My crew gives me grief for not using a laser level on every wall, but a string line and plumb bob never fail.

4 comments

4 Comments

I hear you saying a string line never fails, but I have to disagree. I mean, laser levels are just way more consistent on long walls where a string can sag or get moved by wind. Maybe it's just me, but I've caught small errors with a laser that the old methods would have missed.

caleb273mo ago

Honestly, I get the laser appeal for super long runs. But for most jobs, a tight string line is just more foolproof in real conditions. You can actually feel it brush against the blocks or boards as you work, which gives you instant feedback a little red dot doesn't. Plus, no batteries to die or wondering if the laser's out of calibration from being knocked around.

the_leo3mo ago

Tbh, the "instant feedback" thing @caleb27 said is the real key. You can't argue with a string that's actually touching the work. Lasers are cool, but they add a layer of tech between you and the build.

smith.parker2mo ago

Yeah, I was totally on team laser for a long time. But that point about feeling the string brush against the work? That's what got me. I was setting fence posts last year and the laser just felt like a suggestion, but when the string touched the wood, I knew it was right. Changed my whole view on it.