How to build and use a Water Level - Bunyip

Building and using a Bunyip (water level) to level a house.

[@rollysport77]

Man people have tried explaining this to me. But man made no sense till you explained it lol awesome. Thank you so much

[@CodyVanHoose-ow1hm]

Thank you for this 💯 I just made one for myself! I used window washing fluid so it doesn’t freeze on me and it’s easier to see here in Cleveland Ohio! Thank you

[@docholliday6635]

Dude, I've been a surveyor for 17 years and a builder for 30. And you did a jam up job on your video. Good job bro.

[@MrFjwebb]

Thanks man!

[@milpenn55]

Thank you, that was great instructions on how to make and how to use it.

[@KarinaHunter]

What an incredible how-to video! Very clear & consice. I love that even with an inexpensive project you're mindful of cost. Really appreciate you showing how it works at the end. Wish I would've come across this in the summer before I did the skirting around my trailer but will likely still use it in the summer to come.

[@ahgoor9164]

FINALLY !! A MAN THAT KNOWS HOW TO MAKE A PROPER WATER LEVEL...I have been using this method for over 30 years and it is simple and very accurate..it is not expensive, it is easy to store. thank you for showing the proper way to make a water level..

[@MrFjwebb]

Thank you sir!

[@mattgrindle]

First off, this is a great video. The yardsticks are awesome. I just built this for myself. Mind you, I am always curious but far from a rocket scientist. I tried my out and figured out a simpler way for the math. I tried this over and over. I collected some data. So I watched your video again to find your data. My experiment was spot on. I will use your figures. (22 is a great starting point.) Water will find its own level. If one end of the tube goes down, the water in the tube will rise on that end. That means the water with drop the same amount the higher stick. So the math, 29.5-22=7.5; 22-14.5=7.5. Add them together, and it is 15 inches. The water will rise and fall equally. Therefore you just have to double the change on the walking post. If you had a solid stationary point, you could leave one post at. Now take your walking post to the reference point you want to measure. Note the water level on the yardstick. (We will pick 10 inches for simple math.) Go to the next point you want to compare to the reference point. Take a reading of the change your measurement and double it. This would mean an elevation drop of 2 inches would reflect on the 11-inch mark on the yardstick. An elevation increase of 4 inches should be at the 8-inch mark on the yardstick. I haven't actually made mine the way I want it yet. The plan is to have the ability to set my starting point to be simple, as the example. Once again a great job on the video. I see that hundreds of thousands have watched it.

[@Aphetorusbull]

I'm always amazed at how many builders have never used a water level or even heard of them. I think using you eye to make sure your sticks are vertical is perfectly acceptable.

[@SpeedyCotton55]

Getting ready to build a pole barn and a deck. Can’t wait to build one of these. Thank you so much.

[@ldr4278]

You are a great teacher. You did the public a great service. Thank you very much!

[@Drewsroofingandhomerepair]

I’m getting ready to do a water level video myself except for my way is a little bit different

[@stevententis456]

I used water levels for years in commercial construction. The one comment I will add is that when you fill up your tube the water has oxygen that won't separate out immediately. It is best to let it hang overnight to get all of the air out. Other trades would get upset when I proved to them that their lasers were out of calibration and they had to redo some of their work. They would have me check their lasers to see if they were right before starting another job. Garden hoses with an adapter on each end for some clear tubing also works well and your distance is only limited to how many hoses you have and the diameter of each hose doesn't matter.

[@Brandon-no3vc]

I'm not sure about that I'll have to see

[@caroljohnson8817]

You are a good teacher. This always seemed complex to me. This would be good to level my swimming pool. Thank You!!!

[@wizengy]

This water level is too dependent on volume in the tube. If it has too many bends in it the level will change. Both ends will be level but you need to keep checking to see if the reference level is still correct. To get around this, use a big water source at the reference. I use a gallon milk jug half way filled on a chair or stool about 3 feet off the floor and 1/4" tubing. I siphon water out to fill the tubing. A 1/4" circle is very small compared to the top surface of the milk jug so a few bends in the tubing will not affect the surface level of the jug much. With this method you only need one yardstick tool. I measure at the reference and then it is easy to measure the floor level anywhere you can reach. Put a few drops of detergent in to kill surface tension.

[@husseinvirani]

You are a Genius and indeed helpful !

[@benniedonald]

Great video. Good idea putting levels on your rod. So you can make sure your elevations are plumb. In case you need to mark several elevations on a wall or post. Save you the trouble of using a plumb bob so much.

[@lacydodson1947]

Thanks for making this video easy for me to understand! Very informative!!

[@NikLyons]

Way to bring back some of that ancient wisdom! Thanks!!

