Water level basics - How to make and use one
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 มี.ค. 2017
- Water level Basics - How to make and use one
I’ve used a water level for many years on all types of projects. I consider it to be a necessary tool and would immediately replace it if it were to be damaged or stolen.
Water levels are easy to make and very useful to have in your collection of tools. They can be used to survey small jobsites for landscaping, foundations, deck piers, fences, shelving, leveling old floors, to list a few.
Water levels have some advantages over other leveling technology.
Pros:
• No batteries needed
• Line of sight is not necessary (works around corners as opposed to a laser)
• Works in tight spaces
• Easy to use and understand
• One man operation over large areas
Water levels have a few disadvantages, but not many.
Cons:
• Water will freeze without antifreeze
• Limited to length of hose
• Water can spill causing the level to change
• Others may think you’re weird
I hope that you find this video inspirational, informative and instructive.
Thanks for watching!
(Affiliate links)
MATERIALS:
1/4" ID 50 Ft 15 Meter PVC Clear Vinyl Tubing
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2-Gallon White Plastic Pail
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2-Gallon Plastic Pail Lid
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Valve Stem with 60 Degree Bend
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Solid Rubber Stoppers
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DRILLS AND BITS:
Stepped drill bits
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PENS/PENCILS AND MARKING:
Sharpie Marker
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RULERS AND SQUARES:
Tap measure
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SHEARS, SCISSORS & CUTTERS:
PVC pipe cutter
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Scissor Full Metal Coated 10”
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FOLLOW:
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WARNING:
This video is only for entertainment purposes. If you rely on the information portrayed in this video, you assume the responsibility for the results. Always think ahead. Every project you try is at YOUR OWN RISK. - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
I've used the same water level since 1972...Always accurate,and unlike lasers, no calibration needed! Excellent tutorial.
Yup, and no batteries.
Exactly what I need to build my patio. Thanks for the detailed explanation.
You're welcome. I glad it helped.
Great instruction!
I was going to drop $600 on a Laser Level but after watching your video I bought this set-up and now I have $570 I can spend on more tools!!!
Thanks for sharing.
Awesome!!!! That's great to hear!!
Yep same here 👍👍
HUGE this is the most convenient way to get these readings which always 'make or brake' a project.
Thanks for this, I had a clue but your demonstrations are very clear.
Joe
Thank you for watching!
Another excellent tutorial. I had already decided to incorporate a liquid tube levelling system into my equatorial camera mount. this gave me a couple of extra ideas to improve it. Thanks. I also like the style of your videos. no annoying background music that makes it hard to hear the dialogue. You get straight to the point, no pre-amble or waffle. Other you tube makers should take note.
Thanks for the feedback. It's tough to guess what viewers really want without comment like this. I appreciate it!
Clear, Thorough, several examples, possible pitfalls. Absolutely Outstanding video. Many Thanks!
Thank you!!
I can’t get over how neat a water level is! Water levels and plumb bobs are 2 of my all time favourite things!!
Yup, simple and effective.
I've used a bucket level for years but never thought to add a story pole!!! Awesome 👍👍👍👍Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Gib!
This is the best tutorial I have found so far. There is no need to search further. Thank you.
Thanks!
Excellent video! Thank you! So helpful that you included links for materials!
You are so welcome!
Great video and real life uses. I used a water level to build my 3,000 gallon koi pond. Worked flawlessly to get multiple levels established.
Awesome! Yeah and I bet you managed to do all of the leveling alone too. Not that a transit is a bad thing. It just takes a least two people to work.
Thanks for revealing the great mystery of the water level, Excellent video.
Thanks for watching!
Dang... I've known about these for years but only now do I realize how much work having one would have saved me! This... I must make. Thanks!!
They are very handy. especially for a homestead.
Thank you sir! Always wondered how a water level worked. I use to work for a mobile home company doing basic maintenance. There was a crew of guys that would install and set them and they'd use a water level to level the trailers up.
Yeah, I bet they would use it while crawling under the trailers. It works great for tight spaces. Thanks for watching!
I work on one of those crews. Based in TN. We are in KY right now setting up a triple wide for Fort Campbell. We use a water level at almost every job.
Great video. You're a natural teacher. Easy to follow and understand.
I live on a steep hill side. Need to build a greenhouse and chicken house. This a great tool. Never saw a lot of the options show before. THANK YOU.
You're welcome! If you have a large elevation change you can alway make your story pole longer. Good luck!
