Saturday, September 05, 2015
DeWalt Carbon Fiber Level
Tools of the Trade: Carbon fiber is incredibly strong for its weight, which is why you find it in golf clubs, jetliners, and high-end bike frames. As for hand tools, it first appeared in CarbonLite box wrenches. Now it’s being used in spirit levels.
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2 comments:
The increasing prevalence of carbon fiber as an effective if still slightly pricy alternative to steel is in my opinion a fantastic innovation for anyone that uses these tools. If you can afford the sometimes hefty price tag the advantages of lightweight but incredibly durable tools are many. I for one can remember several times where when attempting to use a tool similar to this level I struggled to support the weight if I was only able to hold one end while still attempting to use the tool effectively. While for some scenarios the minimalist weight will merely be a nice convenience it will also enable a single worker to accomplish a few fairly common tasks with less effort and more importantly, faster.
I am a little confused however why DeWALT decided levels would be the premier tool to push carbon fiber technology. Why not a good crescent wrench like the one that is always struggling to rip its way through my belt loop through lighting calls. Or how about tape measures. It is likely, at least for now, that the blades will need to remain steel but what about that handle, couldn’t we shave off some weight there? What about pocket knives? Carbon fiber will likely be the future tool materiel of choice but I want to see it in the tools I use all day hanging from my belt first.
Why do I need a level made out of carbon fiber? In fact why do I need a level at all? Levels have almost no place in theater, with the possible exception of hanging set dressing, and checking the levelness of the deck just before you move on and don’t do anything about it. I was working at a regional theater once where a TD, upon seeing his master carpenter try and use a level to set up stud walls for a deck, took the level and proceeded to throw it across the shop and explain that levels have no place in general theater construction. In one aspect, it is reassuring to tell yourself something it level, and therefore it will be fine, regardless of how well it is actually built. On the other hand however, something being level, or straight up and down (pointed at the center of the earth) is much less important than pieces being square with each other and rigidly constructed.
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