Matt Gould
Carpenter, Clar Construction
Montpelier, Vt.
The company I work for recently bought a Makita Self‑Leveling Combination Cross‑Line/Point Laser (SK103PZ), and I’ve been impressed by its usefulness. We’ve long had a point laser as well as an expensive rotary laser that draws level lines. However, this is an all-in-one tool: It shoots dots like a point laser but also draws level and plumb lines at precise 90-degree angles. And, unlike a rotary laser, it draws a bright, solid line that doesn’t flicker.
The tool has eliminated strings and chalk lines on many jobs. On one recent job, we had to shore up a roof by sistering new rafters to the existing ones. In the past we would have placed ladders at either end of the attic and stretched an alignment string across the room. But instead, we just set the Makita on the floor and shot a line across the ceiling plane where we wanted the bottom of the plumb cut to be. Then it was just a matter of lining up the cut with the laser line.
It also has many other applications, from aligning the legs on a pocket door, to establishing a plane for furring strips when leveling an old ceiling, to laying out tile grids.
The level fits in a tool pouch and includes a locking device to protect its internal mechanism during transport.
About the only drawback is that the line is hard to see in sunlight, which limits its use outdoors. You can get tinted glasses that supposedly make the line seem brighter, but I have yet to try them.
Recently, I was on a job where all we had was a standard point laser and I found myself sorely missing the Makita. Looks like it’s time for us to buy another one.
Add new comment
Related Stories
Crawl Spaces to Basements: Proceed with Caution
Converting a crawl space to other uses can upgrade a home and add significant value, but when done incorrectly, it can also be disastrous
You Need to Talk About It: Mental Health in Construction
Men in the construction industry die by suicide at a rate nearly four times the national average. What should business leaders do about it?
How to Attach a Patio Roof to an Existing House
A graceful integration may mean more work but improved functionality and aesthetics
How To Improve Energy Performance in Existing Attics
There’s more to insulating the attic than attic insulation; there’s venting, air sealing, and misery
How to Install PVC Bevel Siding Over Rainscreen
It’s a lot like installing wood bevel siding, except it won’t warp or rot. And it expands and contracts differently and for different reasons
Understanding How PVC Trim Moves
Anybody who’s used PVC in an exterior application knows that it moves seasonally. Just like wood, right? Not exactly
To Vent or Not to Vent: A Discussion
In an attempt to strike a middle ground between high-performance and attainable, these three remodelers engage in a candid conversation
Ceiling Insulation and Installation at Model ReModel
Watch the building process of this accessory dwelling unit's vaulted ceiling
Diagnosing Cracked Concrete
These quick questions (and solutions) will allow you to determine if a crack is aesthetic or structural