Great video! I love the concept of a water level. My first one I actually made like you did with a Home Depot 5 gallon bucket. But then I realized instead of ruining the bucket by cutting holes in it all you need to do is initiate the siphon in the tube sticking the tube in the water right from the top. It will do the exact same thing that yours does seeking the level of water in the bucket. In order to secure it to the bucket I just use a spring clamp with a zip tie. Now your bucket can be used again for its normal uses and there are zero places for leaks to occur. Thanks again
That's a great trick! It would really help if you wanted to throw one together for a single use.
Neat trick have to try that first! Save a bucket! A bucket saved is a few bucks earned.
Excellent video! I've been fretting measuring level of the slab in our large living/dinning room to complete my flooring project and this looks like just the thing I need. Great examples and explanation, also thanks for the supplies list.
No problem. Thanks for letting me know it helped!
Oh man this just made my day, I'm replacing my deck and this will solve so many problems that I've been dreaming up over complicated solutions for. Thanks for sharing!
That's great to hear! Thanks for watching Mike!
This is perfect, just what I needed to see and learn. Thank you!
You bet! Glad it helped.
This was fantastic! I appreciate all the examples you showed on how to use the water level. I came to your video to learn about water levels and I leave understanding them and have some practical ways to use them in the field. I also appreciate you speeding up the bits that are not that relevant. I felt like the length of the video was perfect for the information you presented. Excellent work!
Glad you liked it! Thanks for the feedback.
Thank you. I've made and used just a colored water filled line for some basic projects. I really like the res and storypole plan. Eelegant.
Thanks!
Great demonstration on how to use your system.
Thanks for watching!
That is a cool idea for when working on your own, especially the story stick. I use a water level a fair bit, but it's just a tube with water and food dye, and 2 bungs to plug each end for pack up.
Yes, that type works too!
I was in the Peace Corps in the 1980s. Peace Corps volunteers and local helpers used clear plastic tubes just like in your video to build one- or two-room schools and teacher houses, Worked great. Many people commented one how level everything was, compared to other local amateur construction. (Never had a problem with the water freezing.)
Cool story! It's great to hear how a simple tool can change the overall quality of a project.
'Cons: Others may think you're weird.' Hilarious! Nice video, thanks for the information.
Lol! Few read the description! Thanks for watching, reading and commenting!
Water levelling was utilised by the ancient Egyptians in building their massive monuments, by digging slitvtrenches and filling them with water. Great video, well done.
Thanks!
Thanks! You just saved me a ton by removing my need for a rotary laser level.
That's great to hear! Thanks for watching!
thank you, great description of build & use
Thank you for watching!
I've watched many water level video's and this is the best Water Level video. Thanks.
Wow, thanks!
excellent idea simple and cost less. Thank so much!
You bet!
What a great video. You make it so easy to understand. I'll be doing piers and posts and will definitely use this method!
Awesome! I'm glad it helped!
Thank you for this video. It really helped me understand how it all works. Really great video with all the examples you gave.
You're welcome. Thanks for letting me know you liked it!
Have to install concrete tubes for a trailer frame to sit on, this is just the ticket! Thanks! Great job!
Nice! I'm glad it was helpful.
Great video! Good tips to incorporate into the one I made few years back. Thanks!
Thank you!
Thanks for sharing. A guy I worked with always talked about a water level with a clear hose and we all just laughed at him. I'm thinking now that he was smarter than we gave him credit for. He did get me interested in it.
Yeah, I get that reaction all of the time. To be fair, it does sound a little weird unless you've seen one in action.
Excellent! I liked the idea of excavating the corners, then leveling the center
Thanks!
Great explanation. I wish I saw this before I helped my father-in-law build a patio!
Thank you!
Nicely done!
Thank you! Cheers!
It was very useful ! Thank you for sharing !
Thank you!
Thanks for the great video. I made a water level when I was laying out the foundations for my barn, but it wasn't as good as yours. I'll use your method in future.
Awesome! That's great to hear. Thank you.
Wickedly Cool!!!! So simple....What sorcery is this!!!!! Ive got a half acre of desert land in Southern Utah, its very uneven and I was using a string and line level to make a map so I'd know how much fill I need to level it. A huge pain sinking multiple poles in multiple areas , then running strings in every direction. Wow with this, one bucket and 100 or so feet of tube and I can map my back yard level anywhere and everywhere without bending over, banging poles in the ground and trying to accurately level lines for measurement. Thanks Brother!!!!!!
