Levels

[jackellis]

I'm going to have to mount a bunch of cabinets and slatwall. Most fixtures will be mounted to French cleats - versatile and itseem to be the easiest way to hang things for one person.

Never having hung cabinets before, I could...

Measure from the floor (floor slopes toward the center of the room)
Measure from the ceiling
Measure with a 6' level
Measure with a laser level

I kinda like the laser level idea because it means I can mount the cleats without having to put a bunch of marks on the wall. Is an inexpensive Craftsman good enough or do I need something better? Or, is the best way to to this with a good 6' carpenters level?

[Hellrazor]

Use a level or laser level.

[cabinetman]

Someone gave me a laser level as a gift a few years ago. I don't use it if that tells you anything. I make my wall marks from the highest point in the floor, if it's necessary to reference from the floor. There are times that I measure down from the ceiling.

I'll use a good level, and I have 6', 4', and 2'. There are times the 6' and even the 4' are too long. With a straight edge and a level, you can get some versatility. Also keep a snap line handy for connecting the dots.
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[crokett]

Having used a laser level to level the beams for my shop, I will use it for jobs like yours as much as I can. You can set it in the middle of the floor, level the base, turn it on and know that all your cabinets are at the same height without having to mark the wall and or hold a level up while you are trying to screw the cleat to the wall.

[rnelson0]

Someone gave me a laser level as a gift a few years ago. I don't use it if that tells you anything.

I have two. One is a B&D with double-sided tape, the downside is that thin paint will rip off. I also have a Ryobi air-grip, works great on the thin-paint walls. Between the two of them, they work well. Having a horrible one, though, is worse than any other option.

[pacwind3]

I picked up one of those black and decker bullseye things a couple of years ago. Lowes still sells the smaller one for like $30-35. I got mine on a 1/2 price sale. Haven't regreted it a bit. It's self leveling. It has a hanger thing that you get right on your line with a flip out pin, then the unit hangs on the hanger thing by magnetics. You can then line up the bottom of the french cleat with your line and just make sure you are hitting studs. Totally takes a bit of guess work out.

[poolhound]

You certainly need at least a good level, the measuring trick rarely works unless your datum (floor or ceiling) is perfect.

Laser levels can be very useful for this type of thing but unless you have a lot of use for one it may be the only time it comes out of the box.

I have seen them for reasonable prices at Costco

[billwmeyer]

Level

I seem to have a problem using a 4' level. If I go around the whole room, when I get back I am close to an inch off, usually lower. I think that I am just a hair off with the bubble, or it slips just a tad, and the mistake is compounded. For a small job I use a level, for an entire room, the laser level is great. I agree with whoever said a bad laser level is worse. I have been there and done that.

Bill

[cabinetman]

The most accurate level that can be used for most any length and around corners is a water level, which you can make very inexpensively...probably less than the cost of a 2' level.
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[Len]

The most accurate level that can be used for most any length and around corners is a water level, which you can make very inexpensively...probably less than the cost of a 2' level.
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^^^^^What he said (ya beat me to it).

Len

[toolguy1000]

i use a rotary laser level. make a level line around the entire space at any height. this level line can then be used to find high and low points in the space and determine where to start setting base cabinets and showing where ceiling problems will interfere with wall cabinets. the $70 johnson rotary level i got @ HD has been absolutely invaluable to me. BTW, the same results can be achieved with a water level, but i find the laser easier to use.