heard of STABILA tools?

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

Joined
Sep 14, 2005
Threads
85
Messages
2,758
Location
The NW, Cascade Mountian Range
i was at the hardware store today, and i was talking to the worker about tools. he said he had purchased some tools a few weeks ago, cause the vendor mismarked the price.
he got a 24" level and torpedo together for 6 dollars. i dont know how many he bought, but it was a lot.

he says the retail for 68 dollars.

i offered him 15 dollars. it was all i had on me.

he said sure!

this is what i got:


Stabila003.jpg


Stabila004.jpg


do you know what they are really worth?

and have you owned Stabilla before?

it looks i got the best one.
 
lucky bastard stabila is one of the best levels money can buy im a finish carpenter and on the job sight every one carries stabilas, its the toyota of levels
you got a dam good deal
 
kick ass. i yam one happy camper now.


nana-nana-na-na!



i dont know how many he has, but if anyone else wants one, let me know. i'll hook you up.

valentine i'll get you one :D
 
Stabila is high end stuff. Cookiemonster and I have something like 13 or 14 Stabila levels from 16" to 96". They also make plate levels that go 7-12'.

You got a killer deal on those two levels. The torpedo level and 24" level will cover 90% of general use jobs. The next thing to get is the Jamber set which is designed for door installation and runs around $120-150 for the 78" and 32" units. Those sizes get you into doors, and cabinet setting jobs. For large cabinet jobs and framing, you need the 96" and the longer extending plate levels. Those get up around $200+.

We have cases for all of our levels too, but they are really tough regardless.

We just picked up the coolest Stabila tool last week though. We do a ton of excavation work and estimating which requires a lot of tape measure work. This sucks when you are on muddy slopes, there is standing water around, and a lot of other reasons that all have to do with crossing ditches, dragging tape through weeds, etc.

So we picked one of these up.

Accurate to 1/16" per 100', and the outdoor unit we bought measures out to 600'. You look through the 2X gunsight, set the crosshairs on your target, illuminate the laser dot, and take the reading. It also has an internal processor for calculating area and volume automatically if you have no math skills. This thing rips.

Sure, it cost $400, but it will pay itself off pretty quick. Cookiemonster already used it in a difficult area to run an estimate and I didn't have to be there to assist in the tape work. Nice!


Range 0.05–200m (0.16–650 ft).
Distance, area and volume measurement.
Integral target optics with double magnification (captures the measurement point at great distances).
Calculation with measured and calculated values.
15 freely usable memory constants.
15 stacks (memorisation of the most recent values).
Sequential measurements (addition) and intermediate distances (subtraction).
Continuous measurement (tracking) with min/max display.
Pythagoras function.
Trapezoid function.
Autotimer function.
Reference change-over (the unit automatically recognises the measurement unit when the multi-function flip-out end piece is unfolded).
Measurement with added tolerances.
Threaded photo tripod.
Multi-function flip-out end piece for placing in corners and on edges.

le200_5.jpg

1 Measuring lengths, surfaces and volumes, 2 Determine incremental dimensions, 3 Minimum and, 4 Maximum tracking.

le200_6.jpg

1 Pythagoras function, 2 Pythagoras 2: Indirect measurement of partial distances, 3 Trapezoidal measurement, 4 Auto-timer function for tripod measurements.


06200.jpg
 
Last edited:
The only level that comes close to Stabila are the Crick levels. They are hand made cross laminated mahogany. These things are really nice. The advantage to this construction is that the linseed oil treated mahogany will resist mortar and concrete sticking, whereas the steel and aluminum levels have a tendency to end up with dried material after a job that is tough to get off. The only downside to the Cricks is that they have to be periodically treated with more linseed oil, they are really heavy, and more expensive than Stabilas. A Stabila 48" runs $60, and the same size Crick runs around $80-100.

We don't own any Crick levels because we are solid Stabila guys. They make great stuff and we haven't been disappointed yet.

By the way, don't ever leave a Stabila or Crick lying around, they will grow legs and walk off a job quick when unsupervised...


Crick Levels are guaranteed for 3 years from date of manufature to an accuracy of .015" but they are prone to warpage if left in the sun or if they haven't been well oiled and they dry out.

Stabila levels are accurate to .029" accuracy, but they are warranteed for the life of the level. This is still far more accurate than most people can imagine. It's also next to impossible to wear out a Stabila short of parking a truck on one. Stabila levels are also extremely hard to distort due to the rigid metal box construction.



Crick

construction.png


lrg-5pc-36in2.jpg



Stabila
img_spiritlevels2.jpg


lg_type196.jpg

..
 
Last edited:
I have the smaller level, Very nice unit!
If you get another set up like that , I would be interested @ that price.

ken
 
cool. im glad i got one.

and for the record, i dont own any stanley tools

Some of the old Stanley hand tools are pretty good. Someone mentioned in a thread on Pirate or Mud a few weeks ago, that the old Stanley stuff was made on the same production line as Mac or one of the other high end tool makers. I don't have high end wrenching stuff beyond the standard Snap On stuff. I do have a few of the newer Snap On ratchets, and quite a few 30-40 year old Snap On ratchets too. They are pretty old school, but work great.

Stanley power stuff is light duty though. We pretty much stick with Milwaukee, Bosch, and Panasonic. There are other decent products out there, Porter Cable routers and sanders are awesome, DeWalt has a few nice compound miter saws, Makita makes great electric hand planers, etc, but it's been hit and miss across the board with their other products. Some great, some good, some bad.

I have yet to ever buy anything that I've been unhappy with from Milwaukee, Bosch, and Panasonic. Not cheap stuff, but you get what you pay for.


..
 
Last edited:
im a finish carpenter as well, and i just have to say you scored on some high end levels there.
 
i help build seattle day by day, and i just have to say you scored on some really good levels there.
 
Ih8 carpentry, but I know I've used Stabila tools somewhere. Did they used to make drafting tools? I used to build laminated countertops in new homes, there wasn't a straight line or level surface to be found, so I didn't spend much time with a level.

Sounds like you got an excellent deal on some excellent tools, sweet!
 
Ya know the great thing is I never need to jump in on any threads these days cause WS takes care of it all.

Trust me guys you think if he could type like he talks none of you would ever be able to get another post in on any thread again. Granted it's great info, I just have to chuckle it up when I read em.

Ask & ye shall recieve.....................
 
well i went back and talked to the guy who sold those to me.

i asked if i could get more.

he laffed and said, No, i sold you one cause your a good customer. and that he bought the other ones for gifts for his family.

so he said "i wont sell any more."

:doh:

sorry guys!
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top Bottom