Tool Tuesday Ep. 6: The Fell Precision Level

[@tonyn3123]

I am not a machinist, but I worked in Civil all my 47-year career. Having leveled precision surveying instruments (not to the precision you are achieving, but still very precise, sensitive instruments) my entire career, I can't help but think back to the procedure I was taught early on and used my whole career. As a novice, I was taught to level an instrument across the diagonals on a 4-point supported instrument. For 3-point instruments, I was taught to level across two supports and then 90 deg to the first. I figure you were taught according to the machine manufacturer's directions, and I will NOT dispute their instructions or your expertise in your profession. I just know that leveling a 4-point supported instrument with adjacent screws, you will definitely chase your butt X-times longer. I have seen this type of frustration leveling machines on many channels and wonder what you were taught, or what manufacturers recommend. If you could address that some time, I would appreciate it. Thanks.

[@petemclinc]

That seems to make sense...

[@GardenGuy1942]

I just measure it and get it right.

[@stephenvale2624]

Not sure if this is correct, but I was told to check levels on a reference surface, by rotating the level exactly 180 degrees in place to check the calibration. If the level is true, the bubble will indicate identically in both directions.

[@johnsawyer2516]

Trying to level a surface plate to this accuracy mounted on a rubber mat on a wood floor is a waste of time.

[@alexanderkupke920]

At some point, this is the perfect example of "leaving good enough alone". Otherwise you may want to read into old greek mythology and find some sympathy for Sisyphos.

[@DonsWoodies]

Nice video. Chasing precision can be a daunting task. Spent decades as a machinist, and my first introduction to that Starrett precision level was helping level a Moore jig Grinder. Boss set the level on the bed and after letting it settle told me "watch this". Gently blew on the top of the level from about two feet away and we watched the bubble swing almost completely to one side. Blew my mind. I can remember taking over an hour setting up a job on that CNC jig grinder years later and then taking about 90 seconds to do the actual grinding on a small piece. Precision is a beast, and setup is everything.

[@Ideasite]

@unclespicey2165 is right. Read the level then rotate it 180° and check that the bubble returns to EXACTLY the same spot. Verifies accuracy of the level prior to any other adjustments. I never miss an Abom79 video!

[@RobertGracie]

Precisely what I need after a long day at work a relaxing calming Abom79 video!

[@Metaldetectiontubeworldwide]

Me too ..walhalla❤

[@jamesschantz582]

In my professional experience what is important is the precision accuracy and flatness of the surface plate and the precision accuracy of height gages, and other measuring gauges used on the plate. If The place is slightly out of level, unless extremely out of level, it should have no bearing on your measurements on the plate surface.

[@petemclinc]

I wonder if gravity might have an influence?..

[@Ideasite]

OCD makes the machinist mind go 'round.

[@jamesschantz582]

Agreed!

[@bulldawg6259]

That's what I really like about KZbin most everyone sticks together I wish the county would get it together also

[@garychaiken808]

Nice level. I’m a contractor and use levels constantly but not to the degree of accuracy that you are. I’m in the process of setting up a home machine shop and I’m learning a lot from your experience and videos. Good job and thank you 😊

[@floridaflywheelersantiquee7578]

Thanks for sharing Adam

[@AmiPurple]

Been enjoying your Tuesday videos. Love your enthusiasm and passion for all things machining! Thank you.

[@unclespicey42]

Block it in two directions and rotate it 180. It should read the same in both directions.

[@silasmarner7586]

At 4:00 or thereabouts he says why he does or does NOT do that with this particular level. TLDW?

[@FeelingLikeThatNow]

@@silasmarner7586 Yes, except this is also how you check a level for accuracy. I know, because I have dropped levels and bent them and that's how you know it is bent.

[@SPDLTD]

@@silasmarner7586 He is referring to not having to rotate the level 90 degrees because it's dual axis. Precision levels should ALWAYS be rotated 180 because by their very nature they are self proving. If you rotate 180 and the bubble stays to one end of the level, the level needs adjustment, if the bubble stays to one end of the work the level is calibrated. TLDU?

[@Ideasite]

Yeah - bummer to miss the initial level check. That 180° flip tells a story about everything that happens after.

[@unclespicey42]

@@SPDLTD no difference; it should settle in the same quadrant if calibrated. I do not know how to adjust that particular level if it is out of calibration. But based on the check with the 199. it is damned close :). But according to the old proverb; a man with a watch knows what time it is; a man with two watches is never certain.

