Anybody using one of those laser measuring thingies?

[xmrdfghap]

I need somebody to come ride with me one day, just to see I am not laser challenged.

Its only about 300 miles, might be worth it to run over there just for lunch some day........ :lol:

 

[Tim Hicks (Texas)]

c'mon down.

 

[Frederick R. Ruffell]

Can this gaget measure a wall on the second story from the ground (exterior)? That would sell me!!!

 

[slacker]

Can this gaget measure a wall on the second story from the ground (exterior)? That would sell me!!!

Yes it can. As long as you are working with a horizontal or vertical plane you can measure the height or width of just about anything regardless of were you are standing. I actually just got mine today. It took me about 10 minutes to figure out all the funtions. I used it for the first time this morning.

We just got about 6 inches of rain and there was mud all over the place in the front of the subject. I used the Pyth function to measure the width of house and garage from the dry sidewalk. No problems,and no muddy shoes. I also went to a tool store and picked up a pair of red laser glasses for 8 bucks. A lot of the folks in the trades use them to help see the dot. Worked great.

 

[TC]

Slacker,

I have been using mine now for 1 week, still learning all the tricks. How well do those laser goggles work? and does it make an appraiser look even more like a geek?

TC

 

[Frederick R. Ruffell]

Slacker,
What model and how much $. Have you checked the accuracy of the second story shot?

 

[Tim Hicks (Texas)]

Frederick,

It depends on how much accuracy you want. There is a human element involved. If the difference between 12.2 and 12.5 matters to you then you might need to worry. It matters to me. If you take a tape measure down a wall and get 12.5 then you know it is exact. If you use the pyth function, you have to be sure you are at a 90 degree angle of the first wall and shoot the corner, then you have to be careful that you swivel the disto without moving it any direction and aim it at the other corner. If you can do these things without moving and actually hit the corner you will get the 12.5 reading. But if you moved in any way or don't hit the corner exactly, then you may get a different reading. It is accurate when the human factor is less involved. I bought a desk tripod to help me swivel without moving, but trying not to move the base position and hitting the next corner can be tricky. I always thought I had steady hands, but the Disto has proven that I have grandpa hands that shake like a 80 year old man. I will still argue it is quicker to argue a straight line wall with a tape measure. Many times there is nothing to aim at. Plus, you will find that pressing the "shoot" button will cause you to jump off your target from time to time. I am getting faster with the Disto, but I was still faster with a tape. The monocular really doesn't help if you are in tight quarters either. I am going to look into getting the red glasses. Total cost so far is near $700.

 

[Frederick R. Ruffell]

Tim,
I like you because you have a healthy dose of skepticism. Do one thing for me please. Find a two story building with a first and second story wall that is the same length i.e. stacked on top of each other. Measure the lower wall with tape and laser, then measure the upper with laser from the same posistion. If the measurements are the same +/- 0.5 feet I can live with it. I round to the nearest 0.5 anyway. I will buy one of these if it can do a second story from the ground. Tim what model did you buy and from where?

 

[slacker]

Frederick,

It depends on how much accuracy you want. There is a human element involved. If the difference between 12.2 and 12.5 matters to you then you might need to worry........ If you use the pyth function, you have to be sure you are at a 90 degree angle of the first wall and shoot the corner, then you have to be careful that you swivel the disto without moving it any direction and aim it at the other corner. .... I bought a desk tripod to help me swivel without moving, but trying not to move the base position and hitting the next corner can be tricky............ I will still argue it is quicker to argue a straight line wall with a tape measure. Many times there is nothing to aim at. Plus, you will find that pressing the "shoot" button will cause you to jump off your target from time to time. I am going to look into getting the red glasses. Total cost so far is near $700.

Tim and Fred,

I have to agree with Tim in regards to the Grandpa hands and the ability to see the dot in sunlight. After a couple cups of coffee in the morning that dot is all over the place. I put my Disto on an old camera Tripod. I use it with one leg extended and it keeps the Disto nice and steady, provides a good pivot for Pyth functions, and measuring second story stuff. Make sure your measuring reference is set to measure form the camera mount and not from the back of the Disto. That gives you a perfect pivot point.

I checked the accuracy of the Pyth on the second floor of my house on a 35-foot wall. Using the Tripod as a base I was able to come within a 1/5 inch. That's close enough for me. I tend to use the 3-point measuring technique, finding the minimun distance with the second measurement. This makes it easier to aim at the corners since you are making two shorter measurements.

Also, try using the delay function. After the laser is active press the "X" button once and it will give you a 10 second delay or hold for more time. This gives you time to aim the dot. After 10 seconds the Disto takes the measurement without having to press the button and move the dot.

I used the delay on my house as well. I have two perpendicular walls on my house that are at about 40 and 50 feet respectively. I set the Disto on the tripod at the corner, shot the beam parallel the first wall about six inches off pointing into open space, set the delay for 10 seconds, walked down to the end of the wall and held up my clipboard at the other corner until I could see the dot on it. When the dot disappears I know the measurement was triggered. Or listen close and you can hear the beep. Then I just rotated the Disto for the other wall and did the same thing. This was all in bright sun. By standing at the receiving end of the beam you can see the dot with no problem. I could have done the same thing with a tape by staking it at the corner but my house is new and there are no obstructions and I wasn't dragging the tape and having to roll it up. I think this will be useful in the winter when there is a foot of snow on the ground. If you have a helper, you could have him or her as the target holder.

I did a Condo this weekend and I was able to measure the entire place in under a minute. It can't be beat for internal measurements. It's nice for garages that are filled with junk too.

And finally, the red glasses I found are actually pretty low on the Geek Scale. They are not the goggle type and look like a pair of red safety glasses. Don't count on see me driving around town in them though.

Oh, And I got the "Classic".

 

[Frederick R. Ruffell]

Is there any way to test drive this thing for a week?