Do they accurately give you the correct measurements , will they meausre arches, curved walls, or vaulted ceilings , or do they just do vertical and horizontal measurements. Will they add all the meausrements up for you and does using some kind of tri-pod help with the leveling instead of the little holes in the wall.
Sorry, I just re-read your first post. Now I'm not sure what you are looking for. There are laser
levels, which I posted about, and there are laser
measuring devices. 2 different animals.
The laser level just provides you with a true level line to use as a guideline.
The laser measurererers
I've only had limited success with. I bought a fairly cheap one to test drive, and it only gave accurate measurements about 50% of the time. On commercial job sites, it was a complete bust. I was told that heavy dust in the air possibly effected it there. When I asked others about them, I was told the only ones that work good enough to consider were very pricey. This is one that was recommended:
http://www.professionalequipment.com/xq/ASP/laser_measuring_tools/id.15/subID.125/qx/default.htmScroll down to see the Spectra Precision HD150, it is the one that came highly recommended from several GC's I work for. I had bought the $129 Fat Max to test drive. You can see the prices on the rest on that page, and understand why I still use a tape measure, or measuring wheel.
As for your last post, you say it is a hefty price for the PLS2. I disagree. It will pay for itself in no time by saving you time over having to snap chalk lines, or draw pencil lines with a level, etc.
There are 4 options for the beam. Click the button once, you get a horizontal line. click again, you get vertical. Click again, you get h/v (crosshairs). Click again, and it 'fixes' the crosshairs, so you can tip it on its side to project an 'X' on the wall, or ceiling, or floor.
It is self-leveling, a free floating mechanism. It is a very true plumb/level, as I check my Stabila levels by it all the time. It it tips over 6 degrees, it will shut itself off.
It is always dead-on accurate. I do all the Subway restaurant remodels here in StL. They have a mural that runs horizontally around the dining area 7' from the floor. It project the h beam at 7', and run the mural to it. My mural will always be level, and it pi55es off the contractor, because it forces him to do everything level too, meaning it the floor or ceiling tiles are out, it will show.
Some use a laser pole to attach it too. It is spring loaded like a shower curtain rod. It will reach up to 12', so you wedge it from floor to ceiling. This works great in a small area like a bathroom. I do alot of commercial w/c, so the ceiling is usually higher than 12', so I have never bought the pole myself. I use an old surveyor's tripod for most jobs, and have a small, cheap photographer's tripod for small residential jobs.
I also just set it up on a table, or my 2' ladder, or wherever I need it.
And yes, the magnetic arm is very strong. It will STAY where you put it. It will stick to a metal corner bead on a wall through multiple layers of paint, and vinyl w/c.
The paste machine is another fairly pricey tool, but it pays for itself, and I wouldn't hang without it. The one in the picture is an Advance 62" Pastmate, and runs brand new from SW around $2500. I scored mine from a local contractor getting ready to retire, and got the Advance and a Tapo 29" (residential machine) for $1200. Quite a steal.
IO don't run canvas through it as canvas will tend to stretch too much when pulling it through manually. We use a TapoFix CB56 motorized machine for canvas, as the motor gently feeds the material through, instead of us pulling it through. Now sit down for the price. The CB56 comes in at $3500, but again, it pays for itself. Anytime I do a large commercial mural, I either figure in a new tool, or piece of equipment. Or, put a portion of the profit aside to a 'equipment fund'. I have recently learned that casinos have very deep pockets. The last mural we did for MGM, the one pictured above, bought me a new truck.
Here is a pic of the CB56 in action. Second pic is a bonus, as you can see the machine, the mural, AND the laser on the tripod.