Rant: Blew $200 on a digital level that couldn't handle a drop of rain

I picked up one of those fancy digital protractor levels last spring, figured it would save time on boiler pipe angles. The thing worked great for about three months, right up until a light drizzle hit it on a rooftop job. The screen went fuzzy, then it started reading 5 degrees off on every measurement. Tried drying it out in rice for a week, no luck. My old magnetic torpedo level has been through hail, mud, and a drop off a ladder, still reads true. Anyone else had one of these digital tools die from just a little moisture?

2 comments

2 Comments

robert_bennett2912d ago

$200 for a digital level that dies from a light sprinkle? Man you basically bought a fancy calculator and left it out in the rain. I've got a Stanley 4-footer that survived being dropped in a muddy ditch and run over by a skid steer and it still reads straight as an arrow. These digital things are great until they see a cloud then they act like theyre allergic to actual work. Stick with the old school tools I say, they dont need a sip of rain to ruin your whole afternoon.

miller.paul8d ago

@robert_bennett29 is it true those digital levels are really that fragile though? I mean, I get the frustration but a lot of the higher end ones have IP ratings now and can handle a decent splash. Still, my old torpedo level has been through heck and back and never once needed a battery swap.