[@fredkloster7895]

Rockford was a machining/manufacturing hub in the 40's. Middle class, good living and good wages. Would love to see these opportunities come back to America. Thanks for another great video Abom!

[@MrMojolinux]

Potential Biden Ukraine re-armament infrastructure spending, bringing back lots of good paying jobs sorely needed today!

[@fredinit]

Born and raised there when everything left town (70s & 80's)... Ingersoll Milling Machine, Sunstrand Aerospace, Testor's, Atwood, Rockford Products, National Lock, on and on. I lived within walking distance of Ingersoll's main plant on Main... and went trick or treating at Seth Atwood's house (he gave full-sized candy bars). The Fell Precision Level company is not one I had heard of before. Thank you for showing the tool.

[@chrisviking428]

I love tool Tuesday! With instruments as precise as that it’s easy to see how one can drive themselves “Insane” striving for perfection.

[@jafo766]

HIGH $POT'$...it all start's with high spot's , then it's called an accumulation of tolerance's , and then you are called to the foreman's office.

[@non5566]

I found myself tilting my phone, trying to help you out with that last half a thou :)

[@isiimenaki5409]

You probably need to account for local temperature rise during the day too. If the sun shines in part of the room expansion is going to lift your table out of level. I enjoy your passion for chasing the ultimate accuracy.

[@stevebo8055]

Tool Tuesday is my favorite. Thanks Adam.

[@phillipchambers8487]

@abom79 Thanks for Video Adam! Just came in out of my Garage from working and this was just what I needed to sit down and relax to.

[@boppins]

Be interesting to come back in a month or two and see if/how it has changed, with use, ground movement, and gravity.

[@silasmarner7586]

Cosmic rays will bend it.. maaaan! Seriously, a friend of mine helped develop a trixial connection to wafer chucks and even with the whole thing shielded by metal, after zeroing the leakage current out at night, the long term leakage measurements would go up and down, up and down with the days. The cause? COSMIC RAYS emenated from the Sun.

[@JCWren]

I'd sooner suspect changes in the rubber pads he mentioned.

[@petemclinc]

I wonder if the Fell Level was used in building the LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory)?

[@PhilG999]

@9:00 I think I've mentioned this before but a German company I worked for years ago had a surface plate about that size, maybe even a little bigger. It had been in storage before we moved to a new building, so I hadn't seen it before. In the new shop I walked over to it and ran my hand across it and noticed a HUGE gouge (~1"x1/4"x1/8" deep). Looked at Hans the German shop manager and said: "I wouldn't want to be the guy that did THAT"! He said: "He vas fired"! I had heard about a guy that he had chased out of the shop with a hammer. Turns out to be the same guy! Hans and I got along great in spite of my German being as bad as his English! I was one of only about four people that had full access to the shop without question!

[@Metaldetectiontubeworldwide]

Let it rest for a couple of days. And check again. The one thing i didn't liked in the previous video , was that piece of linolium under that masive weight. It will deforme over time . So checking it regulary , i would do. Over a couple of months it will not compress anymore and you can check it only yearly , as the earth itselfs moves to. ;) 😉 Grtz from the netherlands Johny geerts

[@FeelingLikeThatNow]

I'm not a machinist, but I level cabinets with leveling legs and use I a lot of Stabila levels daily, and when you first described dealing with leveling I think you had it backwards which direction to adjust. Your right about chasing your tail though. You actually need to adjust TWO or THREE legs at a time, not just one, or it will be pivoting on two legs diagonally.

[@danmenes3143]

He did have it backwards--but given how often I make the same mistake, I decided not to say anything. Like me, he figured it out the first time he moved the screw and the bubble moved the wrong way.

[@stuartschaffner9744]

As several people have pointed out, you can test a level for zero by rotating the level on a flat surface, which you have. If you have some thin shim stock, you should be able to accurately test the sensitivity as well. Just cut off a thin strip of shim, lap it gently, and then test it for thickness. Put the shim under one end of the level and see how many graduations the bubble moves across. How fine a thread can you cut on your lathes? It might be fun to make some better leveling feet. That sure was a nice scraping job on the new level! Definite fun, thanks!

[@jafo766]

Why would anyone hand scrape anything with the machinery we have today ? Seems a backwards process ?

