Tool Tuesday, Plumb Bobs

[@jfdb59]

I do masonry and carpentry and I've always been a big plumb bob fan. Sure lasers are ubiquitous now and can do a lot very quickly (and I do own a couple for rare occasions), but I think a lot of people would be surprised how fast and efficient you can be with a plumb bob too, the difference is, like with many hand tools, it requires practice and skill. Aside from the aforementioned price and durability advantage, the humble plumb bob fits nicely in my tool belt, never runs out of batteries and quickly gives me a reference line on two planes simultaneously which is nice for windows and doors. On busy job sites, they don't bounce like a tripod mounted laser when people walk past your work area, your lines aren't so easily blocked and the bob takes up almost no room in crowded or tight areas. Day light visibility is never a problem with string. Accuracy is also unmatched , especially as distance increases. Plus using a plumb bob just feels so deliciously nostalgic in a world rife with ridiculous over the top gadgets. All these bells and whistles, while touted as productivity improvements, seem to only be endless sources of conversation and comparison on job sites now. It seems guys are more interested in talking about their tools now than working with them.

[@maplegirlie]

You had me at "job site trash" 😃 Seriously, I love solutions that are creative, simple, intelligent and inexpensive. Excellent video. I am impressed with the additional time you spent "in the field" demonstrating them. Many thanks!

[@Strife72]

I use plumb bobs quite often at work for finding the centre measurement from the face of a fitting to the plumb bob string line when I’m pipefitting. It’s really an invaluable tool for us in the pipe trades! I’d say our 3 most valuable tools aside from our wrenches are Tape measure, torpedo level, & plumb bobs.

[@jeffgoodnough9704]

Came for the features overview of the Plumb-Rite, stayed for the comparisons and knowledge. Thanks!

[@nicolaquinones2173]

Thanks for the 101 on plump bobs. Good info

[@Eger118877]

I just bought a Mullan reel to use with my Millers Falls plumb bob.

[@DevOps_zero]

Thank you from the UK 🇬🇧

[@jessebellino9780]

Nice! I was looking into better ways to store/reel the string and found this. Ordered a gammon reel. Thank you sir!

[@armorvestrus4119]

Very good video with a lot of useful information. Thank you.

[@tidelybumsquish]

I am currently leveling out a 3 story building for siding Building was built with ICF. Its 3 inches off in some areas! I need a heavier plum bob as the wind sways it. Laser?

[@MattJasa]

I just made some glass plumb bobs. For fun I gave them wavy lines as a pun to the plumb line process.

[@danthechippie4439]

If you place a glass of water at the base and allow about a third of the weight into the water it will stabilise the string much faster and help hold it plumb in windy weather

[@DanSarahMakers]

Good tip, I haven't heard of that before. I will give it a try. Thanks for the comment!

[@jayryan7473]

Water? 😂 I'm guessing you've never worked on a real job site before.

[@thomaswalsh287]

I saw a millwright stabilize his plumb bob in a bucket of oil. We were working in a breezy, half built saw mill.

[@robertmardis5999]

Have you ever seen a blumb bob with a small laser light on the pointing end....so that you could project a point on a surface rather than having to actually touch the surface?

[@IppiopaidFEEDBACK]

Y D I had to same my idea, I guess great minds think a like.

[@nathanschneider6884]

What is the proper knot to use, or is it critical? Thanks

[@williamamerson7848]

Do you recommend a type is string, I work in commercial framing for 40 years and we used plumb bobs and water levels exclusively. I remember if you didn’t use braided line it would spin a lot

[@jdspunkd]

You answered all my questions! Thank you!

[@rs480285]

Most accurate leveling and plumbing tool. Better than all the technology out there.

[@bishopp14]

I have a plumb bob with a replaceable tip, similar to one of the ones you have but it has a small (maybe 16th of an inch?) hole running horizontally through the tip. I've searched and searched off and on for years but have yet to find out what that hole is there for. Any ideas??

[@DanSarahMakers]

I don't know for sure, but I have always used that hole with a small nail as a way to replace and tighten down the tips when I have to replace them. They are kind of hard to grip with a pair of plyers since they are smooth and tapered and I don't like tearing them up. Hope that helps a bit.

[@bishopp14]

@@DanSarahMakers You know what, I'll take it! That's the only explanation anyone has ever given me and it makes perfect sense. Thank you!

[@TheMixmastamike1000]

I want one so bad but I can't find one new and all the places I've looked are out of stock. What's worse is that the have no indication as to if they ever will be again. ( to clarify I'm talking about the mullan tool co. plumb bob reel )

[@josephmitchell204]

Thanks for the content. I just bought a brass plumb bob, I think one you featured. But that Tajima reel is mighty sexy. I have their fine line chalk line and I love it. I might buy it just for the reel. How many plumb bobs is too many? Also the tajima is a soft flex on my peers. I have to do it now.

[@josephmitchell204]

Rotary Lasers for level over 12’. plumb bobs for plumb, sky’s the limit.

[@Onkarr]

11:05 this looks like it would be great to use in many different applications

[@petew260]

I do sax as hobby but do construction for a living and some interesting information.

[@cassandrastidham4231]

I'm looking for a Mollen plumb bob reel yall have any idea where I could find one.

[@kevinmoncada5120]

That plumb rite will fit great in my tool bag plus i work with wood metal and drywall so it will be great and better than those crazy levels bc let’s face every piece of wood is too crooked for my 4ft level🤣

[@tif321dc]

How do you connect the string so it's centered

[@ronaldpigeon4713]

I needed to know the same information. I seen that a key ring looks to be perfect to run through the cheaper plumb bob (mine) and then tie on the string.

