This is a continuation post of Bosch 2011 New Measurement Tools. Read on.
Bosch 2011 New Measurement Tools
Steve Angus, Group Product Marketing Bosch Measuring Tools came out next and we were treated to an up-close and personal look at some of their new test and measurement products. Up first was the GLM 80 Laser Distance Measurer which we covered earlier on this site. This device has a built-in Lithium-ion battery that recharges via USB and keeps the device running for… practically forever, actually. Bosch claims up to 25,000 measurements between charges. That’s a lot, though we imagine that’s cut down a bit when using the integrated backlight on the LCD. While all that is impressive – what makes the GLM 80 stand out further is its integrated two-axis tilt sensor. This allows it to interpolate distances based on both mathematics and angles.
It also has an optional R60 accessory that seats the GLM 80 within and turns the tool into a digital level. Very cool and very usable, and the GLM 80’s display even rotates automatically so you are always looking at the LCD screen in the correct orientation.
We also liked the flexibility of the GLM 80. You can take measurements from 4 different points (most units have only three): front, back, corner, and threaded mount. In this way, you can really get precise measurements. Afterall, the GLM 80 is accurate to 1/16″ at 30 feet. This is a very usable and cool tool and it’s IP54-rated for durability. At $249 it’s not the cheapest laser distance measure you’ll find, but with a max range of 265 ft and 2-axis angle calculations, it’s one of the most capable in its class. Add the R60 and the price is $329.
Bosch 2011 New Measurement Tools
Next up was the GMS120 Wallscanner. This product, whch amazingly sells for just $79, has a 4-3/4″ detection depth. It can help you find the exact center of a stud and has an illuminated ring to let you know when it’s good to drill (red bad, green good). But it’s not only good for woo. It will detect AC (electrical wiring) and metal (rebar/steel/copper) as well. We tested it out and it was really amazing to behold. We’re excited to see how well it does in the field and about the ony thing to be aware of is the possibility of hitting a PVC or PEX water pipe – which it will not detect. Of course, if you’re dumb enough to hang a picture of shelf on a shower, you might just deserve what you get!
Finally, we got to play with the GLL3-80 3-Plane Leveling & Alignment Laser. This is a $599 pro-only laser that uses no motors or moving parts to project a very bright laser along 3 planes simultaneously. Bosch has the dubious honor of claiming it as the world’s first 360-degree 3-plane laser. It combines both multi-point and multi-line technology in one tool so you can layout just about anything, especially if you combine it with a vertical pole mount.
It’s lightweight, easy to use… really, this is a wonderful tool that is absolutely perfect for kitchen layout, or just about any indoor layout application. It has full 360 degree coverage and is effective up to 65-feet indoors. Outdoors it can do 265-feet with a detector and the accuracy is +/- 0.25″ at 100 feet! This is one of the more expensive laser leveling & alignment systems, but it’s also one of the most heavily-featured.
