Masonry Magazine January 2003 Page. 31
Wooden Levels
If a mason takes care of their wooden level, it will outlast four or five, even six or seven, levels that haven't been cared for.
"One of the things that you run into as you're working with a level is it won't reverse. Meaning, if you're reading the level on one side and turn it to the other side, you don't get the same reading," says Alford. "So it's important that all of the vials on a level read consistently. A lot of masons, unfortunately, will have to mark their levels, where they say, 'I think this side reads good and this side doesn't,' and they'll put an 'X' on that side. Or one vial doesn't read accurately."
"Craftsmanship. That's the biggest thing," says Reyce. "If you don't have that, nothing else on that level is going to be worth looking into. If it looks like they haven't taken the care of the outside of the level, the inside will probably be off too."
Once you've found the perfect wooden level, how do you maintain it for lifelong use? Here are a few suggestions:
* Don't strike the level with a trowel-it can cause the vials to become inaccurate or break.
* Wipe down with a clean cloth every day after use.
* Use tongue oil, lemon oil or raw linseed oil to keep the wood from drying out and to help repel water and mortar.
* Don't use muriatic acid for cleaning.
* Try to avoid extended exposure to moisture.
* Store the level in a toolbox or hang it from the nail hole.
"We have had levels in use out in the field for fifteen years or longer," says Alford. "Some of them look like they're less than a year old because the mason will wipe it down daily with raw linseed oil. If a mason takes care of their wooden level, it will outlast four or five, even six or seven, levels that haven't been cared for. We see that the life expectancy of a level is three months; ours, depending on the care given, can last a year to 15 years. It all depends on the care the mason gives."
Wooden levels can range in price from $50-$325, depending on size and additional features.
Metal Levels
Metal levels can consist solely of a heavy-duty, high-grade aluminum frame or the same aluminum frame with a wood face overlay. These levels are very similar to their wooden counterparts, with a few exceptions.
First, unlike the wooden level, end-to-end custom tailored metal levels are a rarity. Although their ability to withstand high temperatures is debated in the industry, metal levels are not affected by water or moisture and they can be wiped down with acidic cleansers. And the only maintenance needed on a metal level is to be wiped down after use.
Stabila says that they also have a metal hybrid model that can resist impact. "One is constructed in a similar manner [as the standard level] with an added high impact strip," says Darrell Hammond, Sales Manager for Stabila, South Elgin, Ill. "This high impact strip allows the mason to tap on the top surface of the level with a trowel or hammer without distorting the accuracy of the level."
Metal levels range in price from $20-$200, depending on size.
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January 2003
Masonry 27