Pro tip: A cheap laser level fixed my worst conduit run in a tight attic

I was working in this old house in Dayton, the attic was maybe 18 inches high at the peak. Had to run a new 3/4 inch conduit across 20 feet of joists, and every time I thought I had it straight, I'd look back and see a wobble. After three tries and a lot of cussing, I grabbed a $30 laser level from my truck. I set it on the first joist, shot the line down the whole run, and just followed the red dot with my straps. Took half the time and looked perfect. I felt silly for not trying it sooner. What other simple tools have you guys used to save a job that was going sideways?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_emery4d ago

Honestly, I've had the opposite happen. Tried a cheap laser in a bright attic and the line totally washed out. Ended up just using a chalk line reel for that long run, snapped it once and had a perfect guide. Sometimes the old ways are faster, especially when you're already up there with dust in your eyes. Those little lasers are great for open basements, but they can fail you when you need them most.

carter.casey4d ago

Cheap lasers really do struggle in bright light.

michael_jenkins394d ago

Read a forum post once where a guy swore by a cheap stud finder with a built-in wire detector. He said it saved him from drilling into a live line in a wall he thought was empty. Sometimes the simplest upgrade to a basic tool makes all the difference.