Laser levels require line of sight, water levels can work around corners, through trees, opposite sides of a vehicle. etc.

I would put it down to human error must likely.

I’d trust water level, yes it’s takes a bit longer but it can go around corners/blind spots and still be read accurately

Seems like someone was just in a hurry with their water level marks, I've used water in a pinch several times it's always dead on

I use a water level on my projects. Just built a 50'x104' pole barn. Never had a problem worked great! Just make sure you get all the air bubbles out!

water level is accurate to the dot. laser levels have a +-1/8” when you go further than 30+feet. so i’ll put my $ on the water level.

Measure it with a micrometer, mark it with a crayon, cut it with an axe. Accuracy and repeatability with any construction method is in the hands of the craftsman.

Interesting video I stumbled on here. I am a metal stud drywall guy,and I actually started in the trades in Texas,and we used a water level all the time,back in 1983 the lasers were not yet as available as today. I think since there was only 1 discrepancy, it could be the mark made on the pipe was slightly off...But yes,the water level is the bomb,just keep the air bubbles out.

I have used both pretty extensively the laser you need to check calibration every so often. The water level wind will make a difference sometimes the upwind side will have a higher pressure then the downwind side causing your levels to be off a little bit. The laser level can be a one-man operation easier than a water level but if one end of your water level is attached to a bucket filled with water it can be a one man operation also. A very good laser level can have a range from one side to the other of almost a thousand feet a water level is limited to probably about 150 to 300 feet. A water level has its advantages in that you can level easily underneath structures and in any room. It is probably wise put a small amount of detergent in the water used in a water level to do away with the surface tension of the water. Don't use too small of a hose because the surface tension will make a difference. I always used a garden hose with a clear section of hose at the end to get my levels I always put a valve on it also so that when I transported the end from one location to the other I didn't lose any water. High tension power lines, strobe lights like those found on emergency vehicles, arc welders and anything that reflects light like large glass windows that business sometimes have will play Havoc with your laser level receiver. Get too close to an automobile that has a real shiny finish can be a problem too. If you have more than one laser level on a job site or nearby you can get some very erroneous readings also. You don't have those problems with a water level. However you can have problems with heavy equipment running over your hoses. If you do not need a level very often a water level is probably far more cost-effective. So in summary they both have their advantages and disadvantages. You can get very good results out of both of them. A water level is a very good tool for surveying caves and mines. Another pretty good low tec level is a speed square and plumb bob but it is not nearly as accurate as a water level. The best level that I have ever used was a split bubble Wild made in Switzerland it was so sensitive that just switching your weight from one foot to the other even on solid concrete would cause the bubble to move slightly.

If you add petcocks to both ends of the water level, and shut them "off" before moving the water level, you will have much less bounce to the water, as you wait for it to settle in the tube. I have been building boats for 36 years. A water level is what we always use to level our multi-million dollar boats. Another choice to use for liquid to use in a water level is, non-toxic antifreeze.

My father and I did this method for his house and it was pretty kool what my father taught me! Glad people like you are showing these kind of videos!

You can check the accuracy of the lazar level using the two peg method, most people don’t know how to do this. I’ve found brand new lazar levels to be inaccurate. A water level doesn’t need to be checked and is always right on if you are patient enough to wait for the water to settle out. To two peg a level set up two posts 50 feet apart. Set the level up in the centre. Shoot both posts and measure the difference. Move the level 50 feet away from the pegs and shoot them again and measure the difference it should be the same. If it’s not you can see if it’s shooting up or down.

There are a couple of ways to use a water level by yourself. The first is when you have the two ends together fix the stationary end to a post etc then mark the waterlevel on the tube, when you are at the marking end you have to make sure the water is at the line you marked and it will be at the line on the fixed end. The quickest method is to drill a hole in the bottom of a bucket and silicon one end of the hose into the bucket, fill with water, mark the hose with a line and when marking make sure water is at the mark. The bucket reservoir will dampen the water movement in the hose and make it settle much quicker.

Wish I had an opportunity to work with an old school like this cat even with my years exp. I know I learn a lot. No one in Missouri wants to pass knowledge on just make their money.