Yes! That is a perfect application for a water level. Glad I could help!
Excellent video. First class, gentle, intelligent presentation ... and no background, or in many cases foreground, music.
* * * * * from Australia. Thanks.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Another solid video. Very nice job.
Thanks, Dan!
That was the best explanation possible. Thank you
Glad it was helpful!
Great information...!!
I learned something today... Thank You
Glad to hear it! Thanks for watching!
Well-done and well-explained. I liked the use of the bucket. It allows a person to perform level marks by themselves. Sometimes it is tough to find an extra set of hands for assistance.
Yup, water levels are great for when you're working alone. Thanks for watching!
Great video! Thanks!
You bet!
Great one! Thanks for this.
You're welcome! Thanks for watching!
We used these all the time many years ago building sheds and such.
Young fellas now look at you like your crazy when you talk about water levels....guess I am getting old,
Nice content mate, very well done indeed!
Thank you!
Super helpful, thanks.
You're welcome!
Brilliant method good job. We just filled it up with a water hose and anti freeze when it's cold. But that's badass with the bucket
Thanks! Yeah, having the bucket in a central location allows for the transfer of elevation along with the level, they are very different but equally important.
Great explanation and practical demonstration .............Thankyou
Thank YOU for watching and commenting!
Agreed, especially on the demonstrations. Until midway through the video, I was mostly trying to figure out why I would want such a tool! lol It may actually benefit you to structure these videos in reverse order; demonstrating your nifty tool before explaining how we can make our own. 🤔
Your water reservoir is probably far larger than it needs to be though. Your hose only holds about 30 cubic inches of water, which is just under half a liter. A 1L bottle could be strung over a nail for easy height adjustment. Charging the system with 1L of water should give you plenty of spare volume for water to flow in and out of the hose as you move around. 🤓👍
The demonstration of the building of the level is great except for some parts it should be slowed down. If, like me, you've never seen a valve like that before it is pretty hard to follow what you were actually doing and WHAT tool you were using to deconstruct it. I guess you can adjust playback speed on TH-cam, but why should everyone need to do so?
This was a great explanation!
Thanks!
Awesome! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching!
That was fantastic, thankyou!
You're welcome! Thanks for watching!
Outstanding video. Thank you.
You're welcome. Thanks for watching!
excellent video ! thanks for sharing ...
You're welcome. Thanks for watching!
Out of of the videos to assist on this subject this one is my favorite.
Thank you!
Useful info... I have some experience as a surveyor. When I built a parking space along side of my garage, I rented a dumpy level. Son held the tape measure as a "rod". I suppose I could have done all the measuring myself with a water level. I have used water in clear tubing for leveling ledger boards and deck posts. That took an extra set of hands.
Yup, there are a few ways to do it. Somebody with you experience can make any too work. Thanks for watching!
What a great video. I learnt a lot from it. Thank you.
You're welcome. Thanks for watching!
I releveled my manufactured home using this method. Such an informative tool amd easily overlooked. Nothing is more level than H20.
Nice work!
Very nice video and I'm probably going to build one.
I just remember the struggle of getting a straight and even floor on very old beams, when we just used levels.
For the rest of the rooms this will be much easier. Just spot the highest point and adjust the rest accordingly. Right now, I just would have loved to know this two years earlier :D
Sounds like I should have started putting up videos sooner. Thanks for watching and commenting!
This is really cool, never really thought of using something like this before. 🤓👍🏼
Yeah, they're pretty effective. Thanks for watching!
Watched this video last night made one today level my pool turn out amazing thank for the video and I will probably use it this year to level my mini home
Fantastic!
So cool! Thanks!!
You bet!
Awesome!!💪🏻 I love the heat gun trick on the tubing! Very clever brother!!👊👊
Thanks! I think I saw box that you made for Jimmy on his vlog the other day. Right?
Make Build Modify sure enough my friend!!! 😊 so, you seem like an extremely sharp gentleman and I was curious what you do for a living??😊😊
I do a little bit of a lot of things. I'm a carpenter (builder/remodel) a few days a week. I sell art supplies and jewelry on Etsy. I have a few niche informational websites that I do the code development on for ad revenue. I was a product photographer for a few years and now I'm trying to do the TH-cam thing.
Make Build Modify oh wow! Many hats and very sharp! 👊 That's really cool, at any rate I love your videos and keep up the great work!!
