Johnson Level & Tool 99-026K Self-Leveling Horizontal Rotary Laser System w/ Hard Case Kit, 50 x 14.5", Red, 1 Kit,Orange

UPDATE after EIGHT years of use: I've now had my "Johnson Level & Tool 99-006K Self Leveling Rotary Laser System Kit" for EIGHT years and it's still going strong. I do dirt work/grading, etc and the kit is often used in rough environments and then placed in the back seat of my truck until the next job comes up. I've taken reasonably good care of it but I've certainly not been gentle with it and I've never had a case for it. It's been hit with flying debris and knocked/blown over so many times. That says a ton about how well-built these units are! Still going strong in March 2023. Originally purchased from Amazon in January 2015.-------------------I received my rotary laser system and unboxed it as quickly as I could to try it out. The calibration descriptions were quite clear and within a few minutes I was up and running. The tripod is very sturdy with clamps that lock securely. The laser detector was loud (quite loud actually, I'll be putting tape over mine to muffle the sound a bit) but slid smoothly up and down the boom pole. In fact, I may add a small piece of felt to help it move even more smoothly. The carrying case for the rotary laser is very well padded and seemingly well-built.My primary buying concern was to get all the necessary pieces for a complete system in one purchase. Initially, I was planning to buy a used system off Craigslist but decided instead I didn't want a hodge-podge system.My one request of Johnson is that I could buy a larger case that would carry perhaps everything but the pole or the tripod. One more - none of the barcodes on the product literature led to the promised video described on each. Maybe this was a momentary glitch but it certainly didn't work on my attempted.Regardless, the system was easily understood and setup straight out of the box. So far, I'm a fan!************One Year Update**********And one year later...I still love this thing. It has performed flawlessly for me and earlier this week I took a picture to give you an idea of the range of the laser. You can't really see the tripod but it is sitting next to my white Tundra on the upper right side of the image. It is sending a signal out to the receiver and I'm confident I could have moved at least another 50 to 100 feet away from the transmitter. I estimate this distance at about 400 feet.

System works very well. Easy set-up and all materials are high grade. Not the brightest lazier for outside, but can easily be used with targets.

Great product

PROS-Great price-Easy to operate (mostly)-Versatile-3-speed operation-Complete kit with useful accessories-Nice rod, pro-quality tripodCONS-The sensor clamp needs some help. The hard edges scratched the paint on the rod. I ended up putting tape on it to protect the rod. Moving the sensor up and down the rod is a two-handed operation - very awkward when you are carrying a clipboard when shooting elevations. I attached some Velcro fuzz to the inside edges of the clamp so it could loosely grip the rod and still slide up and down without falling off. It would have been nice if more thought had been put into the clamp's design.-The rod is nice, being calibrated in architectural and engineering scales, snaps tightly into place, and comes with a dandy bubble level and replacement locking button, but the paint scratches off VERY easily. Definitely keep it in the provided sleeve or it will not last long.-The case for the laser is adequate, but is not designed to accommodate the sensor and clamp. I was able to squeeze these in by removing the molded rubber padding from inside the lid, wrapping them in a thin sheet of foam rubber for at least a little protection.-The instructions for calibration need re-writing. Apparently they switched from a slotted set screw (as described in the manual) to a hex screw (what is actually there). Took me a bit to figure this out. Some guidance on which direction and how much to turn the set screw would have been helpful, but the user is left to trial and error on this. VERY glad the Y-axis did not need adjusting, as this requires removal of the batteries.Overall I am VERY happy with this unit. It performed flawlessly the first trip out, and I expect it will serve my purposes well in years to come. Highly recommended!

As an owner/builder for my own house, I decided to do much of the excavation myself. This laser level helped immensely with very little learning curve. Also, it is very durable and I'm not afraid of breaking it. The laser itself is very accurate,and setting it up is so easy. If you are too slanted when you turn the laser on, it doesn't break anything...it simply gives a warning signal until you tilt it to within it's range. The stand is really easy to adjust so getting it level enough for the laser to begin spinning is easy and stable.. Also, just as importantly, the laser sensor (the small yellow device that can sense the laser) works wonderfully, and is absolutely essential. I was able to read the laser about 70' away accurately! I have no doubt that this system is the best leveling system for large areas regardless of cost...It's just that much better that it also the most cost effective solution.

Awesome tool. Seems to be pretty accurate. Out of the box I did have to calibrate as it was about an 8th of an inch off at 20 ft 180 degrees. The instructions for calibration need help. They could be much better, but after I figured the calibration out The tool is just what I needed for leveling my yard, pouring a basement foundation, and installing septic system. You might want to look into buying a higher quality rotary detector with this if you will be using it alot as its kind of annoying the way its set up. You cannot see the laser during the day outside so if thats your reason for buying it than this tool will not work for you. Inside you can see the laser all the way around the walls. Don't forget to lock the pendulum in place; If you have had a mechanical leveling laser in the past than its hard to get used to doing that when you turn the unit off. Personally, I found the target to be useless to me.