[@xmchillin]

This is one of the coolest videos out of xx hundreds I've watched...thanks. The three dislikes probably don't know which end of a screwdriver to use...

[@jessiemelton7931]

xmchillin

[@cesarrodriguez9597]

They use the middle end.

[@blackrain6ft5]

Cool video sir. I learned a lot. 👍🏽

[@y2kcortez]

Just a quick thanks. Built one of these things QUICK just like you mentioned, only with rulers since couldn't find yard sticks. Used it to level a 20x30 ft area where I will place an above ground pool. Was off by 1/4 inch, but I can live with that. THANK YOU AGAIN.

[@johnl5217]

Great video was going to call a contractor to do my house till i seen your video.. Thank you for the great video..

[@videotowatch2000]

Thanks for posting this video. I've known nothing about water levels and how they're used to level homes.

[@dichotomy1593]

Thank you so very much for teaching me a new technique on tool use and leveling.

[@patty109109]

Great vid. Think I’m gonna build one to level a deck.

[@Drewsroofingandhomerepair]

That was clear enough. I think I can understand that. Although I know how to do it already, I’d like your explanation.

[@michaelhicks4858]

The best video on the subject by far

[@johnperry4491]

I’m glad I searched for a video and found yours before making my own level. The yard sticks and line levels solve the problems I knew I would encounter.. Great video.. Thanks.

[@pianobill8781]

Very useful thank you Jay!

[@outcast7899]

Hi jay There is no doubt this method has been around for a long time and I was always told the egyptians used this method to build pyramids and other structures, but ive always wondered where they bought their rubber tube at. That danged governments been hiding stuff from us. C'mon Man !!! Lol

[@stephenstefanski9140]

Man your a great teacher. Easy and simple to understand. I am an expat building in Brasil. This is all they use in Brasil. But your system is much easier to understand. I think you shoul make more videos.

[@MrFjwebb]

Thank you sir. Right now we are working on a podcast and has sidelined any other videos but we have some planned in the future. Check it out if you would like to. www.adfwpodcast.com

[@fordF500]

Great idea with the yard sticks! The hardest thing is getting rid of the bubbles.

[@warrenlc57]

I love this tutorial on the bunyip. I have seen a couple of other videos as well which were good, but I like the way you explained how to use it for something other than landscaping. Thank you for this!

[@juliodmello1917]

Super cool video.. Understood the concept, how to make one of these and how to use it.. Good work by you.. Thanks

[@usernamemykel]

Wind chimes more pleasant than most obnoxious /distracting/loud/unnecessary "music" that makes many videos offensive.

[@LukeStauss]

Very concise, direct and educational video my brethren. I applaud your efforts and an appreciative that you have decided to take the time to film, edit and upload this video. I am building a small house soon and have been collecting anecdotal reports from all the old timers i can find about water levels. judging by this video alone, you should think about adding adds to your videos and monetizing. i am currently doing this and have been making between 150-600 a month for the past year. you seem to have a knack for it and youtube could always use an educated, talented man like yourself.

[@donaldpedigo296]

....Very Very Helpful........Thank You for all of your effort in producing this demonstration......

[@PianoEmma1017]

Thank-you excellent, clear to the point and very detailed, great picture and sound. I'm heading off to hardware store right now, thanks from Paul in Australia

[@Bill92677]

After farting around with lasers and 3 spirit levels (that weren't), this way by far the best way to set up my kitchen cabinets. Only proves that the old ways are often the best ways. Thanks for the video.

[@condor5635]

Great video! I used the method of a 5 gallon bucket on one end though makes it easier to fill tube and take readings. Also easier to manage the escape of water coming out of either end. Thanks great tutorial!

[@norubafrocomix]

Dude! this is great tutorial especially since the others I saw where in Urdu or Hindi I think, they look good but this is way better, I think you scripted everything clearly, researched well, then I like the humility of acknowledging the other videos! great video! you get my sub!

[@nwtscott]

Clear and concise! Thank you for taking the time to share this.

[@walkingthruyourdata-6019]

Good enough for Pharaoh, good enough for me....

[@xiaohengxu4105]

very useful. smart video, very clear as well thanks

[@LeoSal]

Just what I needed, thanks Jay.

[@ghog63]

Thanks bro. We are building a tiny house and this is exactly what I need.

[@leetaylor7355]

Thanks for your time explaining this. I have used something similar before, but did not think about putting ends of tube on board with yardstick. That makes it a lot easier to determine grade.

[@fgreco427]

Very well done video! Thanks for sharing the tips you learned along the way.

[@johnhancock7761]

I have to disagree with your statement "It is not as accurate". Any liquid seeks it's own level. Operator error/ignorance is the only error in this method. Marks I have made with a water level, on objects within a 100' radius, 360 degrees, are what I use to check the accuracy of any instrument. Nice informative video!

