The only reason I clicked on the vide was because the thumbnail showed those torpedo levels and I've been thinking about buying one or two. Heard nothing but good about them, so any excuse to buy a new tool...
Anyhow, lucky me, I would never have thought to use the level to find Top Dead Center on a pipe like he shows. Quick and simple, and pretty dang precise if you do your part right. Certainly good enough for what I do.
And that poor-man's turntable? Pretty slick! I can definitely see me cobbling together a smaller version for here in the shop.
Or that chained spacer for the vise? Slick thinking if you do a lot of pipe work.
I follow this guy on instagram, he's certainly got his trade dialled for being a young guy. He's in the business of being paid per completed pipe spool, which is quite rare over here, but it makes him work as efficiently as possible.
I wouldn't be without a torpedo level, I use them for everything! Barely ever get the long levels out.
I like the chained spacer in the vice. Our pipe welders aren't as cool as that.
Last edited by Munkul; 05-25-2021 at 04:57 AM.
Murphy's Golden Rule: Whoever has the gold, makes the rules.
I wouldn't be without a torpedo level, I use them for everything! Barely ever get the long levels out.
Those Stabila levels look mighty nice, and I kinda like the rotating bezel that lets you set and find various angles. Never much cared for the digital angle-finders because electronics die a miserable death in my shop. With the rotating bubble, though, it wouldn't be hard at all to dial it until you get horizontal... and then you know your angle.
Stabila is the benchmark for levels over here. I buy them for the guys at work. I always spec the magnetic ones too, they're even more handy - model 81SM with 2 fixed bubbles, usually.
They have 3 bubbles, magnets and a groove for squaring on piping, they're cheaper than the Stabila equivalent, and I've used one of them for years and it's still perfect.
Murphy's Golden Rule: Whoever has the gold, makes the rules.
...they're cheaper than the Stabila equivalent, and I've used one of them for years and it's still perfect.
Seems to me the difference in price is because one's made in Germany and the other's made in some third-world country. Given the choice, and the bad reviews I've found on both Craftsman and Stanley, I think I might opt for the Stabila just so I don't end up burned. If it wasn't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all!
vaughn, i got the torpedo level on the video cover showing 3 vials (the one at a 45). the vials are truly accurate, and two still are 13 yrs later. problem started shortly after buying it for fifty some bucks, when a magnet came out. stabila tried to give me one that had a groove on bottom, and screws that hold in magnets, w/ only two vials (horiz/vert.). i told them i dont like grooves on base, i want the same level i bought but new. they said no. they also refused to refund me. so about a yr later, the second magnet fell out. then a few yrs later, the liquid in the 45 degree vial leaked/dissolved. i treated it like a babay its whole life, other than it dropped a couple times at pipe stand height, due to no magnets. so i took it to lowes, and used it to check over a dozen cobalt levels they had in stock. i bought the 4 good/accurate ones they had, then took them home and ground tapers on them to fit my pockets. they are still(accurate) good today, and they are losing there magnets too, but have held up better. i like levels w/ an open window(no framing on corner edges) for visibilty, and must be slender tapered to go in out of pockets fast/easy. must also have flat base, so i can wipe it on back of my gloves/pants to clean, before slapping it on pipe w/ one hand. postioning a grooved base w/ gloves on - too much time/two hands, and simply not needed. i took pics of what im talkin about, and will post them soon
Dang! That certainly sucks. I can't find any of the rotating-vial model for less than $80, and for that kinda cash I expect bomb-proof construction!!
exactly, ill pay good and hard once if i have too , but only once. i did find replaceable magnets drilled and counter sunk on ebay, but they were 8.50 a piece. if i find them alot cheaper, i might fix all my levels up some winter rainy day. crafstman has a red one fro 20 bucks w/ rotating vial, but base hase v groove, and i dont like how the bubble is so big, it hits both lines (each side), when level. its actually a half descent level though. i still take my stabila around, and use it for checking/calibrating others/work
heres the pics i talked about. during the short time that the stabila had magnets, it made it difficult at times (pulling to side on short stuff), due to the poor spacing. the greye i picked are just as accurate, except one of the vert vials on one of them
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its pretty tight fit in there, u can see i tried drilling a lil, its plastic like, i dont think it will bond. i seen video on how stabilla builds them, the vials are encased in a foam or plastic , + the 45 vial is as worthless as **** on a bore.
and honestly, its the "principle of the screw", that bothers me the most. they wouldnt replace it w/ the same, or give me my $53 back. reason being, they know itll come back, cuz theres obviously problems w/ the model. what id like to do, is give them the honest advertising they deserve. that would be, i put it on a 30 day set price on ebay for 530.00 , and let it list amongst all the others, so potential buyers can see it.
Putting the two magnets that close together kinda sucks. I can see how it would provide a stronger hold on a shorter span, the other levels would only have one magnet holding them in place for the same span, but.... Looks to me like there'd be room for a third magnet between the vials, and not doing that makes the whole thing less stable in a lot of applications.
For all the hoopla Stablia gets, I would expect better engineering from them. Being accurate is great, but not when it comes at the expense of your level falling to the floor.
I'm not buying a "made in chicom territory" torpedo level, but I'll have to think hard about buying something from Stabila.
Putting the two magnets that close together kinda sucks. I can see how it would provide a stronger hold on a shorter span, the other levels would only have one magnet holding them in place for the same span, but.... Looks to me like there'd be room for a third magnet between the vials, and not doing that makes the whole thing less stable in a lot of applications.
For all the hoopla Stablia gets, I would expect better engineering from them. Being accurate is great, but not when it comes at the expense of your level falling to the floor.
I'm not buying a "made in chicom territory" torpedo level, but I'll have to think hard about buying something from Stabila.
vaughn, i may have found a good alternative too stabila. i bought some of theses, and used them for a couple week job, the acuracy so far is consistantly right there w/ stabila. they meet the features i said i want in a level in #13, and the magnets are surrounded by a hard plastic b/t the bored housing. levels are a lil heavier, but magnets hold weight of level easily when pipe is spun. top side surface of level isnt accurate, but stabilas isnt flat either. i thought of this conversation, and snapped a pic of this drop section just for it. i am very happy w/ these so far, w/ only a couple tiny complaints, they are "kapro"
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Originally Posted by Munkul
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