This Ancient Leveling Tool is STILL The Best!

[redecks]

Being able to use the water level in and around obstacles that would otherwise stop a traditional level or even a laser level is what makes this so great.

[robertmceuen]

When I worked at the Anheuser Busch Brewery construction in 1972 or 3, we used water levels extensively to set a lot of the brewing machinery.

[rupe]

I have built temporary stages for concerts in parks and the easiest way to do a quick "level check" is to carry a marble in your pocket. If something doesn't look right just let the marble roll tell you which way is down / up. Nothing to spill and nobody steals a marble.... but I will admit to having lost my marbles a few times.

[jonschick]

I worked in a boiler fab shop for 29 years. We used water levels extensively. Filled them with windshield washer fluid so they wouldn’t freeze in the winter.

[aegisranger]

where'd the Egyptians buy all that plastic hose???

[chrishudson]

Instead of buying a long piece of clear hose just buy two short pieces and hose fittings and attach
It to however many sections of garden hose you need for the job, we used this method for hanging ceiling grid for drop ceilings and they would come out perfect every time.

[adamsteller]

Releveling mobile homes with one of these is by far the best return on investment you’ll ever see with a tool.

[Reubenhubert]

I made and used one once decades ago. I bought a male and a female garden hose fitting and couple of feet of clear tubing. I attached the fittings to a garden hose. I put the male one on the end of the hose and filled it at the faucet. Then I put the female attachment on. With those two home made fittings I could add as many garden hoses that I needed to level as far as I needed.

[Jakefromamerica]

I used this when I learned carpentry as a teenager. Still holds relevance today. Great video

[joebob]

Had to use one of these for 140 feet of sch35 to run underground pipe for underground gutter drain piping in Florida. From where it first started to where it ended, I had about 18 inches to slope 140 feet, and it rose/dropped along the entire way. Ended up having to slope it 1/16 per 10 feet vs 1/8. The end ended up being about 16-18 inches underground with a popup, and the water level was amazing to let me stake out how far down the whole way I had to dig to make sure I maintained slope. Amazing tool!

[Paulxx]

this is a must in about 90% of construction sites in the Philippines. our people are used to it and still using it. every worker knows how to use it.

[markchidester]

A short clear hose attached to both ends of a garden hose is a lot cheaper.
Usually readily available so all you need to carry is the clear ends

[Apexjasonmorganllc]

They are the most accurate. I’ve set a lot of tile in swimming pools. And this is hands down dead on. It’ll surpass lasers, levels and transits. Good content.

[IIIRorschachIII]

I used to break down, move, & set up / level modular homes & regular homes. We always used a water level. We used a gas can half full of water & a long hose with a hook & a water valve on the end of the hose. Always worked & never needed calibrating, unlike a laser.

[chaselee]

I'm 39, my dad is 73. He taught me this method about 15 yrs ago with Hardie siding. I've always used this method because it works. We do consider/use lasers when the time and budget permits but this is our primary method for establishing an absolute level control line. People may laugh but I can promise you this works every time with MM precision.

Auto leveling Lasers are nice and can provide other control points/lines needed for the task at hand. The difference between the laser and the water level is that there is little to no set up requirements for the water level. For example, if your siding measures 7.25 or 7 1/4" high you can use that constant number as your first absolute. The water level takes out all of the minor deviations that occur while using chalk lines or even setting up a transit or a laser level.

When you hold your water level up to a mark that you need to be perfectly level wether it's 10-100 feet away the water will always be at the same exact height as your beginning reference mark.

Obviously you can't have any loops or bubbles in your water line and you need to have a predetermined point of measurement on each end of said waterlevel.

[rustypeterson]

I worked with a crew and built identical columns covered in Cobalt tile 100 ft apart and perfect using a water level, fantastic tool. Lasers especially low power can fall off and run out of level. I prefer to use the guaranteed method of water levels.

[MrBbbakersk]

My dad used to wake me up early at summer and Christmas to go work with him at construction, we used this a lot, good memories, my old guy doesn't know how to work a phone but he can wake up one morning and start building a house without blueprints like it is nothing. Lots of knowledge in construction.

[shadetreehomestader]

We made one with the antifreeze you put in camper plumbing with a ball valve on each end of a 100' tube. It has lasted going on 14 years. It's been ran over, set's in a toolbox all winter 🥶, it's starting to get a little cloudy from the tubing getting old but will probably last a nuther 10 years or more until the tubing cracks.

[skinlab]

Nuts aren't level. One always hangs lower.

[DADela-htux]

I've used them a few times. Simple and elegant. Works every time.