[@geraldpolmateer3255]

Because water seeks its own level, level is at the point where the top of the water is if there is no air in the line. The level can be checked by placing the tubes next to each other. If the columns of water are not equal there is air in the line. Stepped foundations can be done with steps by using a story pole and using the marks on the story pole as the standard. I have been using water levels in my business for over 40 years and have never used a ruler. There are times when a ruler would get in the way due to limited space When starting have established reference such as on a telephone pole and mark it on the pole.

[@stephenc4161]

Technically the longer you go the less accurate it becomes, because of earths circumference. Thanks for a grerat video, im now off to make one.

[@falconthree3815]

Thank you---thank you-------thank you-- for the k I s method presentation 😀😀😃

[@kmacradio]

I don't know why you'd need "two" 2x4's. Why not just have the one end of the tube in a bucket of water and just leave that bucket of water in one place in the home, while you walk around the different areas of the home with the "one" 2x4 and note the difference on the yard stick measurements?

[@WintJames]

Water finds its level every time, truth!

[@cliftonlinton6796]

much appreciated - Excellent tips. Keep up the good work. I'll be interested to see any future videos you may produce.

[@usernamemykel]

How's it a "stationary post" if you have to hold onto it all the time? Don't you want to peg it to the ground???

[@Robbo4843]

I find that when you move one of the staffs that the height of the water changes. If you hold the two ends of the tube close to each other on a wall and mark the water level on the left one, then raise the right tube, lets say two foot, after the water has leveled itself again I bet that it won't be on the mark.

[@Reptyle7]

Thank you, Sir.

[@1995FIRSTskybits]

Thank you very much dude. You are so right and I can't wait to check some things out with my house with these.

[@andypower6938]

I think your line bubble is on its side. Needs to be upright to work

[@sunnyormsby5179]

Excellent video, Thanks for sharing.

[@greghedrick9960]

Hey man, I like seeing somebody else talking and using a water level. That's all I've ever used. I mean. Have you ever seen one of the $5000.00 digital laser levels/transits shoot level around a corner ?? Or over that big sand pile that's always going to get dropped right in your way? Me either. Tc

[@drychalice]

Question; did the Egyptians buy the clear tubing from Lowes or HomeDepot ? Nice video// Plz respond.

[@MrFjwebb]

Lowes. Everyone knows they are better. Yea I did some research that said something about Egyptians used a similar device but apparently this was incorrect.

[@dougwebb6193]

They used reeds and used mud to splice them. I saw it tonight on a documentary!

[@healthyrootsstrongwings538]

and orphan tears to fill it

[@michelletreichler3852]

That was great .......very funny

[@dave4854]

great video, great info, short and to the point, thanks

[@evelynscott179]

good for you

[@skateratliam5057]

was very helpful jay, thanks, much appreciated!

[@meta4282]

Good and useful tool. Nice liked video. So if water is always level, is it only level over short distances? I mean if a small pond or pool is level, and a smallish lake is level, but a large lake/small inland ocean might not be as level as a pond? maybe only large water bodies like the I/A/P Oceans are not level and all other water bodies are, or is sea water also level? - I wonder at what distance mark does the water body start to curve? or does it not curve as it's always level? Water does not lay over curves iirc, or if water does lay over a curve, why do we not see undulations in the sea water level that represent the curved /undulated formations of the sea bed below. questions like these.

[@justinianpescador280]

That was amazing im curious im doing pool building and i was wondering if it would be beneficial as well.how do you transport your water level and how do you cap it off the water hose ends.

[@JamesHawkeYouTube]

Proof the earth is not a globe. This is a constant all across the known surface of earth.

[@Giroux68]

Great explanation for a simple tool. Who needs a laser.

[@puerco567]

So how did the Egyptians use it without the hose? The Egyptians used the sun light just as the laser levels.

[@DennisCochransr]

Great job

[@avagates2039]

Will hot glue melt in the summer heat?

[@victoroneill4381]

who needs a $700 laser level,when for $50 water level basically does the same thing!!

[@eugenewestbrookii7492]

Victor Oneill even more accurate

[@daddybear7062]

And the water level works around corners, not so much with the laser

[@foundthetruth2003]

Brilliant thank you.

[@yesthatsmyrealname]

You could use this for surveying and since you leave one post stationary you don't have to close your loop.

[@gig777]

Wouldn't it be a better idea to use a circular bubble level on the top of the 2x4 to allow you to level in both planes?

[@MrFjwebb]

yes that would be ideal. I didn't have the time to find some so I just went with what was most accessible. also being completely level is only necessary for perfection. As long as it's mostly level you will get it close enough.

