any job requiring plumbing a pipe, stud or other item)the bubble vial was way off, too. The only a vial can be off is if it is not true-flat on the tool. Must not be! (I tested the plumb feature with a precision laser plumb bob as well as a good, old fashioned weight-on-a-string type. Can't beat gravity!)

Sadly, none of the sales literature states that this is, basically, a one direction tool. The manual does tell the user about the left-to-right & top-to-bottom problem. But you don't get to see the manual until after you buy the item. Also, why sell something with an inherent problem? (Hey You! Come buy our new model car! Then, read the owner's manual and find it only can make right turns.)

ATTACHMENT PROBLEMS:

The attachments (beam spreader & beam splitter) do not fit the tool properly, if at all. Great, huh? The spreader attachment's magnet is not flat in the boss. Therefore, the thing is always tipped. This renders it useless. Also, if you hold it in place ('cause it doesn't fit), the line projected is wide and varying in width. I think the cylinder inside must be cheap acrylic. It sure isn't optical glass. The line also is not parallel to the vial level on the housing. (But, the whole package cost only $10.00) The beam spreader is headed for the recycle bin.

The beam splitter does not come close to fitting. The inner diameter is too small to fit the attachment point. Assuming it is accurate, I plan to bore the opening on the lathe to fit my good level. Also, regarding the beam splitter, some advertisements show it as projecting lines. It does not. It projects dots. To use it, one would have to lay a square against the level, then line up a straight edge to meet the mark & repeat for the other wall, guessing where the dot center is on the tool. So, why not skip the whole laser thing & use the square & straight edge?

If this level could work from bottom-to-top, the splitter could be used for plumbing studs and pipes & stuff & junk. Using it to lay a wall square to another or to set layout lines for tiles would be just as easy without the laser being involved. I suppose there is a use for it that I have not thought about.

TRIPOD:

The tripod is a nice feature- sort of. It tilts and tips to just about anywhere it is needed. There are no references on it for alignment. It has a 1/4-20 stud and 2 5/8-11 threaded inserts for adapting to other units. (Like the Berger rotary base). But this is a biggie: If it is set up to use one of the 5/8-11 hubs, the wing screw for the other base (now a leg) would be in the way of the rotary base, so a very long stud would be required. There is a second (plastic) hub for 5/8-11 on the main arm- but it is useless because the big, giant thumb screw for securing the level to the 1/4-20 is in the way and it can not be removed. When using the tripod, you have to really tighten the wing screws or it will drift down quickly under the weight of the tool. I couldn't get it tight enough.

The level itself has flip out (tiny) feet and a leveling screw to level the unit on the surface it is sitting upon. Again, there is a but ... When the leveling screw & feet are used, this thing is very tip prone. It is teetering on a 2 rounded feet and one, tiny, point.

INITIAL SET UP PROBLEMS:

Additionally, the vial level in the body is no where near accurate. How are you going to set this up? Use another level on top of this one? (Again, verified. I have a dead-level in 360 degrees (to 1/1,000th mm) set-up table. This vial showed I was more than 1/8" in 12" out of level. That's 1 full inch in 8 feet.)

The bullseye on the butt of the tool (tool?)proved very inaccurate. (Not glued flat to the tool)

Even if it were on properly, since the level has to be used from top-to-bottom, how the heck would one see this bubble? I going to pop that bad-boy off and use it alone. Or not bother.

TRIVIAL COMPLAINTS TO MENTION:

The included batteries were DOA. The battery holder can not take Duracell Copper Top. Mine are about 1/32" longer than the Energizer brand I had, therefore did not fit the holder. Stupid, Huh? Why such close tolerances? If I were to snip some spring off each compartment, all AA's should fit. Don't wait for that to happen!

The level has magnets to hold it to a vertical surface. The magnets do not hold the tool's own weight. The thing slid right down an unpainted steel pipe of 3" diameter. It also slid down the steel leg of a bench & the furnace cabinet and every other surface I tried it on. Come on- Really??? On a horizontal pipe, it rolls sideways, eventually falling off.

