Alignment tools

[Jim Wilson]

What are people using to ensure alignment, level and plumb while assembling the fuse. Has anyone tried a laser level or rotary laser level. I'd be interested in the pros and cons and types if anyone is using them.

[Jon Matcho]

I was told by Terry Schubert that all you need is a "$10 laser level", or you could even take a laser pointer and tape it to a level you already have.

[John DiStefano]

Smartlevel is the way to go!! Got to watch how I say this, before so engineer type flames me... The read out is to the 10th of a degree. SEEMS highly accurate...but you calibrate it to a spirit level...

 

This along with a few other levels and a tape measure is all you need to ensure your fuse is level, plumb,square ETC..

[Nathan Gifford]

A good tool set to get is the Cozy Girrrl Composite Construction Kit from Wicks. The Smart Level is part of the kit.

 

One of the things you might want to consider is how bright your laser level is. If you are doing things like the spar alignment, you might need your room fairly dark to see the line full length.

[Len Evansic]

About ten years ago, I had to use a Smart Level for my job, and it was great. I kept telling myself that whenever I'd eventually need a level like this for my hobbies, I'd buy one. The problem at the time was that they were pretty expensive at Lowes or Home Depot, and for the home repairs and such that I was doing, I didn't need that much accuracy.

 

Fast forward ten years. Now I'm building a Cozy and finally "need" a Smart Level. Now, I can't find them at Lowes, Home Depot, or any other hardware store as they have been displaced by a myriad of laser levels. Many of these laser levels are less accurate than most good carpenter bubble levels, but they extend that brilliant line and make it easy to align long items or distant items on walls. I guess these hardware stores realized that most projects don't need accuracy, just more reach than traditional levels.

 

The price hasn't dropped on the Smart Level in that time, and now I can't get it locally anymore. At least Wicks still carries them.

 

-- Len

[Kraig]

All kinds of new smart levels on E-Bay for about $90.00.

 

Kraig

[tonyrothwell]

Wow -a that's high tech. I used a long piece of clear plastic tubing with green cooking dye and water - and would you believe this is so accurate that you must mix the water and dye in one batch so it all has the same density and also you must not let the sunlight warm one arm of your level! Works a treat. Use it to level the table too.

[longez360]

I wound up using a theodolite and laser for the wings, winglets, canard, centresection spar because my Civil Engineer mate wanted to get it right. Took us a couple of weekends, and I fly ball centred.

 

For everything else I made 2 steel benches with removeable legs, and screw in feet. i.e. You can level it anywhere with or without the legs. I build wings on the floor, and was able to jig damned near everything by adapting the benches.

 

Lasers are good for toe-in.

 

Cheers,

 

Wayne Blackler

IO-360 Long EZ VH-WEZ

AUSTRALIA

[Jon Matcho]

I just ordered a laser dot and line level from www.harborfreight.com for $5.99. I already have a smart level, but needed something to verify that I'll be mounting my longerons perfectly straight.

 

I suppose I could have used a $0.50 length of string...