[@gig777]

+jay webb Yes, you are correct. The error is a function of the cosine of the angle from true plumb and the distance from the bottom of the pole to the water line. So for instance, if you were to hold the pole 2.5º off of true plumb, and the distance from the bottom of the pole to the water line is 60", your error would only be .057" or just a little under 1/16". I am in the process of building a set for myself. I am going to mount a 90º bracket on one side of my pole about 3-4 feet off the bottom and mount a circular bubble level to that.

[@Richkusek]

Great video, very helpful.

[@alaino8499]

Thank you very much for your video Jay. Very clear, and step by step. Q: Jacking a post and beam. I figured the highest point, as you said in the video. The 3 other corner have different lower points. Which corner do you jack first? Or do you jack them very slowly but all at the same time until each one reaches the reference point. Thanks.

[@MrFjwebb]

I would just go one at a time as long as they arent off terribly bad. I did it this way and one of my corners of the house was seven inches off from the front and no ill effect happened. Hope this helps!

[@danostrowski8065]

. If the meniscus lands anywhere in that 3' ,you will have a reference for which to set up the two of them and then can determine how many inches your home is out of level. Water seeks it's own level so IT dictates where in space your level line lies. you're better off attaching the yard sticks after you determine this.

[@luisamejia484]

Awesome, video! Thank,

[@doubledarefan]

You should have put the yellow line levels on the tops, not on the face of the posts. On the faces, they're sideways, and so they will never show level. When attaching the yardsticks, you only need to make sure the bottoms of the posts are lined up, then make sure the yardsticks line up also. No need to measure. One thing you did not (seem to, anyway) mention, is when one post is moved, the water level on the other post will move by 1/2 the one post's change in elevation.

[@tjsage79]

Awesome video. I didn't see the spool of tubing on camera. If you use 70ft of tubing and only working on a 25 ft area. The remaining spool of tubing just stays on the ground coiled up?

[@korishan]

Yes

[@pippaknuckle]

That was excellent. But the Egyptians didn't have clear and flexible tubing so how did they do it? Maybe the intestine of an an animal....or slave.

[@teslacube]

they used eye balls

[@boris.teoharov]

Plub bob is a defferent device and it has different purpose. Egyptians had enough water. Have you heard about Nile?

[@Loudog0]

Cool

[@gig777]

There is something I just thought of that may throw off the reading a bit. If you are using these in a windy outdoor situation, it may be possible that some venturi action could occur from the wind blowing across the end of the tubing, creating a local low pressure area. I'm wondering if it might be a good idea to tape a piece of cotton to the end to prevent this, or something else.

[@gig777]

lol.....yes you are correct. Sometimes the engineering side of me gets carried away.

[@teslacube]

venturi someones ass. lol. you would have to be farting pretty hard

[@doysterschannz2867]

very helpful. thank you

[@SAWimp1]

Hold a good tape up to that yardstick and tell us how accurate that stick is

[@Pit315689]

After all that building the device you failed to show actually how it works. Your attempt to explain left huge gaps. Would suggest you redo.

[@me373]

I was wondering if the egyptians got that clear plastic tubing from Ace Hardware? lol just kidding. thanks for the video, I always wondered how these things worked and how to make one. :)

[@juanarturodelazar8994]

Great video!

[@javedkarim3324]

nice video sir

[@charleswestmoreland4261]

Nice

[@minemichp9570]

One question. When your attempting to level off concrete piers, I guess you set up the bottom of one of the 2x4's at your desired height and use the bottom of the other 2x4 to find your level mark? Or are you using the numbers?

[@MrFjwebb]

You are looking to make the numbers the same on both which will mean the bottoms of the 2x4's will be level with each other. Pick which one of the piers you want what everything else is based off of and keep one of the sticks there stationary. Use the other to level the other piers making the numbers on each stick the same.

[@minemichp9570]

jay webb Great, thanks for the tip.

[@johnbowen2963]

dich the bloody wind chimes

[@rjakelian]

Thank you, I see the light ....

[@teslacube]

what if youre blind

[@spfpda]

do you think you could level (mark) 2ha rice field using water level..? pl explain me the steps as leaser marking is very expensive & can not affordable

[@pippaknuckle]

A bunyip is also an Australian Aboriginal word for a sort of ogre spirit that lives in a billabong (pond or swamp). You don't want to meet one of these.

[@afandou1966]

+pippaknuckle Waltzing Matilda, Tom Waits.

[@dylanf6091]

great video mate.

[@moofushu]

Where did the Egyptians get clear plastic water pipe hundreds of feet long to make a single pyramid?

[@ronalddavis]

amazon

[@minemichp9570]

Good vid, thanks.