An old guy in Cleveland told me to never trust a level that's been dropped more than twice

I was on a job site off Euclid Avenue about five years ago, helping rebuild a brick facade. This retired bricklayer, Frank, saw me checking my line with a level that had a few dings. He pulled me aside and said, 'Kid, that thing's lying to you. After two good drops, the vial shifts. You're building a lean into the wall.' He insisted on using a brand new 4-foot level for every major lead. Has anyone else heard this rule or is it just an old-timer's superstition?

4 comments

4 Comments

abbyp614d ago

Frank was right; I used to think a dropped level was fine until I checked one against a new one and saw a bubble off by a quarter inch.

lily_cooper8d ago

My uncle in Toledo said the same thing about his torpedo level.

walker.julia8d ago

Reminds me of the time I tried using one and nearly leveled my own thumb instead.

adam_baker8d ago

Just clamp a block of wood next to your thumb, like Lily's uncle probably should have done.