Yeah, way too many hats. It keeps things interesting though. Thanks!
Very interesting and informative.
Thanks for watching!
This is the best video on this subject matter that I've seen. Great Presentation!!!
I'm glad you like it! Thanks for letting me know!
Very cool thks for the video. Never used this to find level but I know it can be very accurate. I'm going to make one to set the slope on a sewer drain pipe.
Nice. I've used one to find grade for a french drain. So, that's totally doable.
that is an awesome how to. thanks so much
Glad it was helpful. Thanks for commenting!
i never used this water level before & always relying on laser beam equip with air float balancer, i found "bunyip" as they call it a very reliable source of horizontal measurements, thanks for sharing & well explained the practical usage,.. thank you once again,.
You're welcome. I'm glad it was helpful!
Fantastic video.
Thanks!
Thank you,very clear.
🇦🇺👍🏻
You are very welcome
@@Makebuildmodify thanks 🙂 , I am 59 and working on my house ( 3rd house) , I had a brick paving business for 3 years In 1988 ( 34 years ago 😩) and used to use a water line all the time,but I forgot about it and how to use it,thanks to you now I remember.👍🏻
They really are a great tool.
🇦🇺👍🏻⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hey! I feel like I had a part in this! 😉🤔Thanks for making this video! Now I fully understand! 👍
You definitely did! Thanks for letting me know that you watched.
You definitely did! Thanks for letting me know that you watched.
Make Build Modify Very informative!
Great video!!!
Thanks!
I just stumbled across a few of your videos. These are awesome! I'm just a novice so this is very informative.
That's really good to hear. Can ask what you're interested in making? I'm trying to learn more about my audience so I can make better project choices for my new videos.
Make Build Modify I did a few makeshift things around the house for my daughters, we took a shelf and turned it into a play kitchen and I put some posts on their beds to make a canopy. I really liked the different tricks you used to make the bench. A friend I work with does a lot of wood stuff and I showed him this video.
Thanks!
Thank you very much.
You are welcome!
This is going to save me some head scratching and guess work, tks.
You're welcome. Thanks for watching!
Excellent video
Thank you very much!
This would have came in really handy when i was trying to level the roof on my pergola. I even have all the parts sitting in my garage!
I should have made the video sooner. Thanks for watching!
Hey thanks for a really interesting and informative video! I think I'm going to make one of these some time. I was excited to see all the amazon links in the description. Can you forsee any drawbacks to using a smaller bucket? It's hard to feel confident that I've got my head around the physics of it.
Small bucket should be just fine. Thanks for watching!
This is great I want to level my Mobile home I see it sagging in some places not by much but the Wood Floor I noticed seems to be rising and causing a disturbance in the finish edges where they butt up too, Ill go down under the home and screw the adjustments until i find a happy medium with one person on top and me down under should work out much easier. Thank You so much ! God Bless you Bro.
You're welcome! I hope you get a good result on the mobile home project.
Thx for taking the time in making this video. I thought the fact that lasers can't shine upon something that the light can't get to was so true. So the laser isn't the be all end all when there are items in the space but the water level won't care, Shweeeet. The bucket is optional. You can just use the hose. The funny thing is that I have seen water level go for as much as $50 for a 50' unit. I guess they used magic hose. Hahaha.
Thx again.
Thanks! Yeah, you can make a water level without a bucket but the way you use it is a little different. A single hose is only level and does not help with overall project elevation. While using a hose level the elevation must be calculated relative to each instance of level. A water level with a reservoir (bucket or something of the sort) can be used for both level and elevation measurements within a reasonable tolerances.
This will come in very handy. Thank you
Thanks!
@@Makebuildmodify
Why is it that the water in my humidifier doesn't level out and spill over the edges?
@@ctsehn probably because there is a suction force drawing the water towards the atomizer.
There are just two containers I fill with water and flip upside down. Then, only about 1/2" water comes out of the containers and sits around the filter element that draws the moisture up and and fan assist the entire process. I don't understand why the water doesn't spill over the edges because the level in the containers is much higher.
@@ctsehn Oh, I think I understand what you are describing now. It's a lot like a water feeder for a cat or dog. That would be due to the fact that the container is sealed. The bucket level requires a hole in the lid to allow the air to displace the water as it finds level. But the humidifier doesn't allow for the immediate displacement to occur. I bet it makes a small "glug" sound every once and a while.
is the most effective level, since before your video is used....thank you
Thank you!
