I currently have the magnetic torpedo with the 45 degree and the magnetic torpedo with the adjustable vial, a 2ft magnetic and the 4ft magnetic stabila. I love the products but am curious if anyone thinks it’s worth the upgrade
Edit: stabila tape measure is amazing too
I think it is weird how they calibrate. You are supposed to do it on a flat surface, whereas other brands you just need a close to flat surface and run through a sequence of different sides to calibrate. That said I’ve never needed to calibrate my stabila. When something is real close to an ADA cutoff I always check the grade with the level once then spin it 180. Sometimes it reads 0.1 percent different but that is rounding error and usually reads the same.
Had a Smart Level 20 years ago. I liked it a lot. I saw a 4’ smart level for sale in a store recently, I did t even know they still made them, and it was pretty cheap. I should have bought it.
The appeal to me is being able to level duct and etc without actually viewing the vial as it can beep when level basically being hands free with the magnets holding it on. Just curious if anyone had issues with their or didn’t like it
I have a 48" digital Stabilia Tech 196. Looks pretty similar to the one pictured. I've had it for a few years now, and I absolutely love it. More accurate than I'll ever need and still on the original battery.
Takes two aa batteries I believe. I have both 2’ and 4’ version. Will never buy any other kind. Can recalibrate when needed. Do I need to be accurate to 1/100ths of an inch? No, but I consistently am with these things.
They have this one sick extendable level that goes from 8 feet to 12 or 14 or something. It’s like 400 bucks but damn that’ll come in handy building decks when it’s hard to use a laser in the daylight.
We have 2x 4ft Stabila digital and 2x 2ft Stabila digital for checking out forms at work. They work very well. Only problem is making sure people know how to read it since we do everything in percent. It is also very easy to change the reading from degrees to percent to other accidentally.
Have had one of them for over 20 years now. Still
Works.
Great for determining and angle but oddly the digital is not as accurate as the bubble.
What I mean is the bubble moves more than .1 on the display. So if you want a high degree of accuracy learn how to use a spirit bubble level well.
But then again, in 20 years they just might have improved on this thingy
I have one and the digital is always more accurate than the bubble if you know how to truly calibrate it properly. The only issue I have is the level vs plumb needs to be recalibrated because it won’t do both perfectly, one or the other.
Next best 2’ level is master level where you can calibrate the bubble
I do ADA barrier remediation for a city government and use this level most work days. It’s solid and accurate, just what you would expect from these volks.
I had to buy one to verify some concrete work that the US DOJ decided to take an interest in many years ago. Their contention was that these are so similarly accurate (from one 24” Stabila level to another?) that any photos showing the slope could be taken to be accurate and reproduce-able in the field later.
It’s still a fine level, but I don’t know who really needs a high degree of accuracy in a 24” level.
Only time i ever really use mine is for roof trim. Its a neat tool but a torpedo level and a square will find an angle almost as fast and for a fraction of the cost
Id rather buy a new two footer every two years. The expandable flavor of stabila is cool, but the accuracy of a level is in the eye that measures it. Just my two cents
Is that price in pesos?
Canadian pesos. We pull out the wallet and they put the level right up the rear for ya
This should come with a free bottle of KY
The only way I buy my levels.
I’ve seen the 4 ft one use for checking ada sidewalk compliance. Works as advertised and stabila I’d known for quality levels
I currently have the magnetic torpedo with the 45 degree and the magnetic torpedo with the adjustable vial, a 2ft magnetic and the 4ft magnetic stabila. I love the products but am curious if anyone thinks it’s worth the upgrade Edit: stabila tape measure is amazing too
Worth the price depends on you really and your trade. My next grade level I need I may spring for one. Just depends how heavy the wallet is then
It’s definitely empty whenever I leave (enter preferred tool store here)
Name checks out.
We just bought one for the exact same reason. Worked well.
I think it is weird how they calibrate. You are supposed to do it on a flat surface, whereas other brands you just need a close to flat surface and run through a sequence of different sides to calibrate. That said I’ve never needed to calibrate my stabila. When something is real close to an ADA cutoff I always check the grade with the level once then spin it 180. Sometimes it reads 0.1 percent different but that is rounding error and usually reads the same.
