The inconspicuous wooden spirit level with two levels has become a high-tech measuring tool with many functions. We show the pieces that are of interest to Seibermacher.
Whether building a house or hanging up pictures, A spirit level is essential for most assembly work. Is it possible to fix the vertical with a plumb line?, it has to be a spirit level for the horizontal.
The principle of the spirit level is round 300 year old: In a wooden strip – today, mostly in a metal box profile, two dragonflies are embedded at right angles to each other. Applied to an upright or a lying surface, you can precisely determine the horizontal or the vertical.
The dragonfly, the heart of the spirit level, is filled with a colored special liquid. In the past, the dragonfly consisted of a bent glass tube (links), the modern barrel dragonflies (right) are milled from a block of acrylic glass, have precise boundary lines and work in every position, also overhead. With both types, the trapped air bubble always moves to the highest point. Does it settle between two lines, the spirit level is parallel to the surface of the earth, so in the horizontal. A dragonfly rotated by 90° shows the vertical.
STANDARD LEVELS
This is what devices made of wood or aluminum are called 2, covering the basic functions of the spirit level, are therefore suitable for determining the horizontal and the vertical. They come in different lengths 30 cm and 200 cm. A simple aluminum spirit level from 80 cm length 3 is already from about 15 euros available. A special form are straightedges 1, with which to remove the sand bed for paved areas. Von 2 to 5 m length in hardware store. Inclinometers have a digital display in addition to the two levels. It shows the angle to the horizontal in degrees or percent and gives 90 degrees and at 0 Graduate a beep 4 (BMI, round 100 Euro). Small and super accurate: The scales 5 (BMI, round 12 Euro) and 6 (Lux, round 10 Euro) are preferably used to set up electronic devices.
POST LEVELS
Made from two spirit levels connected at right angles 7 (Stable, about 27 Euro), a fixed angle with recessed spirit levels 8 (BMI, round 65 Euro) or practical folding parts 9 (Lux, about 7,50 Euro) these special scales are made. They are used to set up posts, Lightweight construction walls or supports. The dragonflies are attached like this, that you can keep an eye on both directions of inclination at the same time. With the foldable part, the spirit level is held by a rubber band on the post. So you have both hands free.
ADHESION LEVELS
You also have both hands free, when using adhesive spirit levels. One does it with two suction cups 10 (BMI, about 65 Euro), the other with embedded magnets 11 (Stable, about 35 Euro). The prerequisite for the first is a smooth surface and for the second a magnetic surface.
ANGLE SPIRIT LEVELS
A swivel makes the scales 12 to the stop bracket. A leg with a dragonfly serves as a base, the second leg shows the set angle – either on an internally running tape scale 13 (Stable, round 158 Euro), on a round scale 14 (BMI, about 65 Euro) or as a digital display 15 (Bosch, about 180 Euro). This type of protractor is very useful when converting a loft, as well as when cutting installation boards, because you can use it like a normal bevel.
MARKING LEVELS
Who often mounts things on the wall, will appreciate the advantages of the marking spirit levels. With them, riders can be placed on the distance of the Bohr- or set and fix nail points. Thanks to the two-part scale, calculations can be made from a central point. The device 16 consists of a profile (Lux, about 20 Euro), on which two dragonfly riders are moved, the riders of the box section spirit level 17 have marking holes (BMI, round 22 Euro).
MINI LEVELS
To stretch a string horizontally, use a mini spirit level 18. The dragonflies of the cross scale point in two directions 19. A stick-on control for machines and devices.