We first saw the AdirPro Cube lasers earlier thus year and were fascinated enough by their form factor to want to take a second look. After contacting the company we were sent two AdirPro Cube Cross Line Lasers to check out—the Cube and the Cube 2-360 cross line models. Both of the AdirPro Cube Cross Line Lasers came in their Ultimate Edition kits, which means they included a case, tripod, red laser glasses, batteries, and a custom mount.
AdirPro Cube Cross Line Lasers Features
The $99 AdirPro Cube laser is the company’s entry level cross line laser level. It’s a self-leveling unit that can create a level line at up to a 3° slope—that’s a respectable amount of flexibility though there are a handful of similarly-priced models that can handle up to a 4 degree slope. The AdirPro Cube’s laser is accurate to within +/- 2mm at up to 33 feet (10 meters), and the range is a full 65 feet (20 meters) provided you can still see the beam (plan on that being the indoor max range). The Cube uses two separate red laser line beams (vertical and horizontal) which are generated from 635nm laser diodes. The laser is ready to go right out of the box and includes three AAA batteries.
The Cube cross line laser is truly compact, and the form factor is something we thought was very ingenious and practical. It’s basically a 2-5/8 inch plastic cube with a ribbed rubber overmold to protect it from shocks and small drops—important since this self-leveling laser uses a built-in pendulum system that’s fragile if not protected during transit and use. The housing is also “grippy”, so the Cube is easy to hang on to and manipulate. Ever use a small tool in a new construction project that doesn’t have heat yet? I tend to drop things when my hands are cold, so a good overmold is very important. With its small form factor, the Cube laser can be tossed easily into a tool back or even stuck in your pocket.
Leveling with the AdirPro Cube Cross Line Lasers is simple, you just slide the switch to the On position—the pendulum lock is disengaged, and the forward-facing cross line lasers light up. The cross line laser’s field of coverage is approximately 150 degrees due to the inset of the laser diodes into the housing.
Because the AdirPro Cube cross line lasers include a self-leveling pendulum, the levels will beep if they’re out of leveling range. This is a great way to ensure you’re not accidentally off-angle with either your surface or your tripod during an operation. Finally worth noting is the included clamp mount that secures to the standard 1/4″ thread on the bottom of the Cube cross line laser—any camera tripod will do.
The Ultimate Edition of the Cube laser includes a plastic hard case, 3 x AAA batteries, universal clamp mount, telescoping 36″ tripod, and a pair of red laser glasses. For $99, that’s not a bad package (If you don’t need all that, the basic Home Edition is $69.95).
AdirPro Cube 2-360 Cross Line Laser Features
The AdirPro Cube 2-360 Cross Line Laser is a nice step-up to the standard Cube cross line which adds the ability to provide a full 360 degree vertical and horizontal line around a room for setting cabinets, drop ceilings, or other performing other tasks for which having a solitary source for leveling an entire room is preferred. The Cube 2-360 cross line laser also includes a pendulum level system that is self-leveling up to 4 degrees. It has a much brighter laser output level that extends the working range to 230 feet (70 meters) if you use a target (not included). Two 635-670nm laser diodes are used to generate the red lasers which are accurate to +/- 3mm at 33 feet (10 meters).
Like the AdirPro Cube, the Cube 2-360 cross line laser is compact, measuring just 3-7/8″ x 3-7/8″ if you include the beam housings that protrude above the main body of the Cube. The controls on the Cube 2-360 laser level are a bit more flexible. You can lock or unlock the pendulum with the large red slider switch, allowing for a way to hard-fix the cross-line laser while defeating the auto-leveling function. When the lock is disengaged, the Cube 2-360 will beep to alert you as soon as it’s outside of the 4 degree leveling range. You also have a soft control for turning on and off each of the lasers, allowing you to eliminate either the vertical or horizontal beam if desired. Finally, you can adjust between beam intensity for indoor or outdoor use (and extend the life of the batteries as a result).
You can mount any of the AdirPro Cube cross line lasers to a standard camera tripod, but the Cube 2-360 has two mounting nuts with 1/4″ threads on the back and the bottom of the unit. Included is a custom magnetic mount that we found extremely handy for placing the laser up against a steel beam when leveling in a commercial construction environment. We reviewed the Ultimate Edition which included the Cube 2-360 cross line laser, soft case, magnetic mount, 36″ tripod, red laser glasses, 2 x AA batteries, and a hard plastic case.
In the Field and Conclusion
We used the AdirPro Cube lasers to level up some hanging storage platforms in a steel building. Since we were using threaded rod to set the front level of the supports, having a laser level allowed us to more quickly match our lines (whereas a traditional level would have had to have been moved between front-to-back and side-to-side leveling tasks). I found both of the AdirPro Cube cross line lasers to be extremely simple to use. Indoors, we found them to be exceptionally easy to configure, and the additional features of the Cube 2-360 make it a very compelling upgrade for around $195. It may be twice the price, but for a product that can deliver 360 laser leveling capabilities with dual intensity modes and a lock feature for slope measurements, it’s hard to pass up. It was only a scant few years ago that I found myself using rotary lasers for indoor measurements. The cost advantages and durability of new prism-based lasers are making strides in revolutionizing the way you use cross line lasers on the jobsite. These products last longer, are more durable, and require less power to operate. Put it all together, and the AdirPro Cube series of cross line lasers are an easy choice. Currently, they’re only available online with select dealers (Amazon is one), but I wouldn’t be surprised if they started arriving in more prominent retailers soon.
You can find more product info at the AdirPro website.
