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ToolGuyd > Hand Tools > Layout & Measuring > CH Hanson Precision Ball Level First Impression

CH Hanson Precision Ball Level First Impression

Sep 9, 2009 Stuart 12 Comments

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CH Hanson Ball Level

About three months ago, we posted about CH Hanson’s new Precision Ball Levels. We now have one of these new 24″ levels in our possession, and thought you would appreciate a few first impressions until we can offer a full review.

We handed the level to a few colleagues, and following are their initial reactions.

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Holy [expletives]. Is that a… does it… oh my goodness, it’s awesome.

Oh, wow, this looks great, and it feels so solid. It’s so easy to read!

Cool, (places level on table) – whoa, can this be used to level both directions at once? Oh – it even shows you the deviation in degrees!

While we won’t go into detail just yet, we’re really liking this level as well. There’s one problem, though – everyone who we let handle the ball level “needs” it for a project all of a sudden.

CH Hanson’s Precision Ball Level really is “easier to read than a bubble,” and is far more impressive than we would ever have thought. We expect the ball level to be a big seller this upcoming winter holiday season, so add it to your wish list and shop early.

Buy a CH Hanson Precision Ball Level via Amazon
More info via CH Hanson

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Sections: Layout & Measuring, Tool Reviews Tags: C.H. HansonMore from: C.H. Hanson

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12 Comments

  1. rusty

    Sep 9, 2009

    Now this look like a great ideal! It would be a lot easier to see the level and degrees you need to raise stuff.

    Reply
  2. Chris

    Sep 9, 2009

    Thats great, now what happens when you drop it on the ball and it breaks? Or when I wanted to get a quick measurement and it takes 2 minutes for the ball to settle?
    I saw one of these at Lowes and they’re great…if you like gimics and are 5 and need a gift for Daddy. But in the real world? I don’t think so.

    Reply
  3. Richard Johnson

    Sep 9, 2009

    Wow, if I was a carpenter, I would be getting one about now!

    Reply
  4. Stuart

    Sep 9, 2009

    @Chris, the ball cover seems to be pretty solid, and I imagine that CH Hanson took your concerns into account during the design process. If I had to guess, I’d say it’s made from impact resistant polycarbonate.

    Also, and this will be covered in the review, the ball settles in about five seconds no matter how violently we shake the level.

    I don’t like gimmicks and am certainly older than 5 yrs old, but I totally love this level.

    Reply
  5. uthscsaedu

    Sep 11, 2009

    I don’t like gimmicks but I do love ballz

    Reply
  6. uthscsaedu

    Sep 11, 2009

    by the way, CH Hanson has some “slide square”
    http://www.chhanson.com/slidesquare.html
    Was that reviewed on here?

    Reply
  7. Stuart

    Sep 11, 2009

    The “slide square” is new to me! I’ll look into it.

    Reply
  8. uthscsaedu

    Sep 13, 2009

    I was at Lowe’s yesterday and had a chance to play with this ball level. I don’t have a lot of experience with levels in general, but it seemed kind of short to me.

    The ball part was really cool. It must have one of those gyro things inside cuz I shook it violently and it stopped really fast.

    I would probably get one. They were on sale there for $29.99

    Reply
  9. Harry Domew

    Sep 13, 2009

    The Speedrocker building material cutting knife that Lowes sells is the coolest hand tool product.

    You can buy the double pack for only $14.00.

    It has the patented fixed blade version with it called the Speedrocker-SS.

    Reply
  10. uthscsaedu

    Oct 23, 2009

    Just checking to see if there are any long term updates on this level. Is it still living up to its good first impressions?

    Reply
  11. Stuart

    Oct 23, 2009

    We’re working on things as fast as we can, and the full no-holds-barred review will come.

    But, we have used the level a bit more, and yes, it is certainly living up to the expectations emplaced by our positive first impressions.

    Reply
  12. hammlm

    Nov 1, 2009

    I bought this level for a birthday gift for the brother in law. He’s an engineer, I figured it was gadgety enough for him.

    In the days before his birthday, I couldn’t help but to sit around and play with it (so to speak) while I was watching TV, etc. I haven’t bought one for me yet, but that’s just because I haven’t been back to lowes. Neat level.

    Reply

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