Replies

1. 
   BruceS | Aug 10, 2007 02:17am | #1

   My favorite level for distance is a water level,  It can't be wrong.

   Work Safe,  Count to 10 when your done for the day !!

   Bruce S. 

    

   
   

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   Edited 8/9/2007 7:18 pm ET by BruceS

2. 
   hammer1 | Aug 10, 2007 07:31am | #2

   Get a good level, like a Stabila. The door sets are nice and often on sale. One long 78" and a shorter one 24".

   Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

1. 
   BruceT999 | Aug 10, 2007 08:19am | #3

   I've never seen a 78"/24" door set from Stabila, only 78"/32", which seems stupid, given that most interior doors are 30", so the smaller level is useless most of the time.
   BruceT

1. 
   hammer1 | Aug 10, 2007 02:45pm | #4

   I bought mine before they offered a set. I didn't know that the set included a 32". Fairly useless in a 30" opening! An alternative to buying a bunch of levels is using straight edges. You can have various lengths and only need one good level.Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

3. 
   Tony Z | Aug 10, 2007 06:57pm | #5

   To answer the "mason cord" question, basically you must start with a level footing.  The footing is what you lay your blocks or bricks on.  To begin, you lay up leads or corners and draw the line between the leads or corners, which if the footing is level, then the blocks or bricks in the leads or corners will also be level.  Then you simply fill in between the leads or corners, to the line.

   Sounds confusing?  It ain't, I'm just a poor writer.  Pick up an Audels masonry guide at your local antique mall and it will 'splain it clearer!

1. 
   Libraryroom | Aug 10, 2007 10:55pm | #6

   Tony Z,Thanks for the advice. I understand the idea. I also bought a line level to make sure that my initial line from one end to the other is level. John

1. 
   Tony Z | Aug 10, 2007 10:59pm | #7

   Concentrate on level footings and learn to use a mason's rule for laying up block and brick.  Then when you stretch your line between the leads, provided you work to the top of the line, your wall end up level.

4. 
   citrouille | Aug 11, 2007 01:39am | #8

   If your floor is not level (or your ceiling) your bookshelf is going to look cockeyed even if it is level. You are better of to be parallel to the ceiling and it will look right.

   C.

5. 
   MikeHennessy | Aug 13, 2007 03:34pm | #9

   For getting a line level over 13', the best (i.e., cheapest, while still very accurate) method is, as another poster said, a water level. Make your own for a few bucks out of some plastic tube from the hardware store. It'll be as good as, or better than, an expensive level.

   You could also use a good laser level. You may want to use your water level to check the accuracy of the laser, though! ;-)

   Mike Hennessy
   Pittsburgh, PA

1. 
   Libraryroom | Aug 13, 2007 03:59pm | #10

   Mike,Thank you for the advice!John

1. 
   MikeHennessy | Aug 13, 2007 04:43pm | #11

   No problem.

   Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA