Rant: I bought a $400 laser level and it just collects dust

Everyone says you need one for layout, but my old chalk line and a 4 foot level get the job done faster. It feels like a gadget for people who want to look fancy, not actually work. What specific task do you guys use a laser for that a string can't handle?

3 comments

3 Comments

jason_fox2mo ago

I mean, I get where you're coming from with the chalk line, but try laying out a full tile grid on a big floor solo. The laser lets me see the whole picture instantly without moving or holding anything. It's not about looking fancy, it's about not having to walk back and forth a hundred times to check lines. For hanging cabinets level across a whole wall, it's a total game changer. Maybe it's just me, but once I got used to it for stuff like that, I found myself using it way more than I thought I would.

mason_knight2mo agoTop Commenter

Alright but walking back and forth a hundred times is just part of the job lol. A chalk line snaps and it's done, you're moving on. Sounds like a solution for a problem that doesn't really exist unless you're doing massive open spaces every single day.

william_miller1mo ago

Hold up, you're telling me I spent $400 to hold a laser level when my chalk line is still sitting in the truck? Man, I feel personally attacked because that's exactly what I did. I told my wife it would "speed things up" and now it's basically a very expensive paperweight. Don't get me wrong, it looks real professional sitting there in the case while I'm still snapping lines like it's 1985. Maybe I need to sell it and buy a new hammer, that feels like a better investment.