That project is going to be beautiful. Great pick on your contractors.. Thank you for sharing. Texas Barndominiums!!

As a 70 year old now retired from the trades I witnessed many Masonry and Tile craftsmen in hospitals installations use the water levels over Lazer’s.

Wow Erik! Great video yet again!

Let it settle and the water level will be as accurate as the meniscus of the water in the tube. Add a bit of dishwashing soap and the meniscus will decrease, giving even more accurate measurements. The laser will expand slightly over distances, so when you are marking your levels, you need to ensure that you are marking the exact center of every laser dot / line. If you are needing to mark a single reference point throughout a house where there will be walls blocking a clear line of sight, the water level will work better. If you wanted to see if the slab of your house is at the same level throughout your house, the water level would be a better choice.

What a exciting vlog man thanks for shairng CHEERS with levels.

Badass video. Thanks...very informational!

I think the water level is spot on every time. You mentioned the con for water levels; they’re slow because you have to wait for the water to settle. Someone else also mentioned lasers are line of sight- the only limit on a water level is how much hose you have available. Something else to consider...does the laser level need to be calibrated occasionally?

In the summer months in FL the laser would droop on which ever side the sun WASN'T shining on. Thermal expansion was the cause.

Now the question is how much do you appreciate the old school trades those who had no technology and everything was made by hand and pure brain

Like most scenarios I have seen at job sites, the true test is repeatability, which level works more often? My guess is, in a more exhaustive test, both levels are going to perform very well, and it is most likely, human error that accounts for differences. An example, if you measure something 10 times and 9 measurements are the same, and one is not, the measure that is not the same, it is usually due to human error, and not the tool.

Thanks Maestro

Nice job; thanks. J.

The mark itself may move. "The guy marking " could have breath and move a 8th

My dad use that option when adding to our house 35yrs ago, he used red kool-aid . And learned that from his dad...

thank you for sharing.

Great information! First time I’ve seen a water level in use and I can’t deny the science! Subscribed to the channel!

Never heard of a water level. So clever

Double check my friend

Great video, as a builder I have used both, and I've seen lasers be off, especially if not setup correctly or dropped etc. Yet I still use the laser for the most part for speed etc, and it's easy to setup a couple benchmarks and to check yourself... I used to keep a backup water level... Might get a hundred feet of tubing again, just in case... I like the windshield washer fluid idea... Here in So Kal it's not cold enough to need for freezing, but visiblity is better...

I just learned something awesome today.

The water level should be perfect, except when it gets hot and bubbles form. The laser beam can get larger at distance and they all have tolerance that increases errors with distance.

Awesome video amigo! Water of course!!

Water level every time. Built my 13 mt x9 mt garage, concert floor, all steel construction. Can't beat that water. Great video. Cheers from Australia.

thanks for the video

"Water finds it's own level." For a minute it was going to turn into a flat earth video.

Most Lasers have a discrepancy of 2 to 3 mm either side of true level ? Therefore one needs to move the Receiver and observe a height mark on the work, when it's at it's highest point just before it starts to beep periodically, and then do a second mark after moving the Receiver down slightly until the continuous beep changes to a periodic beep at it;s lowest point. Once You find this range, then it is simply mark the centre point between both marks giving You True Level and a more accurate reading ! Hope this helps !

I’ve used one many times! Always accurate!

They are both good but I like the laser level.great job Erik

not to mention the laser can get hit and a parking garage can be out of level by a couple inches, don’t ask how I know.

It's this simple! Gravity DOES NOT LIE!! The water level method has been used for centuries!

Been using an inexpensive one for years, needs salt water for conductivity as it's electronic, gives of the same beeping sound as the laser receiver.. pretty spot on, claims +/- 1/8th" in a hundred feet. Great for starter courses around corners when working alone.

I made the 1,000 like :) Thanks for the quick and informative videos!

The 1/8" would be easy to get just by marking mistakes. the pencil is 1/16" thick :) the laser relies on charged batteries and the ability to mark the notch accurately. My money is on the water level especially since you have the wiper fluid in it to reduce bubble and friction. I have worked with many lasers in 40 years and they can be fussy :) setup time is reduced with the water level also, nice video.

Great video! This info will come in handy in the future. What camera are you using to make the video?