[@stuartschaffner9744]

@@jafo766 , there are at least two reasons. First, engineering is all about building things at acceptable cost. Scraping is relatively fast and is able to greatly improve the flatness of a surface. Second, a scraped surface is more like rolling countryside where the tops of all the hills are at almost exactly the same height. This reduces friction and provides a reservoir for lubrication if that is desired.

[@jafo766]

My Gerardi vise in not hand scraped ? I know of no hand that can produce a better flatter finish than a surface grinder ? This reminds me of guy's who think they can sharpen drill bit's by hand ?@@stuartschaffner9744

[@PhilG999]

Ha Ha! As soon as I saw this, I immediately thought of seeing Keith use one and it turns out to be the same one!

[@johnwallace9002]

You should rotate Fell 180° and check it and you will see how far out the level is. When I adjust my levels I level the plate then reverse level and take out half error in level then level plate again and reverse level again and take out half error again. Just keep doing this till no more error in plate or level. I had a .0002/8" level and my 18x24 plate was always level with Fell, but you have to stand in same place because your body weight can change level.

[@phillipyannone3195]

To check your level just rotate 180 degrees and see if you get the same reading.

[@stevebumstead9840]

Nice video Adam. Very precise!

[@DB-thats-me]

WOW, 😳. Who would have thought that levelling a surface plate could ignite so much feedback. 😱👍💕

[@richard-jz1qd]

He left it hanging a bit, so others stepped in to fill the void.

[@angelramos-2005]

Good info,Adam.Thank you.

[@BigIron_06]

Question - Couldn't you just rotate the levels 180 degrees and see if they read the same as they did before to check the calibration?

[@FireGodSpeed]

yep. Beyond me how he talks about "one is off" instead of just rotating it.

[@wolffengineering7038]

@@FireGodSpeedif they’re both reading different values, then 1 is definitely off. Maybe both. Yes, it is beyond you.

[@DB-thats-me]

But to self check either level, turn it 180deg. The bubble should end in the same place. No matter how ‘out of level’ the surface is.

[@BobK1212]

​@@DB-thats-me That is a good idea in theory but at that scale of resolution you would never be able to rotate it exactly 180 by hand and there for it would look like it is off but may not be. You would need to have a vary precise jig to keep it in the exact same spot.

[@DB-thats-me]

Usual way is place a straight edge against one side, turn level and re-lay against straight edge. In this case, your not testing for ‘level’, your testing for repeatability. There is an oblique angle that MUSY be level when transitioning between +slope to -slope, and vice versa.

[@hassenfepher]

Adam, about your Starrett level marks. i dont know if your a historical gun guy, but theres a trick that we use a lot to make those markings really pop. grease pencil. those lines look like they might be etched into the glass, and if so, coloring them in with a grease pencil, then buffing away the excess with a paper towel does a pretty good job at making those lines appear on old firearms. i dont see why it wouldnt help in this case.

[@duroxkilo]

fascinating precision instrument, thanks for sharing..

[@tdg911]

Awesome video, love to get me hands on one of those levels. Always great content here, Thank you! Much love and gratitude

[@bulletproofpepper2]

Thanks for sharing.

[@MrPeetersmark]

That’s a beautiful piece of equipment. Just awesome

[@Unrivaledanime]

Remember you are on an engineered wood floor with foam padding under it it will move as you walk around the room. plus a fine thread on those legs would have a better effect on the adjustments.

[@cyclebuster]

FWIW. I just leveled my new to me lathe and its now at .0005 in the first 10 inches. All i did was level it and stone the ways, it was at .0015 before on the same test material still chucked in.

[@johnbaskett2309]

Turn your levels around 180 to check them.

[@anthonymarino4260]

Again thanks for the education

[@teamseacts]

speaking loudly from the upper deck; need to rotate it 45 degrees so the lines on the level are perpendicular with with the cross between the four leveling feet.

[@warrenjones744]

It always amazes me once you get it all settled in. Walk around the table and watch the bubble move. Even on a concrete floor It is crazy how sensitive a precision level can be. Everything is rubber and a Fell level (or Starrett 199) will prove it. Any 10 second or finer level can drive you nuts!

[@jafo766]

His table is cushioned by rubber , perhaps the density of rubber mounts is to be considered ?

