Customer Reviews

Strait-Line 6041101CD LL120 3/16-Inch at 20-Feet Manual Level Interior Line Laser

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I pointed out a few things that were not right with and could be improved upon when I reviewed the Black&Decker BDL110S BullsEye Laser level Stud Sensor and it was refresing to find this little wonder that seems to have gotten everything right compared to the overpriced Black&Decker tool.

For starters, it's not a combo, there is no stud finder in it, so it's not bulky and it can fire the laser at any angle that you choose in addition to the obvious horizontal and vertical angles. It has bubble vials for both level & plumb. The laser can be adjusted for distance either short and bright or long with a slight loss in brightness, if you are close to the corner, it will even get the laser straight line onto the adjacent wall.

This little gadget rocks.

I have used this a few times and have been pleased with its operation. I like the use of the 3M COmmand Strips to mount it. They work great. Only four are included in the package, so you'll need to buy more. I have used this outside during the daytime while putting up a fence and the laser was bright enough to see for 20-40 feet. Inside, it's very bright.

I am a precision freak when I build things or hang things, so I got this for only $14 at my local Menards. I needed to hang a span of pictures across a wall.

I made two pre-leveled marks on the wall, then lined up this laser line's "zero marks" with my marks. I also eye-balled the bubble in the Strait-Line for level (there is a lot of room for error though). I turn on the laser and it seems to be O.K., but I can tell just by looking at it that the laser is not level. Just to double-check, I place my other standard bubble level on the line and correctly verify that the laser is NOT level. It turns out that within 2-4 ft. from the Strait-Line the laser is true. The farther out you go the less true it becomes. It stands to reason that if you are 1 degree off at the device, you will be way off 15 ft. away.

Also, the laser line particles themselves tend to broaden out farther away from the device. A laser line that is 1/64" wide at the start is a 1/4" wide farther away. All total, between the level inaccuracy and the laser line width variation, there is about a 1" difference between my start point and my end point. I suppose that is within "tolerance" over the span of 15'. But I figure I can screw things up that much myself, simply using my level or a string line. I don't need a "precision" laser tool to do this for me.

The little 3M stickies that allow you to stick this to the wall did work nicely. However, they are use once and throw away. Mine came with four of these stickies. I did see these stickies in the same spot in the store where I found the Strait-line. But they are like the razor/razor-blade concept, where the initial product is cheap, but the stickies to use it are over-priced. A small pack of stickies was $7. Granted, how often are you going to use the straight line in this fashion? But if you do, you will quickly exceed the cost of the Straight-Line with the cost of the stickies!

All in all this is a mediocre product that took more time to set up, with not any more accuracy, than I could achieve simply using a string line, a couple pieces of masking tape, and my old level. If you don't need precision accuracy, but just want to entertain your cats... then by all means, get this product.

A great product worthy of five stars except for the fact that they only give you two double faced strips to hang it on the wall. The company should supply more strips with each device. Where do you get more hanging strips?
Lucia and Helen of PA

The level works very well for establishing a flat plane reference line about my yard. This is all I needed. This tool did the job excellently.

I can't tell you how often I use this! Hanging pictures straight is no longer a problem. They come out perfect everytime.

This is a very useful tool, but in a way not shown on the advertising. I use it as a laser chalk line. While its line width isn't ideal, I can approximate the center of the line with my pencil. I just make a series of marks on the board that needs a straight edge then join the marks with my longest straight edge.

* Horizontal line not leveled
* light too weak.. and you won't see it very clearly
* Material too cheep - which is OK for such a price
* not that easy to use

Conclusion.

nice to have but don't rely on it that much

I'm giving this item five stars because it actually does make tasks such as hanging pictures or whatever on a wall. Recently I also used it to help me lay out a new tile bathroom floor. It's well made,sturdy, good battery life and just one of those things every do it yourselfer should have in their tool chest. I've used it on a few projects already and plan on using it on many more n the future.

I just received the laser level and it works fine, but the 3m adhesive that comes in the package will pull the paint off walls! Don't use the adhesive because it took the Benjamin Moore paint right off. Just a warning! Be careful!