Effective Tips To Calibrate A Laser Level
It’s beneficial to have a laser level on hand, particularly if you are installing a floor, mounting cabinets, hanging a lot of photographs, or framing walls. Laser level helps you verify that the object you are hanging is straight. Therefore, calibrating your laser level is crucial.
Even though your laser level may be regarded as “self-leveling,” there is a need for you to check for accuracy and adjust periodically. You can personally maintain your level’s accuracy if you discover that it is off.
We looked for the most straightforward and effective ways to assist you in calibrating your laser level. Continue reading to learn how to calibrate a laser level.
What Does Caliberating A Laser Level Mean?
A laser level must be calibrated to produce a level line and ensure precision. The internal pendulum of the device, which is the source of the laser line, may be altered by opening the device and making the required changes. Some self-calibration buttons on laser levels let you alter the laser line by merely pressing the up and down arrows.
The accuracy of every laser level is rated, and for most devices, it is roughly 1/16th of an inch. We’ll review ways to verify this accuracy in the following phases.
Can You Personally Calibrate A Laser Level?
Yes, you can calibrate the laser level independently, even if it is a little complicated. If your level is self-calibrating, all you’ll need is a tape, perhaps some paper, and a pen (depending on your preference). If it is not self-calibrating, you will require a small screwdriver to loosen tiny screws within the laser level.
You should calibrate your laser periodically to ensure that it consistently produces a flawlessly level line. Every laser level has a locking mechanism for storage when not in use. This maintains the internal pendulum’s position.
The pendulum will bounce around within the gadget and become thrown off if you don’t lock it up and are careless with the laser level (for instance, if you drive around with it bouncing around in the back of your truck). Therefore, before altering your laser level at all, make sure to lock it.
Remember that a less costly laser level will likely require more frequent calibration than a more expensive one. Therefore, if you decide to get a cheaper one, you could find yourself having to calibrate the level more frequently.
How To Calibrate A Laser Level
1. Check For Accuracy First
You must first determine whether your laser is incorrect. There are three methods you may use to do this. Select the one that best meets your criteria for accuracy and is most convenient.
First Approach
The laser level should first be set up on a tripod. If you believe the tile has been set evenly in the first place, the first technique involves shining the laser lines onto some wall tile. As you can check the Y and X axes simultaneously, this method is certainly the quickest, but it also introduces more variables that might lead to erroneous results.
Second Approach
Another approach is to use the laser line to mark two distinct areas on a wall. Make sure the laser line touches the tape line and that the tape is placed precisely beneath the line. Place the laser level on the tripod, move it to a different room area, and then line the laser line up as precisely as you can on the second piece of tape. Check the first marking one last time to determine whether the line is off in any way.
Third Approach
If you are working in a small area and do not have room to adjust the laser level, this can be an excellent technique to check for accuracy. As previously, begin by pointing the laser level toward a wall at least 20 feet away. Mark the line’s location on a piece of paper by taping it to the wall. You might want to use a straightedge or ruler.
The light should then be shone on the same area after 180 degrees of rotation of the laser level. You may mark a second line at 90 degrees rotation if your laser has a Y axis. Take note of the variations between the lines.
It’s time to calibrate the level if the deviation from the mark exceeds the accuracy range specified in the handbook. If your laser level, for instance, claims to be 1/16th inch precise, that means that the lines must be wider than 1/16th of an inch to make adjusting the laser level necessary.
Simply press the up and down buttons as directed in your laser level’s handbook to calibrate self-calibrating models.
2. Inspect The Level And Check Wires
After removing all the screws, disassemble the level’s body to access the batteries. With your screwdriver, gently wiggle the wires to ensure they aren’t impeding the pendulum. If not, this will undoubtedly skew your level line.
3. Make Adjustments To Screws Inside The Body For Calibration
You’ll need a very tiny screwdriver for this step. Two screws will be in charge of the pendulum’s location if your laser level has an X and Y axis.
Put the batteries back in the laser level, set them back on the tripod, and turn the laser on. Unscrew one of the screws keeping the pendulum in place after ensuring it is secured. Lock it, swing it back and forth a few times, and then leave it alone.
Keep an eye on the line and use your level to check the wall for level. Check whether it is now level by locking it back in, inserting the screw, and unlocking it.
For the opposite axis, repeat these procedures.
4. Check And Recheck
Throughout this procedure, you should ensure it is leveled multiple times before and after putting the level back together. Check for correctness by using the lines you already created. Restart this process at step 1 with fresh lines denoting the locations of your laser level line’s flashing beams for further accuracy tests.
5. Evaluate Your Success
At this point, hopefully, you have calibrated your level correctly, and it is back to its best. But if not, hold onto hope. Some qualified experts can calibrate your level with more exact measurements. These experts may be simply located online.
How Often Should I Calibrate My Laser Level?
Your laser level’s effectiveness will depend on how carefully you use it. If you don’t secure the pendulum, maintain it in a hard environment, or drop it repeatedly, you should check the accuracy level at least once every six months. However, with proper handling, you may keep its accuracy for as long as a year. Never fail to gently rotate the pendulum to lock it (no sudden movements or jostles).
Final Thoughts
Do not allow a misaligned laser level to impede your progress. You can now restart your operation at a super-accurate level that you calibrated yourself. If not, you gave it your best effort and had it polished for you by an expert. In either case, congrats on learning more about keeping your laser level accurate for many future tasks.