Starrett 8 or 12

realkingcobra said:
Good luck with that. I'd be willing to bet you'd give up trying to level a Diamond 9ft ProAm before you get it level with that sensitive of a level, with a floor that moves the level as you stand there watching it.
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I am not in disagreement, I was trying to point out how sensitive this type of level is, and as you were saying way too finicky to use.
 
claymont said:
Machinery alignment was part of my job. I bought a few cheaper precision levels to compare to Starrett's 199. They were just as accurate, and a couple were actually built to be more sensitive. I used them when needed until I retired. Could you use them to level pool tables, sure, but they're at least ten times more sensitive, in most cases, than the 98's. You could be chasing your tail if you don't take their ultra precision into effect.
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Alright, thanks for chiming in. So, those cheaper levels are just as accurate as Starretts at least to the extent that a guy professionally working with them and Starrets can say. And if you get one (preferrably not a too sensitive one), you're good to go.

Starretts do have sone nice features though. 1. you can see the bubble from the side, so as you are adjusting the table legs, you don't have to get all the way up and read the level from above. Granted I need the excercise, but come on :) 2. The V-groove on the bottom is not as wide as I've seen on cheaper levels, meaning it sits more stable on a carpenter's level. 3. Tried and true, you don't even have to think whether it is good for the job, and 4. it looks way nicer and old school. I mean, if machinists' levels hadn't been invented yet and one was to magically appear into existence, that's exactly what it would look like. A Starrett.
 
It's really hard to beat a Starrett for the task. And they are really not that expensive. You're buying a tool that will last a lifetime if you treat it right.

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claymont said:
Machinery alignment was part of my job. I bought a few cheaper precision levels to compare to Starrett's 199. They were just as accurate, and a couple were actually built to be more sensitive. I used them when needed until I retired. Could you use them to level pool tables, sure, but they're at least ten times more sensitive, in most cases, than the 98's. You could be chasing your tail if you don't take their ultra precision into effect.
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The more sensitive levels are, of course, more expensive also, with everything else being equal.

I have an EDA 61 that is 10 times the resolution of the 98. Much too sensitive for pool table leveling. I’ve found its best use with pool tables is to show the owner how flexible a floor is since it can track them around the table. It can demonstrate that perfectly level on some floors just isn’t possible.
 
realkingcobra said:
Good luck with that. I'd be willing to bet you'd give up trying to level a Diamond 9ft ProAm before you get it level with that sensitive of a level, with a floor that moves the level as you stand there watching it.
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I learned on one job with a flexible floor to always stand perpendicular to the level so that my weight has minimal effect on the readings.
 
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