The beams are not as well focused as others I've used, but they are acceptable, I guess.

The user's manual has a potentially problematic misprint- They state the distance from the dot to the bottom of the level is 1 foot/25mm (They meant one inch.) The distance measured at just over 1-1/8" (28.575mm)- Not One Inch. That's a huge difference projected over a ten foot span. Your first kitchen cabinet would be at the ceiling, the last, in the basement!

PS: Dear Stanley Black & Decker: Some of us use metrics. One inch does not equal 25mm. It is ca 25.4 At ten feet, you messed us up by about 1-7/8 inches- even before adding the other 1/8th you forgot about.

SO, WHAT'S GOOD ABOUT THIS THING?

The kit was ultra inexpensive at ten dollars. That's great if you need a kinda-sorta accurate level for general work.

The tripod is cool for my camera.

The beam is as bright as any others I've used. Inside, it is OK unless the lights are crazy-bright. Outside, it might work with enhancement glasses or a target. I never tried either with it.

The excessively giant plastic packaging is recyclable.

The beam splitter might (or might not) be useful on one of my other levels.

SO WHY AM I KEEPING THIS?

I'm not. I'll keep the beam splitter for my good level. -Maybe- It might prove useful for vertical plumb, since that other level works in both directions. (And my car turns both right & left.)

Also, I am going to keep the tripod for my camera so I can take a picture of whatever scary science project I make out of the parts I gut from this alleged level.

WOULD I PURCHASE ANOTHER ONE?

If I ever need another tripod for my camera or something to fill the recycle bin. Or, maybe some dead batteries.

PS:

Please don't hold this against the seller. They only report what information the manufacturer supplies. I think their price was great. It was not a 'second' or 'refurbished' I will not hesitate to buy from them again.

I don't have many needs for a laser level, just your basic DIY projects and the occasional picture hanging, but this device couldn't even handle that. It projects a line of varying width (much thicker in the middle than on the sides) which makes it difficult to level anything except when the level is placed extremely far away in order to minimize the line distortion. The two beam heads and magneticly atatchable and thus hard to adjust in small increments. The included tripod is of poor quality as well. It's difficult to adjust and tends to come undone in the middle of a job, frustrating to say the least. This product isn't a good buy for anyone except those on the tightest of budgets.

works as shown. I find the line head more useful the the 90 degree dot one. I find the tripod adequate and the magnetic heads alright. Its a touch annoying to find tune but it is not a precision layout tool. It is for general carpentry and layout. I am very happy with the purchase. I bought two be accident and I am keep both. It also have a reasonably strong and bright laser which is nice.

I simply cannot complain about paying $10 for this product. As a professional handyman it is almost usless due to its lack of precision. The problem is mainly due to the lens attachments. Without the attachments, the tool is somewhat useful in low light and mounted on a tripod for lining up fence posts and taking rough elevations. I think my wife will find it useful for hanging pictues, so long as the plumb/level lens is calibrated to a known referece (existing wall and ceiling corners). The vials on the attachments are totally out of calibratin with the lens. If I had paid twice as much for the product, I would have retuned it as defective.

It was cheap buy. But a waste of money. Its big, heavy, hard to level, the lens its put on with magnets.

Since this is not a particularly expensive product it is acceptable. The right angle adapter doesn't project a line on the surface, it only puts a dot on the far wall so it is not really useful.

I've been waiting for a level like this to come along for some time now. It has become a crucial part of every job I do. Highly recommended piece of equipment for anyone looking for a straight line in a quick, easy and accurate way.

The laser level operates as advertised. My heartburn is with the laser beam which seems to be rather large at 1/16th of an inch or so in diameter. I was surprised that the beam was not a narrow pin point as most are. Amazon.com delivered the package rapidly as per their usual high standard of service.

Laser not leveled and hard to level. Laser diffused with distance, This product is defective, but ok for the money

I like it, be careful with the legs during the original setup and read the instructions. The device itself is very solid and durable. It works very well.