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Saw a guy level a foundation with a 4 foot level at a cabin build near Traverse City

Dude was checking concrete forms with a rusty 4 footer while I had a fancy laser setup. Made me realize I overthink things. Anyone else ditch the high tech tools sometimes?
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3 Comments
murphy.tessa
Nah man I totally get that. There's something honest about a guy with a simple level and a good eye. I've got a buddy who frames decks with just a speed square and a chalk line and his stuff always comes out dead nuts. Meanwhile I've got a laser level that takes 10 minutes to set up and level out. Half the time I'm over there fussing with the tripod while he's already got his first row of blocks laid. It's almost like the old school guys have a feel for it that all the tech in the world can't replace. Sometimes you gotta just trust your hands and a cheap tool.
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kim.nina
kim.nina7d ago
Wait, have you ever watched a guy like that work and just felt like you were in the presence of some kind of wizard @murphy.tessa? I swear it's a whole different kind of skill, like they can just see the level in their mind's eye while the rest of us are staring at bubbles or lasers. There's definitely something to be said for that muscle memory and the touch that comes from laying block for twenty years straight. I bet that buddy of yours could probably lay a wall in half the time it takes most guys with a full truck full of fancy tools. It makes me wonder if we rely too much on gadgets instead of just practicing the fundamentals until they feel natural. Maybe the real hack is just putting in the time until you don't need the crutch in the first place.
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the_max
the_max7d ago
Just ditch the tripod and use the laser's self-level on a block next time.
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