[@123xqp]

I used to work for a company that made very high end CNC machines. Micron to sub-micron stuff, everything measured with interferometers. Deep, optical mirror finishes straight off the machine, no polishing. One of our machines was so sensitive that, in spite of it weighing a ton and sitting on a very thick concrete lab floor, building works elsewhere on site, which were not audible to us, showed up in the surface finish. Impeller noise from temperature controlled oil pumps located ~30m away which fed the bearings, showed up in the surface finish. Our temperature controlled lab (+/- 1C IIRC) wasn't stable enough, so a double skinned poly tunnel had to be constructed around the machine. I was told that if anyone went into the inner polytunnel the extra body heat would put the parts out of tolerance and/or be visible in the surface finish. I was so glad to be on the software/electronics department and not have to deal with that madness. I went back a few years later and they had a large (couple of metres on a side) CMM in another lab. It was installed on a huge vibration isolating platform to isolate it from people walking alongside. Interesting place to work but despite best efforts, physics always shows up and kicks ass.

[@mikekellam365]

Looks GOOD, Adam. With as "fresh" as that concrete in the new shop is, I'd expect you'll need to make some minor adjustments every couple of months. That slap is going to move quite a bit by the standards of those 0.0005" levels. Nice work!

[@robfinney9289]

Adam, would setting the Fell with the long axis inline with the axis between two opposite legs give a more representative read? And possibly ease the leveling process?

[@davidt8438]

Keith R. Doesn’t seem to worry a lot about precision as far as I’ve seen. I would print it and check for myself. You need to put a cheater pipe on the end of the wrench so the arc you turn is bigger. That will give a more precise angle.

[@comictrio]

Really enjoying Tool Tuesday videos.

[@Rangitatahunter]

Adam is like a kid at Christmas!

[@don1031]

This is fascinating to watch and amazing that tools of this precision exist. Still, while I can see the advantage of a tool that is better than a typical carpenter's level, for a real world machine shop, what is the point of having tools or tables THIS level. What kind of work would require it?

[@johnshearing]

Great presentation. It would have been interesting to spin the Fell level 180 degrees to see if it gave the same reading.

[@brianbowman5402]

An extra long wrench may help for smaller movements on turing the feet bolts.

[@clarenceburton9654]

I think you should try it out on your lathe also , congrats on acquiring that nice level !!!!

[@felixar90]

If the bubble aver gets too large because of evaporation, Tom Lipton from Oxtools has a video on how to refill them.

[@truckguy6666]

Good call, Ill have to check it out. And where has old Tom been lately? AWOL.

[@mikepelelo5657]

Maybe a differential screw set up on each leg would be easier to adjust.

[@SPDLTD]

I was just thinking the same thing, that would be super trick.

[@marksnyder2232]

It will be interesting to see how the building floor moves season to season, assuming the base of the surface plate stays stable.

[@TheDrewCharles]

I would be wanting a finer thread on my foot adjustment.

[@Dr650rob]

Such a cool tool

[@johnschneider3082]

Adam, I’m not an expert but the fact that you have laminated,or some other type “finish flooring “ under your leveling feet,may also contribute to the issue of movement when you rest on the top. I would suggest that you mark where the feet contact the floor, and cut that piece out,thus allowing the pads to be in direct contact with the concrete. That’s not going to move. Just a suggestion. Love your content.

[@PhotoArtBrussels]

Adam, it is why Keith R. says that type of instrument will drive you crazy. Tool to be used with commonsense. ;-)

[@alexandern8hgeg5e9]

24:15 Shouldn't it be visible whether they are out of alignment by turning them 180 degree and they need to show the same value ?

[@alexandern8hgeg5e9]

17:32 Ok so now I understand, it is on 3 rubber pads, that means you don't need to worry about loading the 4 legs evenly because it won't change the "bend" of the plate.

[@kylesscootershop]

Love me a tool day tuesday

[@wyldanimal2]

you should have rotated the level 180 deg. to check if the level is calibrated. If it is calibrated, you will see the same reading of the bubble, no matter what orientation the level is placed. This is the same procedure of a single axis level. Place it on the surface, note the reading. ( example: 2 divisions to the left ) Now rotate the level 180 deg. You should see the same reading of 2 divisions to the left. If you get a different reading, then the level is out of calibration by 1/2 of the difference between the two readings.