Great video! Curious how you have your metal wire shelving mounted on the wall... i've been wanting to do something similar in my shop...
Good question. It takes at least two shelve to do.
1. I screw through the wire shelf into the wall studs. This locates them for elevation and level.
2. Then I cut rectangle pieces of plywood. They are as deep as the shelves and as tall as the two shelves are apart from each other. I mean to say that you would measure from the bottom of the bottom shelf to the top of the top shelf.
3. Then screw through the sides of the wire shelves into the plywood rectangles. This is done in such a way that the plywood is on the outside of the shelves when the installation is complete.
4. I use Simpson Strong Tie structural screws for the application because they are designed for this type of thing. amzn.to/2qS2KBH
Note: The plywood is not fastened to the wall but it's better if it is against a stud or strong wall sheeting. This transfer the load force into the wall.
Have been in the steel stud suspended ceiling industry for over 30 years a water level never lies unless someone steps on your hose
Yup, especially if they're stepping on the hose to mess with you.......grumble.
can you share the link or tell me what kind of wall magnets you have for your tools. thanks, keep up the great videos!
Here you go! Magnetic Tool Holder: amzn.to/2rbiena
I used rubber tire stem valve (remove valve), pop into a thick container for fast seal outlet. Long neck valve is best. Heat or clamp on hose for tight seal. Great tool, mine is 80 feet 3/8" hose. I used old 1.5 gal dead pump sprayer.
That's great!
QUESTION- does it matter how far up the side of the bucket the valve stem goes? For example, 1/4” from the bottom or 1/2” etc.?
Anywhere near the bottom will work just fine.
First time I ever seen this, it blew my mind. A guy who grew up on a farm came to my house to help me figure out drainage on yard. The yard was a mess and basically everything sloped toward house. When we were done, he had it dialed in and had drain tiles doing all the work. Farmers are always the smartest people I know. He had a water level and it worked great. No need for lasers or anything fancy. He called it “redneck engineering”
That's a great story! Thank you for sharing it.
Absolute best tutorial on youtube. I want to level a mobile home with this water level tool. Should I first find the high point? Position the reservoir/bucket to that height. Put the clear tube next to the frame bottom and raise or lower the the tube until the water level is at the bottom of the frame and mark the tube. Should I now have a reference mark on the tube to raise the rest of the frame to? Thanx in advance for your comment.
I would place the bucket so that the elevation of the water is somewhere between the ground and the underside of the frame. Then find the high point and measure the distance between the water elevation and the frame.
So, for example, if the distance between the water elevation and the frame is, say around , 10 inches, then you would proceed to raise or lower the frame so that it measures 10 inches in all locations.
You want some space between the water elevation and the frame because it makes it a lot easier to inspect the hose and measure the difference. Good Luck!
@@Makebuildmodify Got it. And thanx for the quick reply! Cheers!
p.s., I just realized "raising or lowering the tube" does nothing, as the water will find level as this is done. Therefore, "putting a mark on the tube" is also unnecessary. Thanks again. And this really is a versatile tool.
not bad !
not bad at all !
I've checked things with a water level of hat we're more accurate than a laser.
you can't abuse a laser,they tend to break sometimes !
and they gotta be stabilized !
Nothin beat's a well made water level.
you made a good one
but I prefer red food color not purple,
not a Barney fan
Lol.
thanks for the video.
Lol! Yeah, they're a pretty good tool.
Fill with windshield washer fluid, its colored & will not freeze.
That a good idea.
Full with honey, its also colored and will not go off.
DaaiChommie did that but the bees got me
Fill with pee... It is colored and will prevent others from wanting to steal your water level.
excellent video
Thank you very much!
So cool Thanks 👍
Thank YOU for watching!
great video . what I'd like to know is where did you get all them wire shelves from great idea
The wire shelves are from Costco. If you would like to see how I installed them you can see it in this video. th-cam.com/video/2V8fkTW_AMs/w-d-xo.html
Man I'm going to pimp this video out😂. You would think people would understand that we get level from water. But😪😪😪This was taught to me in H.S. shop class. Great job on the video.
Haha! Thanks Steven.
@@Makebuildmodify no sir! THANK YOU! You have saved me the time of making such a video. But I still may an show the LEVEL marks with a 360 laser LEVEL. AWESOME JOB FOR REAL!
Great.. thanks.
You bet! Thank for watching Leo!
Great video thanks sir
You're welcome. Thanks for watching!