Sunday, February 9, 2014

Different Levels & Their Uses

By Carey Bourdier


Most people have some type of a basic level in their homes, and these instruments are useful for hanging pictures, shelves and ensuring that what you are mounting on the wall is on a level horizontal plane. Aside from these levels, there are many other kinds which are utilized from everything from construction to surveying.

There are different categories of levels and one of the most commonly seen is the spirit level. Under the guise of spirit levels, there are many different types and each serves a specific purpose. The most common type of household level would be the torpedo level, and most of us have one of these long levels which have a liquid-filled vial in the center. Torpedo levels are used to hang a shelf or perhaps a picture, and carpenters use them for all types of construction. Stonemasons use a variant of the spirit level known as a mason's level to properly install bricks and masonry. When building a fence, one should use a post level to ensure that all of the posts are properly installed.

Precision frame spirit levels, which resemble a square with a level bubble along the bottom of the square, are another helpful type of level. These are used for adjusting and checking horizontal and vertical surfaces and shapes. Typically, these feature two prismatic sides and insulating handles.

A bull's eye level is yet another type of spirit level, and it used by carpenters and also in compasses, tripods and surveying instruments such as theodolites. The bull's eye level allows one to level the planes in two dimensions, where your standard torpedo level works in just one dimension. One interesting face about spirit levels is the derivation of the name, as they are called "spirit" levels because the liquid in the vial generally contains ethanol.

The Abney level is a topographic tool that is used by surveyors. It includes a sighting tube and a movable spirit level, as well as a protractor. This tool is used to measure topographic elevation, the percent of grade of the landform being surveyed and to measure degrees. It is named for its inventor, Sir William de Wiveleslie Abney, who designed the level in the 1870s while working at an English military engineering school.

The laser level is used by engineers to ensure that machine parts are completely level. Even the tiniest inaccuracy in leveling can cause huge problems in large-scale equipment. Laser levels also are used in construction and even survey work. While they can be used to set up complex machinery properly, simple laser levels are helpful tools in the home, as well.




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