I always used a 2x4 as a straight edge for marking long cuts, but a friend lent me his 8-foot aluminum level.

The level was so much better because it stayed perfectly straight and didn't flex at all, which my wood one always did. I was marking a 12-foot rip on some plywood for a built-in in a Portland kitchen, and the line was dead-on the first time. Has anyone else made a switch like this that saved them a bunch of time?

3 comments

3 Comments

miajenkins27d ago

Isn't that level technically a straight edge now?

jason52426d ago

Funny how we get used to things being a certain way and stop seeing what they really are. It reminds me of how many tools around the house have slowly turned into single-use gadgets. That bubble level is probably still fine, but we’ve all been trained to toss stuff at the first sign of a problem. Makes you wonder what else we’re replacing that just needs a second look.

adam_kim21d ago

Totally used to just buy a new one without thinking. Mia's point about it being a straight edge is actually a game changer. Makes you look at every old tool in the garage differently. Now I'm checking what else just needs a quick fix instead of a trip to the store.