[@scottnj2503]

Humbly I submit. The challenge inherent in the tool. Is where on the meniscuse of the bubble is center? I love the pursuit of precision 😅

[@RexRoach]

Can you rotate the Fell by 180º to check it against itself?

[@donfinch862]

Yeh, I even do it with my spirit level, just for fun - and accuracy of course

[@petemclinc]

I want to be one the level here, yes you can...

[@Bob_Adkins]

You have seen why the 4 leg system is so hard to use. My little plate is on 3 legs, and I can level it in 30 seconds. (and small plates are tweakier than large plates!)

[@paulmace7910]

Interesting demonstration. Ultimately futile since the granite is on rubber and the stand is on a laminate floor. Everything anchored to the concrete floor and shimmed properly would stand a chance of staying in place.

[@geckoproductions4128]

maybe surface tension of the fluid in the level provides that top dead center you must overcome to get the bubble to move. What is fluid? Kerosene?

[@SPDLTD]

Tom on OxTool refilled one, i think he said it was alcohol if i remember correctly. It had a very distinct smell he said. The video is within the last couple years.

[@davefuelling7955]

The only thing you might have done was to counter the weight of the stand you had the camera mounted on by having an equal weight on the opposite side of the level, since the plate is sitting on rubber pads that mount is adding some compression to those pads to one side since the level is centered.

[@andyhillis6779]

I imagine that where you are standing affects the bubble as well.

[@rx323bug]

It’s extra hard because of the dimensions of the stand. If you raise one corner and it moves the long side .0005 it’s likely going to move the short side 3ish times that (if the stand was perfectly stiff anyway).

[@busman2000]

Would it be quicker to line the levels up on the diagonal (corner to corner line) where they bisecct in the dead centre of the mass of the plate. Then you would surely know it's leveled out properly. Like how you check building frames for square by measuring the diagonals.

[@johnvanantwerp2791]

When Keith Rucker was using his level on his channel just walking around the machine was making it move. So you're probably as good as you're going to get...

[@MrChevelle83]

"off quite a bit" .0035! thats pretty funny.

[@temper9993]

How about putting a 1" hardened ball bearing on the table after leveling and see what happens.

[@RobertKohut]

Last Tuesday was disappointing....(no tool) 🙂This Tuesday was great! 🙂

[@bin_chicken80]

What are those threaded inserts in the middle of the surface plate for? Thanks!

[@Hossimo]

Cool tool, how does the water not sublimate(I think that's the word) out of the cavity over time.

[@rogerscottcathey]

Isn't it mineral oil?

[@deluth4638]

Looks like mineral oil to me, not water.

[@Metaldetectiontubeworldwide]

Its methanol i think 😊

[@Jay22222]

Sublimation is when a solid skips phase change to a liquid and goes directly to a gas. Water doesn’t sublimate at atmospheric pressure. Evaporation might be the word you’re looking for but as previously mentioned, this probably isn’t water. (Even if it was, it can’t sublimate and won’t evaporate from a sealed container.)

[@Metaldetectiontubeworldwide]

@@Jay22222 at freezing tempratures it does , thats why and also the lower viscosity , methanol is the fluïd used. Lower viscosity let the bubbel move fast even with the slightest movement or mis alignment. Grtz from the netherlands Johny geerts

[@rickliles2460]

Prolly move it with a hair dryer heating a leg

[@deavall1]

Hey Adam, along with the great advice from @tonyn3123, I also worked in a Surveying maintenance shop. One of the special features installed was a floating foundation (series of piers) for the levelling table. This was to deliberately separate the table from the micro movements of the building foundation. Common building floors are only general purpose and will flex even with you walking on them. We also changed the circumference of the levelling screws to a dual c-spanner pinch-nut arrangement . This is so we could get to tolerances way inside any manufacturers declaration. Where precision really matters reducing building interference is critical. The feet you made for the table look to be too coarse of a thread for the tolerances you're after. This is something that's way within your capabilities and a good upgrade video for the table?

[@MrChevelle83]

keith rucker showed the level moving with him walking around his shop. these levels are crazy sensitive id never seen such a precision instrument.

[@djdawso]

"A man with one watch knows what time it is. A man with two watches is never sure." I think the same notion applies to precision levels...

[@Bob_Adkins]

But what if you also have a naval observatory time beep every hour? Really, levels are so easy to check and calibrate and so reliable there's no reason you couldn't check with 2, 4 or a dozen and get the same reading.