Great video. I like using my water level just so people can ask me “what the heck is that”. I love telling them my level cost $25.00 and then hear them say they spent $1500 .

Great video. water is very accurate. used that a lot.

When using water level check for bubbles, for they will affect the level. Before using water hose do a level test like you did, put the hoses side by side to check calibration. I filled the hose with RV pink antifreeze, worked great at first, the next year it was off an 1", I'm thinking the additives in the RV antifreeze separated.

I've used water levels a lot on building site especially on relocated house's projects when there 2 or 3 sections and working from 1 datum point Lazer's can't see through plaster sheeting or as America's call drywall.

I love it. My laser level is easy to use early in the morning, not so much in the middle of the day. This water level is impressive and a heck of a lot cheaper.

I've been using water levels since I was a teenager in my family pool business. Works great for swimming pools.

Used water level 80s-90s. First lazer had double bubbles to level. Would need to keep checking to make sure the laser was still plumb. Finally got a self leveling laser which works great!

It's pretty impressive that that it's only off by 1/8" at that one location. I think the error could have easily been additive. For the water mark, it may have been off by 1/16" in one direction, and the laser mark could have been off by 1/16" in the other direction (1/8" total).

I use both and each has it's merits, biggest problem we have is wind which shuttles the water back and forth through the tube( no rude comments please!!). Trees obsticles buildings etc not a problem .Drop your bundle of tube - no damage cheap to buy and nil to fill. Laser quick and easy limited to dull days or use a recieve,r regular accuracy checks needed and limited to line of sight

SWEET! I was just wondering about this! Nice experiment! My guess would be the laser lever since in the back of the book of my laser level it says at 100 feet it is + or - 1/16th .

Old tried and true methods are often the best. Technology doesn't always make things better.

I'm from the Philippines living in Texas. As an engineer and carpenter I love technology. Unfortunately only big contractors in the Philippines would have the privilege's of technology. Regular carpenters and masons still uses crooked hand tools and a water tubing for leveling. Like you said its been used for thousands of years. If it works don't change it.

I put a valve on each end of hose so I can close the ends till the next time I need it. Fast and accurate and with valves no mess or need for water on site.

Air pressure can make tricks to the water level, that is difference in air pressure, like wind blow into one end of the pipe/hose and the other end is on the opposite side of where the wind hits the object you are measuring at (this create a small vacuum compare to the real air pressure). An other thing can be temperature of the water in the pipe/hose, if you start with cold water in the morning and the pipe/hose lay in the sun during the day it will heat up and expand, if you do not recheck with your reference point then this can trick you too.

water. cheap, easy. 100% accurate. Thanks for posting!

If you use multiple hoses with "central bucket" then there is no significant difference in speed. You only need clear tubing at the end of you lines. Rest can be done with heavy duty and/or cheap hose. Water works in all lighting conditions, in mist, dust, round the corner and at any distance... and no level of abuse will ever throw it off the calibration!! You can wack it around your truck, throw it around work site, drive over with digger and drop it from the roof with no worries. Accuracy is guaranteed by nature. After you done all hose fit inside the bucket so storage is comparable to the laser set - with the difference in cost and fragility of the system ;)

Hello, excellent video, I would like to know, for example, when you use the receiver at 20m, how much error does this laser have in cm? do you have any idea? thank you

My dad told me! He built every hotel on Panama city beach , a water level! 30 years ago?! Back in the 50 s

I've used the water level, laser and jig transit for layout before. For simplicity, the water level wins. For speed and accuracy, the laser wins, for absolute accuracy, the transit is king. The laser is a productivity tool. A single tradesman can set up a laser and mark all the locations inside a work space in minutes. A water level is a low skilled tool that works well within the limitations of the length of the tubing you have access to.

Love how you share some of your tricks of the trade. Just a little sceptical ever since your cement slab for $1 sqft video. 😉🤠😂😜😙

I say they cancel each other out by a 1/16. So you're dead on! I always check my lasers against water and plumb bobs.

I love using water levels and for the cost comparison its well worth the little wait of water balancing.

You can't beat the economy of the water level. The ends of the water line should be shielded from the wind for the best accuracy and stability. Thanks for comparing these two methods.

