Quality of Levels,pipe fitting tools etc.

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So I've started a job in a fab/job shop. My previous experiance has been manufacturing. I went in with the basic tools I knew I would need and after a couple weeks I have determined what new tools I need. So some questions. What, if any, brands of levels are better than others? Looking at torpedo, 24", and 48". Pipe fitting tools. I know I need two hole pins and such but are there any real time savers out there that would make life easier. Shop I'm at does alot of oilfield fab and repair. Flanges we do lots of flanges.Thanks in advance.Ranger 250 GXTSmith Gas Axe
Reply:Best levels I've used are the Stablia ones. Not their lower end ones, but their upper end units like the 196 units. Not "machinist" grade, but very accurate, no matter which way you use them usually. Even the "home owner" grade units are better than most of the box store ones.http://www.stabila.com/main.taf?p=1,1I've got one of their small torpedo levels, 1 18" level, 3 24" levels ( one of which is digital and my go to level any time I need to do accurate work or figure angles), 2 48" levels and a 6' one.I must have  a dozen assorted home owner quality levels that I picked up before getting the Stablia ones. I couldn't even tell you where most of them are since the only one of those that I ever even bother to use is a small magnetic torpedo level that I keep as a spare. None of those will even come close to the accuracy I can get with the Stablia ones. Set my 6' Stablia down and level it out and 1/2 the others won't show level in one direction or another. Take any of my Stablia's and set it down on top of the 6'er and no matter how you set it down it will read level..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Torpedo level with the rare earth magnets. I have a checkpoint but here are others.http://www.bing.com/shopping/search?...FORM=HURE#x0y0
Reply:Flange Wizard, Curv-O-Mark, etc.......Disclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."
Reply:I am a big fan of starrettDynasty 200DXPassport plus w/ spoolmate 100victor 315c oxy/(act and prop)Miller digital elitemilwaukee power tools
Reply:Originally Posted by TozziWeldingFlange Wizard, Curv-O-Mark, etc.......
Reply:Originally Posted by justinTI second Flange Wizard I have their torpedo level, center finder, and hole pins they are the best quality
Reply:In my work tool box I have most of the time 1 set of 24" framing squares,1 set of 12" framing squares I use them alot. Stablia torpedo level and a  check point torpedo level, a small center finder Some 2 hole pins I made up out of thread rod because the other one walk away. A 3/32tack-it spacer,2 Small bore wedge 1 big bore wedge, pipeliners file,Vise grip chain pliers they come in handy alot. A blue pipefitter book
Reply:I picked up this starrett level and adjustable parallels for $20.00 at a yard saleBacked my CATMA over your CARMA oops clusmy me  What would SATAN do ?? Miller Trailblazer 302 AirPakMiller Digital Elite  Optrel Welding HatArcair K4000Suitcase 12RC / 12 VSHypertherm PM-45Rage 3 sawRusty old Truck
Reply:Originally Posted by killdozerd11I picked up this starrett level and adjustable parallels for $20.00 at a yard sale
Reply:i picked up several of them over the years, dont think i paid more than $50 each for them.    None as nice as that though.Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:The company I work for supplies a lot of our tools, and they give us Stanley Pro I-Beam 24"& 48" levels. I know they are inexpensive, but they are also capable of accurate work and I use them every day. Checkpoint makes great magnetic torpedo levels. At home I have several levels from Macklanburg-Duncan, and have also used their SmartTool digital level. All good products. We do alot of flanges, and everyone uses threaded studs. Just keep several sizes on hand, two for every bolt hole size you encounter (we keep 1/2" up to 2" diameter on hand). Cheap, accurate, quick, and nobody is interested in stealing them. Other must have tools in my opinion: pipe wraparound, radius marker and ball points, miracle point center finder, 3 and five inch wedges.IAMAW Local 330Airco 300 AC/DC HeliwelderAirco Dip-Pak 200 with Profax spool gunPowr-Kraft AC225Everlast PowerArc 200stBuffalo Forge No.21 drill pressSpeedglas 9100xxAirco, Oxweld, Purox, Victor torchesLincoln Ranger 8
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWEven the "home owner" grade units are better than most of the box store ones.
Reply:Originally Posted by RuarkThat's the truth. Next time you're in a box store, put a level up against a beam or wall. Then put another level there and look at the difference between bubble positions. It's shocking. Really... try it.Same thing with any kind of rulers or measuring tapes. Put two of them together at "0" then look at them at 4 feet or so. One will always be 1/16" or more different from the other.  That's why my grandad taught me many years ago to always build a project with the same ruler, or rulers that you carefully matched, or you could end up with a real mess. Same goes for levels and squares.
Reply:Originally Posted by rlitmanYou cannot compare levels by the bubble position, unless the bubble is in the center.  Anywhere off center, and different curvature vials will react differently.Tape measures today are far better than they were years ago (but I'm not comparing name-brand tapes with HF ones).  Any good tape should do (whether you prefer Stanley, Lufkin, or Starrett, you'll be fine).
Reply:How about Ridged are they good?
Reply:A couple 2 foot squares, a couple 1 foot squares, a straight edge, and a tape measure are better than any level. It's like my boss says, levels are open for interpretation a bit, squares don't lie as long as they are not out of square. It's faster to and you don't need to be in a level position to verify is something is square, plumb, or level.
Reply:The big thing about Stabilator is that the bubble level unit is not a curved tube.  The curved tube shape is machined out of a solid piece of plastic.  The plastic block is bonded into the aluminum box beam that is the level itself.  The curved tube design can shift or the tube can be damaged.  By the time you manage to compromise a stabila level you heve destroyed the whole unit.   I have had a digital stabila for many years and it has proven faultless.  It gives accuracy to tenth of a degree.  I bought it because we were building a roof structure much like pagoda.  Each five foot square bay was skewed 1.7. Degrees.  Not a single bay was actually square.
Reply:From what I have seen its hard to find a stabila dealer?
Reply:Originally Posted by RuarkI'm not sure what kind of "curvature" you're talking about. The vials in the levels I've seen are straight,  not curved.I would still check the tape measures before starting a major project, just to be safe.  Actually, the most radical differences I've seen has been with rulers, or between tapes and rulers, like those big 4-foot steel rulers. I've seen those be 1/8" off every 3 feet, next to a standard Stanley tape measure.
Reply:Originally Posted by johnrbauerFrom what I have seen its hard to find a stabila dealer?
Reply:Originally Posted by lotechmanThe big thing about Stabilator is that the bubble level unit is not a curved tube.  The curved tube shape is machined out of a solid piece of plastic.  The plastic block is bonded into the aluminum box beam that is the level itself.  The curved tube design can shift or the tube can be damaged.  By the time you manage to compromise a stabila level you heve destroyed the whole unit.
Reply:My most used level is a small Stabila magnetic. I just can't get by with out it. Tape measures are always Stanley, been very consistent for me.
Reply:Here in Indiana according to find dealer there is only two in Indianapolis about 90 miles away.
Reply:That being the case you may just have to shop online. I saw plenty of them listed for sale on line, so it doesn't look like Stabila limits sales to only store locations..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald ReaganI will try that but may check out some big contracting dealers in Fort Wayne
Reply:You can check a level against itself by swapping it end for end.OPHow about a PI pipe tape ?
Reply:Originally Posted by RuarkI'm not sure what kind of "curvature" you're talking about. The vials in the levels I've seen are straight,  not curved.
Reply:Originally Posted by RuarkI'm not sure what kind of "curvature" you're talking about. The vials in the levels I've seen are straight,  not curved.
Reply:Glass tubes are usually "banana" shaped and only read one direction.  Block type tubes like on the Stabila levels are sort of a reversed hourglass with the center wider than the ends, so it's "curved" in all directions at once..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:What would you figure he might need a pi tape for?I don't think I would want to use a precision level for pipe work.That Flange Wizard kit looks pretty nice.
Reply:Originally Posted by RuarkI'm not sure what kind of "curvature" you're talking about. The vials in the levels I've seen are straight,  not curved....
Reply:A Pi tape tells you the diameter of a pipe by measuring the circumference of the pipe.
Reply:I know what it is used for. I was wondering does a pipe fitter need such a tool? Do they machine the outside of pipe and need to measure so precise?
Reply:The pi tape must be for those who can't do basic math. BTW I believe the flange wizard tools are nicer quality than the contour brand.
Reply:I have a Stabila 4' that I love and cherish.as far as my torpedo, I used the big-box Swanson Savage but learned to be very careful to orient it the same because they are never true. I just replaced it with an Empire billet aluminum one that is actually really close. I like it. am now looking to see if Stabila has something more up my alley though.so can anybody detail more on the curved vials? I never realized they all were.just asking because I found one that has a very visible curve to the vials and there are two vials for each location on the beam. so I have a "u" and an "n" to look at and im wondering if it  is worth a damn or even which bubble is right?bosses stuff:trailblazer 325maxstar 200my stuff:sa 200fronius transpocket 180100 amp Lincoln w/f97 f350 DITKevin
Reply:If in fact they do need a pi tape a guy can go the inexpensive route. Lufkin makes a tape measure pull out model that measures to .100, it cost about 15 dollars.I know what you are thinking that is a pretty large gap but I have tested them side by side with expensive .001 models and without much thinking a guy can eyeball the .1 to within a few thousandths. Probably not a good idea if you have less than .040 tolerance.
Reply:Can the Stabila digital really read down to .01 degree????  wow.I have an old smart level (20 years old???) and its .1 degree.Con Fuse!Miller Dynasty 350Millermatic 350P-Spoolmatic 30AMiller Multimatic 200Hypertherm PowerMax 1000G3Miller Maxstar 200DX
Reply:Originally Posted by con_fuse9Can the Stabila digital really read down to .01 degree????  wow.I have an old smart level (20 years old???) and its .1 degree.