If the level is accurate, it will indicate the same orientation with respect to the horizontal plane. The spirit level is then rotated through 180 degrees in the horizontal plane, and another reading is noted. This reading indicates to what extent the surface is parallel to the horizontal plane, according to the level, which at this stage is of unknown accuracy. The level is placed on a flat and roughly level surface and the reading on the bubble tube is noted. To check the accuracy of a carpenter’s type level, a perfectly horizontal surface is not needed. It serves to level a surface across a plane, while the tubular level only does so in the direction of the tube. A colorant such as a fluorescein, typically yellow or green, may be added to increase the visibility of the bubble.Ī variant of the linear spirit level is the bull’s eye level: a circular, flat-bottomed device with the liquid under a slightly convex glass face with a circle at the center. Alcohols have low viscosity and surface tension, which allows the bubble to travel the tube quickly and settle accurately with minimal interference from the glass surface.Īlcohols also have a much wider liquid temperature range, and will not break the vial as water could due to ice expansion. Where a spirit level must also be usable upside-down or on its side, the curved constant-diameter tube is replaced by an uncurved barrel-shaped tube with a slightly larger diameter in its middle.Īlcohols such as ethanol are often used rather than water. At slight inclinations, the bubble travels away from the marked center position. They have a slight upward curve so that the bubble naturally rests in the center, the highest point. These vials are incompletely filled with a liquid, usually a colored spirit or alcohol, leaving a bubble in the tube.Įngineering Choice The Biggest Learning Platform ConstructionĮarly tubular spirit levels had very slightly curved glass vials with a constant inner diameter at each viewing point. The vial bodies of a spirit level, also referred to as a bubble level, can be shaped like a barrel, like a rectangular block, or even curved, banana-shaped, to measure slope infractions per foot of pitch and are mostly made from acrylic today versus glass originally. The next level of accuracy displayed is 0.75mm/m or.043 degrees. Typically, the vials in a spirit level are a yellowish-green color with additives for UV protection and maximum performance in temperatures ranging from -20 degrees F to 130 degrees F.
#Spirit bubble level accurate standard levels plus#
The best spirit level is accurate to within plus or minus 0.5 millimeters/meter, or 0.005 inches/inch or 0.029 degrees.
A spirit level gets its name from the mineral spirit solution inside the levels. Different types of spirit levels may be used by carpenters, stonemasons, bricklayers, other building trades workers, surveyors, millwrights, and other metalworkers, and in some photographic or video graphic work.Ī Spirit Level is a tool used to indicate how parallel (level) or perpendicular (plumb) a surface is relative to the earth. They are generally less sensitive than ground vials, and are used instead of plastic vials where a custom size, sensitivity or line markings are required.A spirit level, bubble level, or simply a level, is an instrument designed to indicate whether a surface is horizontal (level) or vertical (plumb). Custom size and design available.īent spirit level vials can be used for leveling and measuring angles. Generally size: Diameter 6-18mm, sensitive 2 second -10sencond. We manufacture these in a wide range of sizes and sensitivities and produce many standard types as well as custom made products for OEM's. Tubular spirit level vials are generally used in applications which require a higher degree of accuracy than is achievable with the lower cost plastic vials. Our strict inspection standard and temperature test enable us to produce good quality and high performance spirit level vials.
Our advanced production technology and equipment enable us to produce standard and custom bubble levels at competitive prices. We specialize in the production of spirit bubble level vials.