Thread: 12" level - choices

Hi

What is the general consensus re: a good 12" level . Where to buy ? Are the Asian examples accurate enough for hobby use ? I do have a old Rabone 6" machinist level , it has seen better days and does not appear to be a high precision instrument .

Mike

What do you want to use it for though? I have a high precision level that rarely gets used as it is too sensitive most of the time.

Michael

Originally Posted by Michael G

What do you want to use it for though? I have a high precision level that rarely gets used as it is too sensitive most of the time.

Michael

For leveling lathes mainly ..... I just need a average " in the ballpark " level , not a .0001" to the foot precision instrument

Hi Mike,
If thats the case why do you need a 12" level? A 6" one will do fine. I use a Rabone (thought it was a starret but its not) 6" and my cheap 8" CTC .02mm/m level to do my machinery. Aiming for 12" Just means you will pay more than a 6" without gaining any extra accuracy. The vials are the same in a 98-6 or a 98-12. You just need to put the level on the saddle, or make a jig to bridge the ways.

Cheers,
Ew

How about .0006"?
Swiss Quality Discount
Just dont try emailing him lol

The base of my H&F level was less than wonderful and if I recall correctly cost me something like $185(thanks for reminding me..... not! ) Though the vival appears to be pretty good at 0.02mm/m

Though really, if its only for leveling a lathe, What Ewan said

Stuart

p.s. whats wrong with the "old Rabone " anyway?

I use a 98/6 for general levelling. I forget if it's 005"/ft or .005"/10". It won't drive you nuts.
For survey and rebuilding work you need more sensitivity. For that I have the CTC .02mm/m one. Bring your patience pills.

I have a Chinese 6" level I bought on aliexpress. It was $70 including freight and the accompanying literature says it's accurate to .002mm. It looks to be the same as the Hare and Forbes item and does a good job, of course I have nothing to compare it with, but the lathe doesn't cut tapers so I guess it does it's job..

I've got a Starrett 98/12. Not the most sensitive instrument but it's all I got and use it for the lathe mainly. It gets me satisfactory results. If I'm careful (and patient) I can read to 1/2 - 1/4 graduation.

I wouldn't mind one of those CTC 0.02mm/M levels but it's not a high priority since I have been happy with the Starrett and for the work I do, it's good enough.

Simon

Do the old ones loose accuracy over time if not looked after? I know if they have been dinged of course they will me out, what other factors are involved?

Originally Posted by DSEL74

Do the old ones loose accuracy over time if not looked after? I know if they have been dinged of course they will me out, what other factors are involved?

Accuracy isn't really that important, repeatability is. As long as you don't turn the level around whilst using it. Remember for lathes level doesn't really mean level, it means untwisted. Level just happens to be a good refference plane.

Ew

Digital Bevel BOX Inclinometer Angle Gauge Meter Protractor Finder Magnetic Base | eBay

Have you guys gotten onto these? Very handy, mine gets used every couple of days. The 0.1deg resolution works out to 0.01mm/m, maybe accurate to twice that.
You zero it off a reference surface them move it where you want and see how far off you are. Would probably be great for checking lathe beds for twist etc.

Originally Posted by andrew_mx83

The 0.1deg resolution works out to 0.01mm/m, maybe accurate to twice that.

Some one check my trig, but I make out a change of 0.1 degree over a meter to be about 1.75mm

G.Q has a 15 inch Starrett 199 for sale. Its what the Americans call a master precision level. It $350 bucks though.
http://www.woodworkforums.com/f223/s...-level-175635/

Pictures and an R.C review are here:
http://www.woodworkforums.com/f223/s...el-box-174671/

Regards Phil.

You could well be right, i was half asleep when i worked it out so probably misplaced a decimal point or 2 )

Originally Posted by DSEL74

Do the old ones loose accuracy over time if not looked after? I know if they have been dinged of course they will me out, what other factors are involved?

Hi,

My Starrett has adjustment at one end so you can actually set it wherever you like. Doesn't have to be set all that accurately (reading level) because for my use (lathe levelling) I'm merely using it as a comparator.

I got mine pretty cheap S/H from US because it was sold with a ding at one end. When I got it, I just filed it out. I just make sure this end always hangs over and never touches the bed. Works for me!

Simon

Originally Posted by Machtool

Some one check my trig, but I make out a change of 0.1 degree over a meter to be about 1.75mm

G.Q has a 15 inch Starrett 199 for sale. Its what the Americans call a master precision level. It $350 bucks though.
http://www.woodworkforums.com/f223/s...-level-175635/

Pictures and an R.C review are here:
http://www.woodworkforums.com/f223/s...el-box-174671/

Regards Phil.

Didn't use trig myself, left it to the computer. I checked it using CAD and came up with 1.75mm to 2 decimal places accuracy.

Dean