The day I started using a laser level instead of a chalk line on site

I've been running cranes for about 15 years now, and I used to swear by the old chalk line for marking out landing zones. Then about 2 years ago, a younger guy on my crew brought in a rotary laser level from his side gig. I watched him set up a perfect 360 degree reference line for a steel beam drop in under 10 minutes instead of the 30 it was taking me. The precision was night and day, especially for those tight fits between buildings downtown. It saved us a whole afternoon on a job over on 5th Street last month. Has anyone else made the switch away from traditional methods?

3 comments

3 Comments

gavin46915d ago

Old habits die hard, I still find myself reaching for a chalk line like it's 1995 and I'm trying to hit the same spot twice. But man, once you see that laser line it's hard to go back to snapping strings.

nguyen.angela15d ago

Totally feel you on that. The first time I used a laser level it felt like cheating but now I can't imagine going back.

murphy.tessa13d ago

gavin469 mentioned hitting the same spot twice, but actually a chalk line is for marking straight lines between two points, not for hitting the same spot again. The laser is way better for setting a consistent reference all around a site, especially when you need that 360 degree ring for beams. But the chalk line still wins for quick, one-off measurements where you don't need to level anything.