Is a Digital Laser Level the Best Choice?
Woodworkers need good measuring tools. You may have heard the old saying that it’s best to measure twice and cut once, and that is certainly the truth. It’s better to make sure your measurements are precise to avoid problems down the road with your projects. When it comes to accurate measurements, the level is an important tool to have. It tells you whether or not something is straight or crooked. Many people use levels around the house for hanging pictures, but they can also be quite useful in the wood shop as well. One of the newest innovations is the digital laser level. With one of these handy tools, you won’t need to second-guess your measurements as you would with an old-fashioned level.
Let’s take a look at some of the features you get with a digital laser level. Most of them allow you to aim in both degrees and percentages, and are extremely accurate. Because you see your reading in clear numerical values rather than as a liquid bubble, you know your measurements are correct. Another handy feature of many models is the memory feature, which lets you store readouts from past measurings. Most of these tools are battery powered and take AA batteries that can be bought most anywhere.
Should you spend more and get one of these levels? Well, if precision measurements and straight lines are important in your wood shop, then the answer is definitely yes. For example if you are making window or picture frames one of these tools is a must. After all, you probably have a power sander, electric drill, impact wrench and pneumatic nailer, right? A digital level is a reasonable addition to your high-tech tool shed. It makes the process of measuring even easier and more accurate than ever before.
The price for a digital laser level can range from around $50 to several hundreds of dollars, depending on the manufacturer. There are levels made for the hobbyist woodworker and those made for the serious professional whose job depends on perfect accuracy. If you’re proficient with the Internet, you can easily compare prices and features of different models with a basic search engine query. Sites like Epinions and Amazon can help you choose between models by providing user ratings and reviews.
