Connect the [red] dots

Construction lasers were once tools with a multi-thousand dollar price tag used only on excavating projects. Today, laser-generated red dots and lines can be found just about anywhere on a jobsite where plumb and square are required.

“Lasers are becoming very popular on jobsites because they provide a point of reference. If you have a point of reference, you can build anything,” says Carmine Citro, vice president for Berger Instruments at Stanley Works’ division of CST/Berger.

Today’s laser tools can replace a level, square or plumb bob for many tasks, and manufacturers are adapting them to take on  special tasks on jobsites.

“Laser tools are evolving into three categories: rotating lasers, point-to-point lasers and hybrid tools,” says Mike Tramontin, director of marketing at Pacific Laser Systems. “Rotating lasers were once just for earth moving, but now they are used for indoor applications such as installing acoustic ceiling tile. The point-to-point units are used by drywallers, electricians, HVAC/mechanical installers, glaziers and steel erectors. The hybrid tools are small handheld tools that emit a line or produce points of reference with the use of prisms. These lower cost tools are often used in place of rotating lasers,” he says.

Uses go up, prices come down
As laser tools become more popular, a variety of companies are entering the market with models that help contractors two ways: The increasing number of competitors is driving prices downward and the competition encourages tool and application innovation.

Although laser prices are heading down, Tramontin cautions professional users such as contractors to be wary of any laser tool that costs less than $200.

“As accuracy goes up, so does cost,” says Tramontin. “You can get reasonably priced rotary lasers that are accurate within 1/8" at 100'. For greater accuracy, such as +/- 1/8" over 1,000', you must look at high-end laser systems, But once you get below the $200 price point, those units are more closely associated with gadgetry. They are not likely to be professional grade. They may be alright for homeowner use or for jobs where there is not a long distance to work, but are less likely to be able to meet professional users’ needs,” he says.

Today’s lasers use a diode to produce the line of light. In the past, a helium neon tube was used to produce the laser, says David White, vicepresident of sales at CST/Berger.

“The use of the diode has helped reduce the cost of making lasers. It is also a lower intensity light which makes them safe to use without eye protection,” he says.

Today’s lasers for indoor applications use either a 635 nm or 670 nm diode that emits the signature red dot of these units. “The 635 nm diode laser is brighter,” says White, “but if you have a need for an even more visible line, consider a unit with a green laser, which is produced with a 532 nm laser.” It is easier to see, but costs considerably more.

The ability of the laser’s optics to maintain a tight, round dot is a hallmark of its quality. “You can judge the quality of the beam by how bright and tight it is at 100'”, says Tramontin. “A laser beam is like a flashlight when the lens is close to the wall, it is well-defined. As you pull away from the wall, the circle gets bigger. With many lasers at 100', the size of the dot can be as large as a dime,” he says.

Rotating lasers are considered total solution lasers because they can be used to scribe horizontal or vertical lines of light with a scan that creates the illusion of a line on a surface.

“These units can produce a horizontal or vertical chalk line that can intensify the beam and make it easier to see,” Citro says. Because of the rotating laser, your eye sees a line, even though it is a dot tracing a 360-degree pattern.”

Many rotating lasers are now self-leveling, and will sound a warning or will shut off if they are bumped out of level.

Self-leveling important
“Self-leveling is more than alarms and shut offs. These units recognize if they have been bumped or are not on their original reference point. As long as it is within a specified range, these units will return to their reference point. If not, they will indicate they need to be leveled again. This increases the value of the tool by assuring greater accuracy,” says Citro.

This feature makes them even easier to set up than ever before, adds Tramontin. “The units are designed to be easier to set up. Look at how long the unit takes to settle down while self-leveling,” he says.

Although point-to-point laser units resemble a tape measure more than a sophisticated optical instrument, it doesn’t mean they can take the daily bumps and drops most construction tools endure on a daily basis.

“All lasers are optical tools, just like a 35 mm SLR camera. Manufacturers know they must survive the jobsite and storage in the tool box. Still, they must be treated with care to assure accuracy,” Tramontin says.

Many new laser models are appearing on jobsites with features that are becoming more job-specific. “The average contractor can easily justify the costs of these tools if they understand how they can be used,” says Citro.

Published in the July/August 2005 issue of Contractor Tools and Supplies magazine.

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