Everyone needs a good level. When you’re working in dimly lit areas such as walk-in closets, attics or work sheds, a lighted level seems just the thing to make a common task much easier to manage. Swanson’s most recent line of levels, including their Savage line of torpedo levels, have always done a good job of capturing a great amount of the available light within their vials – making them easier to view. With their new Lightning Box Beam Level, however, Swanson Tools takes it to a new… um, level, and uses a couple of AAA batteries (included) to send this level where few have gone before.
Swanson Magnetic Lightning Level
Build Quality
All of the Lightning Levels (there are four) are made with an extruded aluminum frame that is seamless and coated/colored in the expected Swanson Blue. The end caps are made with Swanson’s Super Shock technology, which is to say they provide over 5/8″ of rubberized material to protect the level in the event that it falls on an end. Like the similar BBL series of levels, the BLL series of Lightning levels have no measurements or markings for length, though the level itself is exactly 24″ in length. The BLL24M has integrated rare earth magnets which free up an additional hand when working with metal conduit or steel studs. Both edges of the level have integrated V-grooves for setting in on conduit or even PVC piping. There is a hanging hook area on one end which I find handy when storing the level on a hook in my shop when not in use.
We really like the vials on the Swanson Box Beam Levels. When you look up close, you see that each has metal rings surrounding each that designate 2- and 4-degree grades. Given that these vials are encased in industrial strength acrylics blocks, they could have gone for a cheaper solution. The rubberized handles are effective and they are large enough to allow for gloved hands to be inserted. One odd thing we noted was that the inserts for our sample’s handles moved around a bit. They certainly didn’t feel as if they’d pop out, and we were informed by Swanson that they hadn’t seen this in their samples, so it might have been the case of one that slipped by quality control.
The light for the level is activated by a button on one end and this is also where you load the two AAA batteries (you must first remove a set screw before the battery compartment can be opened). You can press the button again to deactivate the light, or it will go off automatically after 10 minutes. 10 minutes may seem like a long time, however there is nothing worse than having to continuously press a stupid button in order to get something to stay lit. You also have to consider that the BLL24M is using LEDs, which are much less taxing on batteries than an incandescent bulb. The level is lightweight considering what’s inside, coming it at 1 lb and 7 ounces, including a couple of AAA batteries. It’s very easy to maneuver and we had no trouble using it in our closet addition we were working on.
Testing
As we mentioned, we were completing some shelving work on a closet addition and used the Swanson BLL24M box beam level to ensure that our shelving was perfectly straight and plumb. Since we were working with wood and not metal, the magnets were underutilized in our endeavors, but the lighted vials certainly came in handy. We found them to have a very nice glow, not blinding or overpowering, but just enough to easily read the bubble and make our adjustments. The LEDs are perfectly positioned and there was never a sense that we had to specially maneuver the level in order to read it – it just worked.
To test the magnets we headed over to our trusty panel box and gave it a stick. Its grip is solid, even with multiple coats of paint and a rough surface due to the panel being decades old. When we say “solid” it’s actually at that point where if it adhered too much more it would be a nuisance. It’s got a strong pull, but not so much that you’ll have to fight with it to get it off your studs or the inside of your work van. We also gave it over to our “stove drawer” test. This is simple. We attach it to our lower drawer below the oven and pull open the drawer a few times when it is full of about 20+ pounds of pots and pans. If the level’s magnet can do that without losing its grip, it’s not going to fall off anything you stick it to.
Conclusion
The entire line of box beam levels that we have sampled to-date from Swanson Tool Company have been great performers and easy to recommend. With the introduction of their Lightning Levels that include LED-lighted vials, it’s a no-brainer that nearly everyone will find these extremely handy to have around. This is especially true since the LEDs don’t have to be used all the time and the two AAA batteries are certain to last a long long time. For performance these levels earned a high rating, competing well in a market that is full of stiff competition. In terms of value, there certainly isn’t a lot of competition that included the features of this model.
About Swanson Tool Company
Swanson Tool Company is a leading, global manufacturer of layout and leveling tools. The Frankfort, Il-based company is the inventor of the SPEED Square and continues to proudly manufacture and distribute the Swanson SPEED® Square and other fine carpentry and leveling tools. The Swanson product line has been upgraded and expanded to meet the changing needs of loyal customers, contractors and do-it-yourself enthusiasts, world-wide.
