I see two kinds of 4' spirit levels at the Borg: one kind with just one
straight horizontal vial (like the FatMax), and others with two curved
vials (both curve away from each other). I note that when I hold one
edge of the dual vial against a level surface, the vial closest to that
edge shows level, while the vial above it is not level. I assume the
knowledgeable user knows which edge to associate with "level."
What is this kind of level used for, and what are the advantages of
this dual vial?
TIA,
Chuck
no(SPAM)vasys wrote:
> Mr360 wrote:
>
> > I see two kinds of 4' spirit levels at the Borg: one kind with just one
> > straight horizontal vial (like the FatMax), and others with two curved
> > vials (both curve away from each other). I note that when I hold one
> > edge of the dual vial against a level surface, the vial closest to that
> > edge shows level, while the vial above it is not level. I assume the
> > knowledgeable user knows which edge to associate with "level."
> >
> > What is this kind of level used for, and what are the advantages of
> > this dual vial?
> >
> > TIA,
> > Chuck
> >
>
> In a spirit level all vials have a slight arc. If they didn't the
> bubble would just spread out across the entire length of the vial when
> level.
>
> The dual vial level is (generally) more accurate when the level is used
> on either side.
Some manufacturers (and generally more expensive) use "360-deg" vials
which basically are a straight vial w/ the interior barrel shaped so
the bubble can rise to the center regardless of the orientation of the
level itself.
The prime advantage of a dual-vial level is that one doesn't have to
pay attention to which side you pick up and place the level down with
pointing up--the upper will be in the proper orientation either way.
The advantage of a single vial is that if it is unidirectional, it's
(nearly) equally easy to read from below as from above.
CW wrote:
> If you see a level vial that appears strait, it is ground to a barrel shape
> on the inside. This was the original and best way to make them. ...
Not arguing, but curious about "original" way to make a level vial...is
there any history available on the first vials? I would think the
first might well have been curved owing to the difficulty in forming
the barrel type but I don't have any sources (and a _very_ quick google
didn't find much real historical info)...
Upscale wrote:
> "dpb" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >
> > Not arguing, but curious about "original" way to make a level vial...is
> > there any history available on the first vials? I would think the
> > first might well have been curved owing to the difficulty in forming
> > the barrel type
>
> I'd surmise that for early glass technology, it would have been easier to
> grind the inside of a short tube to exacting standards than it would have
> been to curve hot glass to those same standards.
Possibly, I don't know. I was thinking of molding, but on reflection
that probably wasn't the way any were ever done--or at least rarely, if
ever.
Do you have even an idea when the _first_ glass vials were made for use
a level? I realized I had no feel even for how long they've been
around in a similar form but I'm thinking there must have been some
early attempts "way back"--I'm curious what/when those were.
John McCoy wrote:
> "Hambone Slim" <[email protected]> wrote in
> news:[email protected]:
>
> > I've never seen a spirit level made before the nineteenth century.
> > Hope someone here has info on when they first appeared.
>
> Wikipedia thinks Thevenot invented them, in the mid-1600's.
>
> I would not be surprised if the tubes in early levels weren't
> tapered by glass-blowers. Skilled glass-blowers can produce
> work to a remarkable degree of accuracy.
That would be my guess as well. Date sounds plausible but the page
doesn't mention anything at all about the "how" nor cite any useful
references. Again a quick google didn't turn up anything more concrete.
"Upscale" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "dpb" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >
> > Not arguing, but curious about "original" way to make a level vial...is
> > there any history available on the first vials? I would think the
> > first might well have been curved owing to the difficulty in forming
> > the barrel type
>
> I'd surmise that for early glass technology, it would have been easier to
> grind the inside of a short tube to exacting standards than it would have
> been to curve hot glass to those same standards.
>
>
Yes, it was. I read something on it years ago (about 30 years ago) but I
don't remember what the name of the book was.
"dpb" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
> Not arguing, but curious about "original" way to make a level vial...is
> there any history available on the first vials? I would think the
> first might well have been curved owing to the difficulty in forming
> the barrel type
I'd surmise that for early glass technology, it would have been easier to
grind the inside of a short tube to exacting standards than it would have
been to curve hot glass to those same standards.
Mr360 wrote:
> I see two kinds of 4' spirit levels at the Borg: one kind with just one
> straight horizontal vial (like the FatMax), and others with two curved
> vials (both curve away from each other). I note that when I hold one
> edge of the dual vial against a level surface, the vial closest to that
> edge shows level, while the vial above it is not level. I assume the
> knowledgeable user knows which edge to associate with "level."
>
> What is this kind of level used for, and what are the advantages of
> this dual vial?
>
> TIA,
> Chuck
>
In a spirit level all vials have a slight arc. If they didn't the
bubble would just spread out across the entire length of the vial when
level.
The dual vial level is (generally) more accurate when the level is used
on either side.
--
Jack Novak
Buffalo, NY - USA
[email protected]
(Remove -SPAM- to send email)
If you see a level vial that appears strait, it is ground to a barrel shape
on the inside. This was the original and best way to make them. Somebody
then got the idea that it would be cheaper just to bend a strait tube
dispensing with the relatively expensive grinding (the best are ground) or
molding of the tube. On the finest levels made, the vials are ground. Look
at a high end Starrett some time.
"Mr360" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I see two kinds of 4' spirit levels at the Borg: one kind with just one
> straight horizontal vial (like the FatMax), and others with two curved
> vials (both curve away from each other). I note that when I hold one
> edge of the dual vial against a level surface, the vial closest to that
> edge shows level, while the vial above it is not level. I assume the
> knowledgeable user knows which edge to associate with "level."
>
> What is this kind of level used for, and what are the advantages of
> this dual vial?
>
> TIA,
> Chuck
>
"dpb" wrote...
> Do you have even an idea when the _first_ glass vials were made for use
> a level?
Joseph Moxon in "Mechanick Exercises or the Doctrine of Handy-works"
published in 1678 illustrates a level in Plate 8 being of the plumb-bob
type. Imagine an equilateral triangle sitting with a point up. Cut a notch
exactly in the center of the base. Hang a bob from the apex, and it will
line up with the notch on the base when the base is sitting on a level
surface. This is the type of level that's used as the Senior Warden's
emblem in Freemasonry.
I've never seen a spirit level made before the nineteenth century. Hope
someone here has info on when they first appeared.
--
Timothy Juvenal
www.tjwoodworking.com
"Hambone Slim" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:
> I've never seen a spirit level made before the nineteenth century.
> Hope someone here has info on when they first appeared.
Wikipedia thinks Thevenot invented them, in the mid-1600's.
I would not be surprised if the tubes in early levels weren't
tapered by glass-blowers. Skilled glass-blowers can produce
work to a remarkable degree of accuracy.
John
Upscale wrote:
> "dpb" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> Not arguing, but curious about "original" way to make a level vial...is
>> there any history available on the first vials? I would think the
>> first might well have been curved owing to the difficulty in forming
>> the barrel type
>
> I'd surmise that for early glass technology, it would have been easier to
> grind the inside of a short tube to exacting standards than it would have
> been to curve hot glass to those same standards.
>
>
I'd bet that they didn't have to worry about bending the glass to
exacting standards. Here's what I'd do:
1. Bend glass to as close to the ideal shape as practical.
2. Fill, seal, and install the vial in the body of the level.
3. Place level on a reference (level) surface.
4. Mark the location of the outer edges of the bubble on the surface of
the glass.
5. Done!