Laser Distance Meter - Woodworking Talk

wptski · 09-30-2008, 03:26 PM

Anybody use a Laser Distance Meter? Has it replaced your yoyo or is there a place for both?

wptski · 09-30-2008, 11:19 PM

I guess that nobody uses them!

Handyman · 09-30-2008, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wptski

I guess that nobody uses them!

Wptski 8 hours isnt a lot of time to get a good responce. Give it a few days before giving up. I my self have been wondering the same thing. How accurate are they really?

wptski · 10-01-2008, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Handyman

Wptski 8 hours isnt a lot of time to get a good responce. Give it a few days before giving up. I my self have been wondering the same thing. How accurate are they really?

Lots are accurate to 1/16" and some 1/32". They look good for estimating a distance that may not need to be accurate but are they usefull for other than that? There are videos showing their good points but not the bad ones!

Roy Harding · 10-01-2008, 01:34 AM

I think they're a good estimating tool.

From what I've read (I don't have one) they aren't yet accurate enough to be useful for fine work.

mdlbldrmatt135 · 10-01-2008, 06:58 AM

They're great for measuing the inside of a building with only 1 person........ Fine work not so usefull

gtobeech · 10-01-2008, 08:25 AM

Had one on my Tank in the Army. It was called a Range Finder. Really accurate too.

Sorry for not being serious

joesdad · 10-01-2008, 08:42 AM

I've considered one for measuring in people's houses. Last week I had to measure for over 200 ft of crown in someone's house and something like that could be handy instead of pulling out the tape forty times over and over, especially in a house with lot of jogs and turns in the walls, not to mention hovering my tape over furniture and nick-nacks and possibly having it collapse on top with that horrible crashing sound. I never measure for trim ie: baseboard, crown to the inch, I always round up to the nearest foot so accuracy is not necessary. I couldn't see wanting one for woodworkig in the shop, I'll keep my steel rulers and flat 16' tape for that.

mmtools · 10-01-2008, 08:58 AM

Bosch has a very good laser tool, It runs about $130.
http://msxml.excite.com/info.xcite/c...s_DLR165K.aspx

wptski · 10-01-2008, 10:29 AM

Thanks for the replies! Yes, a LDM seems to be a great estimating tool but not a good measuring tool yet. Not sure if they will ever get any better.

They don't work well in bright sunlight unless you use a model that has a optical sight.

Lucas54 · 10-01-2008, 10:34 AM

I got one a while back and have used it once to measure out my shop. It was close enough.