StarrettMachinists' Level with Ground and Graduated Main Vial - Ideal for Machine Shop and Tool Room Use - 4" Length, Without Case and Cross Test Vial - 98-4

Very accurate

If you thought a good hardware store level was precise, think again. I needed this to level out the platen on my wide format printer, we’re talking about fractions of a mm tolerance that were causing the print carriage to rub. After using steel thickness gauges to level everything out, we were still getting a slight bit of blur across the travel.Bring in a $300 level I never knew I needed. First, you have to calibrate this yourself. Look up some videos and find a VERY stable table or just go straight to the concrete like I did, just make sure the floor is clean and there is no lose debris. Place some tape marks and take your time alternating directions. Once calibrated, you’ll be able to capture the slightest inaccuracies. 0.0002” per foot tolerance is no joke.We were able to plum up the platen in no time and fix the detail issue with the printer. Life saver! Would have never been able to achieve the same results using an ordinary level, not even close.It’s expensive for what it is, but everything about it is precision machined and the glass vial is insanely sensitive. The 12” version I purchased actually comes with 3 total levels. I knew it had an extra one on the front for a second axis, but it also has another for a 3rd axis located in the middle where the finger holes are.At this price and sensitivity, I wish it came with a case. It’s pretty robust and the main vial has a cover, but I’d like to give it some extra protection anyway.

The Starrett Machinists' Level is an exceptional tool for precision work in the machine shop. Its ground and graduated main vial provides unparalleled accuracy, ensuring perfect surface alignment every time. The build quality is top-notch, with a durable finish that withstands the rigors of daily use. The level's ergonomic design and precise adjustments make it easy to use, even for complex tasks. Whether you're working on intricate projects or routine maintenance, this level is a reliable and indispensable tool. Highly recommend it to anyone in need of a high-quality machinist level.

Love this new leveler for any pool table

Fast delivery. Everything working good.

I was amazed of the accuracy of a machinists type of level vs a good carpenters level. No comparison, and Starrett, as anyone knows has a reputation that is second to none.When I borrowed my brother's Starrett 8" machinist level, and used it to level my pool table, it truly did the job so well, that it's almost like magic, seeing how straight the balls could actually roll, and even when hit slow, they continue on their straight path with no variation at all of getting off course. I had been trying to get one of these for over a year on e-bay, but gosh, the prices were always over $100.00 even for those that could have been taken better care of. I finally decided to pay a little more and just get a new one. It will easily hold its value by taking care of it, and in 30 years time, will be worth more if not abused.Next project will be a plane, and needed something I could truly rely on to level the table with. It already made a believer out of me with how well it leveled my pool table. I use digital levelers on occasion, but trust this one more. And 100 years down the road to whomever inherits and still has this level, if they had taken care of it, it'll still be as good as the day I bought it. One can't say as much for electronic levels and will probably be lucky to get ten years use out of them. Their displays have a tendency to go out, and they are a bit finicky. It's nice when old fashioned technology trumps some of this new stuff. This is one such case.

Great as usual from Starrett, calibrated, the bottom surfaces are clean and perfect.I gave it 4 stars just for the box, it would be nice to have a specialised box for such precision tool.

I use this level for setting rails on CNC plasma burning tables. With this I can get as good a level as many of the "Master Machinist Levels" selling for many times more. It's the same quality I've come to expect from Starrett. It's durable (I travel with it a lot) and accurate. It was already calibrated when I received it, although not certified. I checked level on a known granite plate and could detect no deviation in all directions. If the bubble is within the inner lines, then you know you're as good as you can get. There are optical devices, and laser devices, that can be used for better accuracy, but often in the thousands or tens of thousands dollars. For 99% of all applications, this is all you need.