Lauren Hughes

Female Journeyman Electrician

@BendLikeAGirl

Well Loves this is it my first tool review!!!

Now for those of you who have been followers on my instagram site @BendLikeaGirl since the beginning are fully aware that I’m all about no bullshit brutally honest reviews. Now, I will admit @klein_tools has a bit of brand loyalty customer in me, and they were nice enough to send me some tools and this badass #mykleinbag custom tool bag! I have been using it to carry and protect power tools like my drills that don’t currently have a case!!! It has been AWRSOME and its beyond cool to have a tool bag with my name on it! Klein Tools providing me this level will not affect my reviews positively or negative. Here I’m all about a damn good tool. 😆

Now heres my take on the Klein 24″ Magnetic Bubble Level

Ok so again for those of you who know me, you also know I’m a bit of a… “perfectionist” … Especially, when running exposed conduit it is very important to me that my work is always straight, level, and just plain old looks good!!! So a good level is very important to those of us who happen to be OCD Electricians.

Pros

Magnetic Strip

Hallelugh we have a 2′ level that actually sticks to metal. It is also actually strong enough can lift a 10ft stick of 1/2″ EMT. This for me is one of the few levels that actually possess a strong magnetic strip!

A Handle!

Yes thats right it has a real hand hold which makes it WAY easier to hold it against a wall or ceiling to draw lines prior to cutting drywall.

A Large Bubble Level for a center 0°

Easy to see especially if your working on a lift. Or if you happen to be vertically challenged like I am, we all know the struggle that comes with trying to see a level that is slightly higher than you can comfortably reach

A Second Bubble Level

This level actually has three bubble levels, one that is permanently set 0 degrees, one permanently set 90 degree, and one rotating level that can be set to verify 0 to 90 degrees to both sides of the level. We all know that sometimes into feet things can manage to get a little bit screwy, two levels allow for you to verify that is 2 foot section of whatever you are working on happened to be level.

A Conduit Groove

One of my favorite things about Klein levels especially being an electrician, is unlike the levels design for carpentry, you get one straight edge and then one Groove. The groove allows you to get an absolute Center on your piece of conduit. This can be hard to do with a flat Edge because if you are slightly off of Center and the level is not standing perfectly straight it may warp your measurement.

Lightweight design

This level happens to be very lightweight compared to some others on the market. This is a big Plus in my book especially when you’re trying to drive straight line on the ceiling, and hold the level flat with one hand well trying to draw your pencil Mark with the other, it is even more difficult if the ceiling happens to be warped due to age, or because some moron put the ceiling joist 22 to 24 inches on Center instead of 16 on Center. Either way a lightweight level can make the difference between a kind of sore shoulder and then exceedingly sore shoulder.

CONS

Only 1 Continuous Straight Edge

MAJOR DRAWBACK. You can only use one side of the straight edge as a continuous 2ft line. Unfortunately, one of the bubble levels breaks the line smack dab in the middle.

Freely Rotating 0° to 90° Bubble Level

The rotating degree bubble level rotates freely. The drawback is you have to hope that its actually lined up at the desired degree point and it doesn’t move when you move the level… I would have put an internal notch/break/click somethinf or point to stop the level at exactly 90° / 30° / 45° so you know its exact… This design you just rotate until you hope its right and eye it and hey it may actually be at 87° or 93° and not match the permanently set 90° bubble level! And hope that when you move that level if it was correct in the first place that moving it doesn’t muck it all up!

Conclusion

Easy fixes could make this one badass level. Unfortunately, I wouldn’t recommend this one just yet, but give it a few tweaks klein and this design has alot of potential to be a fantastic level!

Please visit my Instagram @BendLikeAGirl to see more of my Adventures. Feel free to contact me if you have any topic you would like to see on my blog!