(800) 853-2651
SHOP NOW

Water Level

It works, kinda clumsy though.
Better have someone on the other end that knows what they are doing and knows what you want done.
I don't understand the need for the bucket. just fill the hose completely and add a little food coloring.

Do you have access to a transit level and tripod?
 
All you need is the hose. Just make the hose longer than the longest distance you want to measure. Fill it with water leaving several feet at each end to measure with. You can coil the extra in the middle and it still will show the correct level at the ends. Water levels have been used for centuries. Many ways to make one.
 
I was thinking the bucket would make it easier to set the level.
Just adjust the water height in the bucket to what you want.
Fill the bucket half full and then adjust it by blocking the bucket to the correct height.

I am thinking if I use just the hose the amount of water in the hose would be critical.
A little to much or to little water and you are off.

Am I over thinking this?
 
A water level is very simple and works great. It's also cheap, I would just buy one rather than improvising one. You improvise one with some tubing and the tubing may be so stiff it will curl up and be difficult to work with.
 
John the amount of water in the hose is only to make sure your in the area/length you want. Example: if your want to measure fifty feet then I would fill 55 feet of the hose with water.

I have leveled more barns and cribs this way than I can count. I like a water level/hose over a transit. You do not have to worry about line of site issues. Meaning if there is a row of poles you can level them all around.

As for holding the hose. I always used 1/2 clear hose that is commonly used for Anhydrous ammonia. It is tough as nails. I just take a large fence style steeple an straddle the hose to attach the top part of the hose above where I want the level line to be. If you get the right size steeples the hose can be slide in the steeple with some friction. So you can easily adjust the hose up or down. It makes leveling stuff a one person job too. Does not work in the winter very well LOL (Joke)

By the way yuu are over thinking this. LOL
 
JD

OK now I understand.
If I have a 50 foot hose with 40 foot of water in it I will just adjust the hose to where the water is at my mark leaving 5 foot of extra hose on each end.
If I happen to get only 38 feet of water in the hose I will just have 6 feet of extra hose on each end.


Light bulb goes on!!!!!!!
The thing that gave me the idea in the first place was when they moved my daughters trailer in they used a water level with a bucket on one end.
But if I stop OVER thinking it and just think it threw they were using the bucket to have a place to store the colored water between jobs.
They really did not need the bucket for it to work other than a place to store the water.
 
I have used them both ways with a bucket and just the hose. I preferred using the bucket. I went to the hardware store and bought the soft vinyl tubing (Tygon). I drilled a hole in the bucket just smaller than the tubing. I then cut the tubing end off at 45 degrees. and pulled the hose thru the hole with a pair of pliers. Didn't need a fitting.
 
I used plain ole garden hose with a coupla feet of half inch clear hose on both ends. I filled the garden hooked to the hydrant with a spray nozzle. With the hydrant on and hose full of water I shut off the spray nozzle the took the hose off the hydrant and placed the clear hose in it. After moving the hose to the needed site I tied the clear hose to wood stakes with baler twine so I could slip the clear hose up and down at both ends. I then put what little water needed to bring it up to where I could see it with a pail and a funnel. You can buy the hose ends to put on the clear hose in most hardware stores.
 

It's a one person tool, unlike a transit and rod. I got a HF rotating laser level, that was nice for getting tile on a wall horizontal...
 
(quoted from post at 18:12:02 02/19/17) What do you guys think of a water level?
Pros and Cons?

Yea I tried a laser level not cheep one either to pour a footing didn't work well for me. I made a water level as you stated taped a tape measure to any short piece of box steel or wood 21/2 foot or longer move slow because sudden rush movements can result in the water sloshing in the tube and suddenly coming out the top of the hose or you miss seeing an air bubble in the hose created from rapid movement. Then you have to re-measure from the start again to maintain accuracy. But with a bucket you also need to have a top on the bucket or can because the wind alone can move the water in the can and that also moves water up and down in the tube I covered the top and put a block on it so it could not move. all in all I found the water level to be a greater accuracy that the laser level that was off 1/2 inch at 60 feet and was difficult to see in the day so I typically used it at night. However I ended up having to redo the work done with the laser level and had no issues with the water lever. Water in the tube alone may be best because it wont be affected by the wind but care must be used not to move it quickly because just like the can or bucket if you lose water or create a bubble in the hose you will have to start over. I did try plugging the end of the hose to prevent loss of water I can only say that didn't really work for me.
Hope this helps Byron
Click to expand...
 
This shows a good method for using one. The tall boards help prevent loosing any water. They may be a little tall for indoor use, you can shorten them if necessary.

Remember the longer the hose, the longer it takes to stabilize due to the water adhering to the inside of the hose.
Water Level
 
A garden hose with some clear tube on each end with a plastic ruler on each plastic tube so you can gauge it accurately. Have used one like this and it worked fine.
 
I have one that I bought somewhere a long time ago. It is two pieces with a garden fitting on each piece.

I like to use a small diameter garden because it weights a lot less when filled than a larger hose.

One hot summer day I filled it from a hydrant and started using it.
After an hour or two something didn't seem right. The water had heated up and expanded. Had to start over.

Dusty
 
I have one that has a beeper on it for when you get it level. Nice for the one man band that plays around my place.
 
When you fill the clear tube with water add a few drops of bleach to stop any algae growing and obscuring the water level .
I do this and can keep the tube filled over a month or so while a job is completed . I have never found anything quite as reliable as this simple device .
 
Just to add a little info and sum up what others have said:

Water levels are really accurate, short clear tube with garden hose fittings work for me. I use larger tubes so they are easier to add water if needed after setting it up. just before use I add a little food coloring to each end.

Another little trick, if you look at the water in a 3/4" tube you'll notice it is concave, not flat across its' top. A drop of dish soap added with the food color will break the surface tension and flatten it out, making it easier to read. ..
 
You can just use the 50 foot hose if you have 2 people. I use a water level all the time. Laying blocks, grading, suspended ceilings, concrete, you name it. All good.
 
(quoted from post at 10:32:44 02/26/17) You can just use the 50 foot hose if you have 2 people. I use a water level all the time. Laying blocks, grading, suspended ceilings, concrete, you name it. All good.
Click to expand...

You can also use one when alone by making a hanger tab or bracket for both ends. Then go to one end and add water until it reaches your mark, then go and check level at other end. You'll easily see the difference between ends.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

J
PVC pipe repair update
Replies
11
Views
400
DoubleO7
DoubleO7
Momo Taro
Let's fix this DB 885
2
Replies
32
Views
1K
Momo Taro
Momo Taro
bmaverick
How to make and use a PHD goal post rack
Replies
2
Views
454
RobCons
RobCons
W
JD 45 combine fuel pump won't prime.
Replies
7
Views
369
Jim.ME
J
R
4020 Propane air cleaner freezes up-again
Replies
7
Views
673
coonie minnie
C
Tractor Parts Tractor Manuals

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy

Back
Top