[@gregoryv.zimansr4031]

Great video. Thanks

[@wornout3499]

I need to get one and learn how to use it. what about the windy days are they only good inside buildings.

[@DanSarahMakers]

It depends on several things, the weight of the bob, are you shielded from the wind, how far the bob is hanging, and finally how long are you willing to sit there waiting for the thing to stop swinging! A PLS or laser plumb is priceless in many situations but trying to plumb down from a string line is really hard to do, bright sunlight makes even the brightest laser point almost impossible to find much less see, and they can cost hundreds of dollars.

[@ryanvandandaigue3000]

Use a cup of water and let the tip touch the surface of the water.

[@rs480285]

Use a good clear bucket of mineral oil and piano wire. Keeps from flailing around

[@johnwatson8192]

@@rs480285 That's what we used during installation of rolling mill machinery. We also took it a stage further so that we could use an internal micrometer to measure between the piano wire drop bob and the vertical steel surface by connecting an electrical beeper or light between the surface being aligned and the piano wire drop bob. I did my final year degree thesis by quantifying such measuring techniques and it proved to be quite accurate for the job in hand. However during the review one of the lecturers asked if I took the Coriolis effect of the Earth's gravitational field into consideration - WTF!

[@donaldnewton4947]

Very useful information, thanks.

[@xThirtyOz]

I just found one of them shits on the ground... I still don't know wtf to do with it 😂

[@rickysandhu3918]

Why don't wo have a traditional plumbbob with laser.

[@brianjoukhdar2671]

Hey can you provide a link for the mullan reel i cant seem to find one

[@insanitywarsgaming4663]

You should be able to find one at Harbor Freight or Home Depot.

[@nicolaquinones2173]

Oh plump bobs n water levels are reliable n accurate

[@hanz9662]

When I was s kid, I thought my dad had some weird bey blades

[@ThaylorHarmor]

I presume you could use the magnet on metal for the Japanese one.

[@TreyJaxn]

Japanese magnets attract to glass.

[@pordoyhiligsoroy]

nice review. thanks!

[@JoshJose-l7k]

Thanks

[@nicholasmatarazzo3353]

How do you know your level is level?

[@DanSarahMakers]

OK, Easier to show this check, but I will try to describe it without confusing anyone! Step 1. Checking for level: Find a table top, floor, or counter top; it does NOT need to be level. Put your level on the surface and look at the position of the bubble in the level vial (remember where the bubble is in relation to the lines around the vial). Next, spin the level so that the right end is on the left and the left on the right and place the level back into the same spot that the level was in during the first check. Look at the bubble again, is it in the exact same location as the first check? If it is, then your level is true to level. If the bubble has moved at all, then no good! Step 2. Checking for plumb: Find the corner of a wall, stud, or door jamb; again, it does NOT need to be plumb. Hold the level against the the surface and check the bubble in the plumb vial, remember the position of the bubble in the vial. This time, spin the level so that the top is now the bottom and the bottom is the top, recheck the plumb vial. If the bubble is in the same location, then the level is true to plumb. Things to note; Some levels have several level and plumb vials, so check them all and don't mix them up when spinning the level! If a level has a 45 degree vial, you may need to create a jig and follow the same steps from above. There are actually not a lot of 45 degree vertical angles out there! If the bubble doesn't show dead-on plumb or level either way when checking, but the bubble is off the same amount AND direction, that just means the surface you are using isn't plumb or level. If your level isn't true any more, you may have one with adjustment screws or vials that can be adjusted, but they tend to loosen up on their own once they get messed with. Some brands like Stabila, have a lifetime warranty as long as the main level body isn't damaged. Hope this long response helps Nicholas!

[@J0rd4nBr0]

Draw a line that is plumb, spin the level to the other bubble. If they line up, you are good. Must be plumb for that to work

[@alexanderdrywall3043]

Ever use A water level?

[@DanSarahMakers]

I have two types of water levels and haven't used them very many times over the years. They excel in several areas, but I just don't find myself in those situations very often.

[@alexanderdrywall3043]

I use them for when im establishing A bench mark for Elevation then use my story pole to get an elevation around the entire perimeter so that everything is all the same height so 400 feet down the way all my windows are the same measurement

[@DanSarahMakers]

I am really glad to hear that some people out there still try to do a good job at build things level, Thank you. I have used them to line up cuts on opposite sides of thick concrete walls inside to outside of buildings where there were no uniform places to measure from and a laser wouldn't work.

[@alexanderdrywall3043]

Primitive methods still work to this day from chalk lines to plumb bobs to 3,4,5 Yea well I'm A union Carpenter so they ingrain these things in our head as apprentices.we do an equal equal from columns to get an accurate control line and everything stems off of that.and Rock and roll time I'm A metal stud framer

[@williamamerson7848]

Lasers were just being developed for use in construction when I got into business. Any thing over 10feet would be water leveled

[@mrseanpride6449]

Couldn’t you set the grid line closer to the ground then you don’t need to use the plumb bob?

[@alonsorosero806]

Porfa en Españl

[@Quadrille763]

This was awesome

[@natetuohy2615]

Don't use the 1 foot level

[@timbarry5080]

Good carpenters don't use small levels to plumb doors or walls

[@buttlesschap]

Difference between steel and brass plumb bobs? I noticed brass plumb bobs cost a lot more now with a higher copper price.