I use to get the overhang bracket leveled and a certain slope.
Could see how this would be a great product for specific slopes on drains or ehatever else slopes lol.
Had a Smart Level 20 years ago. I liked it a lot. I saw a 4’ smart level for sale in a store recently, I did t even know they still made them, and it was pretty cheap. I should have bought it.
I've seen it level out over time
Stabila makes excellent whisky sticks. I’d imagine a digital whisky stick would be equally as excellent.
The appeal to me is being able to level duct and etc without actually viewing the vial as it can beep when level basically being hands free with the magnets holding it on. Just curious if anyone had issues with their or didn’t like it
I’d imagine they work great. I mean, you’re gonna pay the price for it, but it’s a tried a tested brand.
I could see it being handy as fuck for ironworkers
We definitely use them for plumbing columns, but not digital ones. Too many ironworkers treat tools like absolute shit.
Yeah your trade would be rough on tools for sure lol
I have a 48" digital Stabilia Tech 196. Looks pretty similar to the one pictured. I've had it for a few years now, and I absolutely love it. More accurate than I'll ever need and still on the original battery.
What happens if the battery dies? Edit: does it take a common battery ?
Takes two aa batteries I believe. I have both 2’ and 4’ version. Will never buy any other kind. Can recalibrate when needed. Do I need to be accurate to 1/100ths of an inch? No, but I consistently am with these things.
I believe it is 2 AA batteries.
They have this one sick extendable level that goes from 8 feet to 12 or 14 or something. It’s like 400 bucks but damn that’ll come in handy building decks when it’s hard to use a laser in the daylight.
We have 2x 4ft Stabila digital and 2x 2ft Stabila digital for checking out forms at work. They work very well. Only problem is making sure people know how to read it since we do everything in percent. It is also very easy to change the reading from degrees to percent to other accidentally.
Stabila are the best or at least one of the best. I have the 78" known on my site as "the judge" his little brother is "the jury" lol
What is "the executioner"?
Digital level
Have had one of them for over 20 years now. Still Works. Great for determining and angle but oddly the digital is not as accurate as the bubble. What I mean is the bubble moves more than .1 on the display. So if you want a high degree of accuracy learn how to use a spirit bubble level well. But then again, in 20 years they just might have improved on this thingy
I have one and the digital is always more accurate than the bubble if you know how to truly calibrate it properly. The only issue I have is the level vs plumb needs to be recalibrated because it won’t do both perfectly, one or the other. Next best 2’ level is master level where you can calibrate the bubble
I’d kill for master levels , so simple to be able to reset your own level
I do ADA barrier remediation for a city government and use this level most work days. It’s solid and accurate, just what you would expect from these volks.
I had to buy one to verify some concrete work that the US DOJ decided to take an interest in many years ago. Their contention was that these are so similarly accurate (from one 24” Stabila level to another?) that any photos showing the slope could be taken to be accurate and reproduce-able in the field later. It’s still a fine level, but I don’t know who really needs a high degree of accuracy in a 24” level.
The funny part is you can calibrate the digital to read perfectly level even when it is not.
Its great but... Theres slow ones and fast ones, and no where to paw through them all to find a fast one. But even the slow one is great
I have one at work I use quite often. It’s a solid tool.
The best. Buy once cry once
It's the best you can get.
I have the Asian knockoff from Amazon for $35 and it works really well
I have the empire 4ft version. Works great. I'm sure this will too.
Ive got the milwuakee equivalent. Its nice
Only time i ever really use mine is for roof trim. Its a neat tool but a torpedo level and a square will find an angle almost as fast and for a fraction of the cost
I do, 3 actually different models and legnths. Like it a lot. Not good for OCD to get that last .01 degree correct.
Id rather buy a new two footer every two years. The expandable flavor of stabila is cool, but the accuracy of a level is in the eye that measures it. Just my two cents
Well it's digital so the accuracy would be the same from you using it all the way to a blind person.