[@marc0martim]

The two levels may be well calibrated and will never coincide due to the surface of the stone (no matter how good it is) has small variations (within the stipulated tolerance) as the levels have bases of different sizes and are in different points of the stone, these variations are reflected in reading. This is a phenomenon that occurs with all high-precision instruments, which is why in any measurement there is always a range of tolerance allowed for both instruments.

[@zanbarboneophiuchus8786]

I have an app on my phone called Clinometer that does the same kind of level measuring.

[@OriginalPetRock]

🪨

[@MrMisterMist]

this is just another level. 😉

[@lynnplestid2711]

Try a fast vibration attachment on the table to help get the level level. 🤓

[@lklekas]

You are polishing one side the way you are stoning it.

[@camillosteuss]

I would advise the use of a ridiculously long breaker bar with a crow`s foot wrench... You take out the play in the wrench and at 3feet of lever length, if you move that lever by 1/4 inch, that translates to near nothing on the wrench end, which gives you a significantly higher resolution to put it thusly of screw actuation... The shorter the wrench, the worse it is, kinda like a high pitch screw - its makes any move translate into much more axial shift than intended... You can mill out a custom crow`s foot wrench for your max length breaker bar to fit your machine leveling screws to have a best tool for the job possible, but i guess a regular open end wrench with a 6 foot cheater pipe will do just as well with more care when taking out the play between the pipe, the wrench and the screw head... Try it if you are having trouble chasing a high precision level`s markings... Leverage isnt just a ridiculous force multiplier, its also a source of insane resolution of differential movement...

[@richard-jz1qd]

Using a crow's foot is 2 levels away from what most machinists use; getting them to use the right sized spanner is hard enough. The big adjustable is always their 'spanner' of choice; it's what sets them apart from the mechanics, lol. And as for looking at a nut and knowing instantly the right size of spanner, we won't even go there. But delving even deeper, when they use the right sized spanner, they invariably use it the 'wrong' or let's say unconventional way; and didn't mr pete put out a video to prove it didn't matter?. Just an observation ( and a little dig) from my time amongst them, lol.

[@Stan7670]

How about levelers with more threads per inch to give you finer adjustments when leveling?

[@support2587]

I’ve always wondered how you calibrate a brand new tool like that in the factory. How did the calibrate the tool that calibrates?

[@Krzysiek106]

20:22 I suspect that the problem lies in the thread pitch of the adjustment screws. This should be the smallest stroke possible for this diameter of the adjustment screws - only then can the bubble be drawn into the "0" frames

[@eqlibrium854]

Could a different thread pitch on the legs allow for more precise leveling. 🤔

[@martineastburn3679]

Looks like finer threads on the stand. Wonder if you have equipment in the storage area that is shifting or makes the whole table off.

[@hubbsllc]

I wonder if the building foundation is still new enough that it’s got some deformation left to do just from the granite table and other equipment having been moved in.

[@stevebez9556]

What inserts do you have on the surface plate?

[@qwerty3663]

How had you previously "leveled" the surface plate and with what resolution instrument? Have you checked it recently with the same instrument (has it settled)? My point is to compare the types of levels and their results.

[@dougbriggs6797]

Flip each level by 180 and if the readings don't match then it's out of cal.

[@smunro7888]

What is the tolerance of the granite plate? It's really close in the middle but what does it look like on other parts of the plate?

[@clifeddens1658]

You’ll never be able to get a good nights sleep until that bubble is in the middle.

[@NSResponder]

Curious what happens if you rotate the Fell level 90 and 180 degrees on that plate. Wouldn't that reveal any imperfection in its calibration?

[@j1952d]

What pitch are the leveling screws?

[@peteengard9966]

What would you get if you turned it 90 degrees? Someone with OCD probably shouldn't own one.

[@Brian-L]

With the plate sitting on the laminate floor, walking around the plate is likely changing the loading in the laminate, despite the massive weight of the plate. Maybe cut out holes in the laminate and set the pucks directly on the concrete. Also, use mechanical advantage, get a long a$$ wrench and you’ll be able to improve your turning precision with even less effort.

[@mrgunn2726]

Heck, folks in the room, floor soil temp and moisture, barometric pressure or a slight breeze will put it off, and God forbid you bump the table by accident.

[@LocnavLivoc]

silly question: what if you put the level diagonally, so the directions corespond to the feet?