i would like to purchase either a transit or a laser level, but don't know anything about them. i don't need a deluxe new model, probably try to buy one off ebay once i know what i need.

my intentions are to use the transit to shoot elevations around my land primarily to determine runoff drainage.

also, does anybody know any good books, internet sites, reference material, etc. to educate myself about the proper methods for shooting elevations?

A laser level is almost worthless for your purpose. I tried one and had to wait until after dark to see the line after 100'. Stumbling around in the dark is no fun! A transit will work well if you have someone to help you. Check into topo maps for your region. You can get some very accurate maps for less than a transit. You should also check on GPS with elevation. The real accurate units are expensive but easy to use. I would love to have one.

Strmchzr - We use both to level. If you want to go on the cheap, a used transit and a helper would be best. A more expensive option would be a laser level with a remote you don't need to see the line, the beeping on the remote will let you know where you are at.

any specific make/model/brand of transit or laser level i might find used on ebay?

Like most toys, there are lasers...and then there are Lasers. And, like most toys, it comes down to budget and job. I suspect that there a few dirt guys lurking that are very familiar with the more expensive models. These would be the 360 degree units that you can set at one point on a tri-pod and they emit a high speed rotational beam that will carry up to 2000 ft. A vertical measuring rod with a laser detector/beeper is then carried to any point within the beam scope. Northern Tool is a good place to start research Northern Tool Laser Levels
I bought a Robo Laser about 3 years ago (about $200 then), not knowing that I would be using it for a pond project, something much larger than it was meant to be used for. It is an accurate laser beam unit that shoots one stable, straight beam. The beam unit rotates 360 degrees, but only when I prompt it with a remote control that I carry. I set at my starting point, shoot about 150'(the beam disperses considerably at about 200 ft, so I keep my shots at about 150' max), make a mark on a tree with a 16d nail when I find the "dot", then move the unit another 150 ft past the mark, shoot back, measure the diff, calculate and shoot forward another 150 feet. Good note: You can buy a very nice, well made tri-pod at Menards for $55...bargain. If I had my $200 back, I would probably kick in the extra dough and buy a fully rotational/professional unit. I will admit, tho, that using my rinky-dink unit, I shot all the way around a 6 ac opening using the "16d nail in a tree" method and only lost 1" elevation diff when I got back to the beginning.

We use Spectra for laser and David White for our sight transit. I would look for a used David White on ebay. They are fairly cheap, but do the job. You can also find laser levels with remotes at Lowe's that are cost efficient. But watch out! I can't vouch for their durability.

I have a Spectra L220 or something like that. I bought it off Ebay for around $200 a few years ago after loosing out on actions for half a year. People on Ebay drive me crazy bidding up the price five days before it ends, but that's another story.

Mine is good out to 500 feet in any dirction any time of the day or night. Once set up, it's perfectly lever in all directions.

You just set lever with your rod and the reader tells you when your level or up and down some. Than you just walk and measure. It's very simple and easily a one man job.

I measured off the shore to my lake using it as far as I could see through a trail I cut throught the trees. Than I marked it with some orange flags and started taking out all the trees inside those flage. Really nice.

If you need goggles or have to do it at night, it's not a quality unit. Look around at the better lazers and you'll see the difference. Expect to pay several hundred dollars for a good used one. New could easily be double that.

Eddie

Laser levels are a waste of time IMHO. He is talking about distances of several hundreds or thousands of feet. (unless it is a house lot)!

If I have deduced the intentions of strmchzr correctly, based on other threads he has initiated, there is alot of pond and wetland re-building and engineering in the near future. This would be a good time to get it right the first time and purchase a single unit that will deliver results for all needs. There are laser units that will carry for 2000 ft and they are v easy for one guy to work with. What are the anticipated distances to shoot?
(edit; afterthought): what about test driving a rental?

brettski has me figured out!

i want a "one size fits all" type of transit. i may have some longer distances (~1500') to shoot, but by and large a laser level would probably suffice for most of my applications. also, it would be nice to not need a helper.

i'm primarily interested in using the transit for determining max water levels in my marsh projects. for example, i'm wanting to bury a couple pit blinds upon completion of my wetland and want to make sure the pit isn't too deep that it floods.

probably the prudent thing to do is rent a unit, but i'd rather just buy a discounted transit for future projects.

any good info/books/resources that you guys are aware of to educate myself?

Dewalt makes one that will handle distances of 1500'. I believe they sell for around $450.

"Laser levels are a waste of time IMHO. He is talking about distances of several hundreds or thousands of feet. (unless it is a house lot)!"


What are you talking about????? This is about as silly a comment as I've heard.

Laser levels of even a fair quality are acurate to within half an inch at a thousand feet. For under $500 you can have a fairly decent one that's gonna put you withing eighths of an inch at a thousand feet.

Mine was used for $200 and it's within an eighth of an inch at 1,000 feet.

I can go for miles measuring slope by myself by just knowing what the elevation change is at each point.

Are there any profesional surveyors out there that DON'T use a laser level? What about construction crews?? Lake builders???

Don't confuse the cheap $20 piece of junk you get at harbor freight with one of the handiest tools around.

Just mine and most everyone elses HUMBLE OPINION,
Eddie

strmchzr
just did a search at amazon.com using keyword "surveyor"...
The Practical Surveyor

For shooting terrain elevations, the laser setup is definitely the way to go. The pole has its own attached laser detector with audible alert.
(Not sure why PondsForFun was running around in the dark looking for a laser line). I've used both, optical and laser, and the laser setup doesn't require a pole man (wife was useless at that). Lasermark makes several models that are good to 1000', and they work.

I was in the dark about laser detectors! Guess I did not do enough research. On some technologies I am ahead of everyone, on others I am stuck in the '70's. I had no pole man either. I tried a step ladder and carried it to where I wanted to shoot with the pole tied on and went back to transit, this was a maddening process as you can imagine. I wish I kept out of this thread but I had a bad experience with a laser level!

Ponds,

I want to apologize for my reply to your earlier post. I should have been more considerate in my reply and just stated my personal experiences and not been rude towards you.

Again, I am sorry.

Eddie Walker

Thank you Eddie. You are a gentleman and a scholar. Especially when it come to laser levels! Keep up the good work and we can all help each other.

On a couple of occasions, I used the Dewalt unit (laser) that h2ofwlkillr mentioned. With the remote receiver, its a one man operation.