Lasers are very convenient but I like that the water level doesn't accumulate error like a laser level.

Both the water level and the laser level are great tools. A person that does sloppy, careless work, or is not properly trained, could make either tool inaccurate and could seriously screw up a job.

Excellent video and explanations. I like to set the laser up in the center of the project if possible.

The laserlevel is perfect for the initial leveling. If you are in a masonry house you already have walls in the way of your laser, so you would need to reset the height on the laserlevel for every room to get the same height. With the waterlevel it's easy to get the level in different rooms all across a house... I say there is no right tool for every job in the world...

Great video! The only reason I would give the win to the laser, is if you have joker coworkers and somebody steps on the water level while you are marking points.

Good video

I have used a water level for years and the only issue I've had with using it is with other workers stepping on the hose! I've even had them trip on the hose spilling the water pail and causing me to fill and start over. You also need to be careful of air bubbles in the hose,

old school is the best in some situations cool beans

Water level will change on both ends so could easily be 1/16” off. While both work, I’ve checked both with a transit as well, water level is most likely to have user error

Confucius say man with two levels never know where true level is. Man with one level always know.

I contracted grade work for decades with a water level. So did the Egyptians when they built the Pyramids.

The concept of the water level is sound. Looking at the product specs. of laser levels will show a small variance in accuracy. This variance will magnify the further away from the source. That said. I have never had much luck with the water level. I think it's the operator :-) The best tool is only as good as the operator.

What did they use century’s ago to hold the water before plastic tubing. Some sort of vine or similar ?

Great video water has been around for many years, Lazer level for new generation.

Each laser has a natural "droop" over a certain distance (i.e. 1/16" over 50' distance). That droop needs to be taken into consideration when calculating heights. There is no error factor with water.

The water is always perfect, gravity works, but it takes patience and experience to get it right. Takes time ($$) where the laser is fast and easy and properly set up and confirmed you can count on repeatability. I had a Robo Laser long ago and built a lot with it. After some tweaks out of the box (checked with a water level) it was good and no detector needed. Wish they were still in business.

I'm not sure if they still make it but Zircon (the stud finder people) made a electronic water level where you drove a nail or another attachment method to a surface and one person could move the other end of the hose around and the sensor beeped when the water mark was level. A one man water level. What other device can you spend so little that does that much?

One eigth is fine, that's excellent. I agree the water level better than the laser

Before lasers the water level was the only solution. Lasers have a built in specified inaccuracy, usually a fraction of an inch per 100 feet. But there is no question much more efficient, and can be used to resolve tilted plane demarcation, for example, cathedral ceilings.

We have used those as well both the water and laser are very accurate water takes a little bit to get your center line or level line the lasers I was gonna be fast also if you have a surveyor set it in the middle of a project get it level start marking your lines all the way around it is also very accurate

String a line across the poles on both sides and see which one doesn't line up in the middle.

I would say the water level is more accurate, especially over long distances, but it depends a lot on the human determining where to place the mark.

The water level is great for anyone to use as it's cheap and simple to use. The laser needs deep pockets and training to use.

Water level for the win. No annoying sounds. Speed isn’t something I’m to worried about when trying to set something as important as control marks. Only thing that can be annoying with a water level is it’s sometimes difficult to use with only one person. But it can be done with a little work.

Do you have to compensate 8 inches per mile with the water level? To compensate for "sea curve" like on the "curvizion"? I was told water wont stay level cuz we live on a bubble and not on a plane.

well the water level is a lot cheaper but the lazer would be nice to have . did you just buy the clear tube and do you plug the ends ?

For some reason laser levels are typically advertised +-1/8”. With water levels, it not only needs to settle but have any air bubbles expelled. Also, the water and the tube can expand and contract with heat and cold. And if some water drips out or is removed it needs to be recalibrated.

I had never seen that kind of a water level. The only thing I have seen is the floating transit(bowl with floating aiming piece) which is more like a LASER level in use.

Depending on your use....as a concreter pouring slab daily laser level are great fast and effective...i do believe water levels are accurate as hell but for Concreting purposes way to slow and very inappropriate dragging tubing thru wet concrete...for brick work water levels are perfect