Old School
This is a very nice torpedo level. It's well-made, solid and accurate (at least the one I received is). The horizontal level is large and very easy to read unlike some other levels. (I found that I had four more torpedo levels that I had forgotten about but some are very old and one is innacurate and one is barely readable due to a dark and clouded bubble glass.)
I see some reviewers mention that they can't check the accuracy because they don't have a known accurate level to check it against. But you don't need another level or even a known level surface to check a spirit level's accuracy. In fact, you don't need anything. To check the horizontal accuracy, simply place the level on a flat surface and see where the bubble rests in the vial. Then rotate the level around 180 degrees and if the bubble is in the same relative place, it's accurate. If not, it's innacurate. It's nice to have a level surface to do this so the bubble rests exactly between the lines but that isn't necessary. Checking the vertical and 45 degree bubbles is done the same way except on a vertical surface (like a wall) and a 45 degree surface.
As for Craftsman tools: I see one review where the reviewer claims that Craftsman tools are THE best. Unfortunately, that's not true although their Professional grade and Industrial Grade tools are very good, in general. Craftsman has historically had three levels of tools. The top level was the Pro or Industrial tools. The mid-level were marked Craftsman. Those are the tools most people think of when they think of Craftsman tools. The lower "do-it-yourself/homeowner" grade has gone by several names. (Look up Craftsman tools in Wikipedia for a detailed explanation. Also, Sears never manufactured their tools. They used many suppliers. Stanley Black & Decker bought Craftsman tools from Sears a few years ago. Most Craftsman tools are now made in Asia - many in China. You can often tell by the part number of the tool where it was made. However, Stanley Black & Decker was building a plant in Texas to some production back to the U.S. Some tools were and are still made in America but most aren't. As you probably know, since selling Craftsman tools to Stanley Black & Decker, you can buy them at many outlets such as Lowe's, Ace Hardware, etc. But eash of those sources can use their own suppliers so it gets complicated. In recent years, there have been numerous complaints about Craftsman tools - especially automotive tools like sockets, ratchets, etc. Some claim they rust badly. I'm a tool freak owning so many tools that I couldn't even count them and for "regular" grade tools, I find that store brands these days are as good or even sometimes better than Craftsman tools. As those old enough to remember, tools made in Asia years ago were of absolutely terrible quality. That's not true today. In fact, Harbor Freight has some very find mechanics tools. I often feel sorry for those who bash HF without having actually purchased a tool from them. They do have some lousy tools but they also have some outstanding tools. In fact, if you go on YouTube and watch comparisons of HF tools vs. equivalent Snap-On tools (expensive!) you'll see that some HF tools are actually better than Snap-On tools for a tiny fraction of the price. The bottom line is there are a lot of very good tools available these days so check them out. The days when it was either Craftsman, Mac, or Snap-On are over. It's too bad that Mac and Snap-On don't respond to competition and lower their prices but those high prices are not due to the quality of the tools - at least not completely. It's their business plan. You can only buy them from a salesman and that means he gets his cut. There are probably other middle men in the chain too. That's why the prices are ridiculously high.
| Brand | CRAFTSMAN |
|---|---|
| Material | Aluminum, Rubber |
| Color | Red and Black |
| Style | Magnetic,Standard |
| Item Weight | 0.17 Kilograms |
| Operation Mode | Manual |
| UPC | 885911573955 |
| Global Trade Identification Number | 00885911573955 |
| Manufacturer | CRAFTSMAN |
| Part Number | CMHT82390 |
| Item Weight | 5.9 ounces |
| Product Dimensions | 11.3 x 4.4 x 3.5 inches |
| Country of Origin | Thailand |
| Item model number | CMHT82390 |
| Size | 9-Inch |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Included Components | Level |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | No |
Donna
