Took the manual level route over a digital one for a big pour job

I had to pick between using a rotary laser level or a water level for setting footings on a 40x60 slab last month. Everyone I work with said go digital, but I went with the old water level method. It took way longer, about 3 hours more, but I didn't have to worry about batteries dying or the sensor getting knocked out of calibration. The slab came out dead flat and the foreman even said it looked better than most laser jobs he's seen. Has anyone else had a situation where old school tools worked out better for you?

3 comments

3 Comments

fiona3301mo ago

Man, my buddy tried a digital level on his deck and the battery died halfway through, what a nightmare!

daniel2141mo ago

Honestly, that's on him for not checking the battery first, the level itself is way more accurate than some old bubble.

luna_craig581mo ago

Did you ever try those lithium batteries that last forever? I learned my lesson the hard way too, had a digital level die on me right when I was finishing up a tile job. Now I always keep a spare set of batteries taped right to the level itself so I can swap them out fast. It's a little trick that saved me so much time and frustration later. Plus those lithium ones don't drain as fast when they sit in a toolbox all winter.