I’ve worked as a carpenter and foreman for Pinsonneault Builders over the past 12 years. Based in Mashpee, Mass., the versatile contractor has a crew of about 30 men and builds custom homes and commercial buildings while also specializing in remodeling and historic preservation. When Stabila introduced the LAX300 compact laser in 2013, we were about to build a 120,000-square-foot hotel. I thought the LAX300 might be the ideal toolbelt laser for the job, so I placed an order with the boss. The laser worked so well and was so popular with the crew that we recently bought two more.
LINES AND DOTS
The LAX300 projects a horizontal line and an intersecting vertical line, plus up and down points that serve as a virtual plumb bob. Both lines fan out 130 degrees from the laser. The vertical line continues out onto ceilings, where it passes through the top plumb point and stops slightly behind the laser. This placement ensures that the line reaches the tops of walls even when the laser is positioned close to them, and it’s especially useful for aligning interior wall framing and long runs of suspended-ceiling grid.
According to the specs, the laser has a visible range of up to 60 feet. We can easily see the lines and plumb points in most interiors. Outdoors, the concentrated plumb points are bright enough for most of our plumb-bob applications, but the two lines can be difficult or impossible to find at a reasonable distance or in bright light. You can use laser-enhancement eyeglasses or the included target plate to extend the visible range. The pulsed laser lines also allow you to use a receiver to detect the beam, extending the working range to about 300 feet. Stabila’s compatible REC 210 receiver costs about $175. So far, though, we’ve only used the LAX300 as a simple standalone portable, and have yet to try any accessories. If Stabila would add a bright point where the two lines cross so we could, say, easily check a ridge for level with the naked eye, the visible range of the lines would seldom be an issue for us.
Like most competing lasers, the LAX300 uses a pendulum to self-level. The base of the laser must be within about 4 1/2 degrees of level for the pendulum to work. If the inclination is greater, the lines, points, and LED warning light flash to indicate that you’re outside the self-leveling range.
The pendulum automatically locks when you switch off the tool, which helps prevent shock damage. To project a sloped line or the two perpendicular lines in any direction, simply leave the slide switch in the off position so the pendulum remains locked, and press the function button on the opposite side of the laser for about two seconds. In this mode, the lines, points, and LED blink rapidly so you don’t forget that the pendulum is locked.
According to Stabila, the three AA batteries deliver up to about 20 hours of runtime, which sounds about right. A separate LED on the laser starts to glow amber when about four hours of runtime remain—plenty of time to buy more batteries.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
The main body of the LAX300 rotates 360 degrees on its vertical axis within a C-shaped, rubberized outer housing, which can be very helpful for aiming layout lines. This housing has a 1/4-20 socket on the bottom for tripods and laser poles, and two powerful V-grooved rare-earth magnets on the back that stick the laser to the included wall bracket or other ferrous objects. We use the magnetic attachment a lot when setting windows.
The bottom of the outer housing is a height-adjustable foot that releases and locks at the flip of a lever. The foot lets you fine-tune the elevation of the horizontal laser line, and extending it gives a clear view of the downward plumb point. The foot also makes it easy to plumb wall framing: Just push the notched tip of the fully extended foot against your metal track or 2-by bottom plate, and the downward plumb point will sideswipe the edge. When the upward point hits the corresponding edge of the top track or plate, the wall is plumb.
Framing contractors bump track or plates with the LAX300 all day, which can punish the adjustable foot. The laser includes a sturdy plastic “framing base” that screws to the 1/4-20 socket so you can plumb walls without extending the foot.
The outer housing serves one more important purpose. In the closed position, it shields all the lenses to help prevent breakage and keep them clean. Stabila says it tested the shock-resistance of the LAX300 by dropping it onto concrete from a height of one meter with the pendulum locked, so the laser appears to be internally rugged, too. The laser also has an IP54 rating, indicating that water splashes and dust won’t hurt it.
THE BOTTOM LINE
When I plan to use one of our LAX300 lasers, I just slip its padded carrying case onto my toolbelt to keep it safe and accessible, and I’m ready to go. Our crew has used these lasers on residential and commercial jobsites for plumbing walls, gables, and trusses; setting windows and doors; leveling ceilings; and more. They’ve been rained on, banged up, and exposed to dust, and have fared very well. We wish they had one bright dot on the horizontal line, and we would appreciate a rechargeable version, but I highly recommend this excellent tool.
