Last Tuesday my laser level died mid-project on a 40-foot foundation layout

I was marking footings for a garage addition outside Austin and the cross-line just flickered out after 3 years of use. Had to switch to a chalk line and string at 2pm in 95 degree heat, which added 90 minutes to my day. Anyone else had a critical tool fail at the worst possible moment?

3 comments

3 Comments

fisher.thomas6d ago

Hold on though, a laser level dying after 3 years isn't some freak accident. That thing probably saved you way more than 90 minutes over that time compared to going old school. String and chalk lines have been laying out foundations for decades without a battery in sight. Honestly, that extra hour you spent sweating it out in the heat might be a blessing in disguise. Now you know your manual layout skills are still sharp, and you're not completely helpless when the tech flakes out.

troychen6d ago

Same here - my drill died right before the last anchor bolt. Brutal timing.

lily_cooper6d ago

Fisher says "a blessing in disguise" but I think that's looking at it the wrong way. That 90 minutes of extra heat and chalk line work was just wasted time, plain and simple. Tech fails happen, but that doesn't make them a good thing.