To facilitate the work of builders, various devices and devices have been invented. Moreover, some of them were invented several tens and hundreds of years ago. One of these useful and effective devices is the one that will be discussed in the article.
So, what is a plumb bob and how is it used?
Cord model
A simple special tool allows you to accurately determine and check the vertical position of the created object. The design of the device is as simple as possible: a load attached to the end of a cord (the popular name is “lace”). Often the kit comes with an element designed to facilitate fixing the tool on the wall.
Using the device, you can draw a line on the wall ceiling, strictly horizontal to the lower surface. The price of the product is available to everyone, depending on the quality of the materials used, the manufacturer and the configuration. Such a device is easy to make with your own hands.
Design and principle of operation
Using a plumb line is elementary. Suspendedthe weight guarantees the required force of gravity. The cord is pulled tight to determine the exact vertical direction.
The package of the standard tool in question includes the body, head, inserts, lace and straps. The first two parts are made of durable steel, the inserts are made of polyamide, the strips are made of aluminum alloys (thickness is not more than 2 mm).
To improve the accuracy of work, sharp edges and burrs are cleaned. For the cord, nylon or chlorine fibers, curled into a kind of small rope, are suitable. As an alternative, analogues are used that have similar characteristics in terms of reliability, strength and elasticity.
How to use?
What is a plumb line with a cord and how to use it, we will consider further.
With the help of the indicated device, the verticality of walls and other surfaces is checked. Measurements are taken as follows:
- The tool is fixed at the highest point of the object under study. Some modifications are equipped with a special washer fixed on the back end of the cord.
- The washer is applied to the plane, waiting for the weight to stop fluctuating.
- Then measure the difference between the test surface and the vertically stretched thread.
In some modifications, the cord is disguised in a plastic case (like a tape measure). This part can be used as a support for the thread. With certain construction work, there is a need to find the specified tool in constant proximity. To do this, use the elementaryfasteners: nail, screw, self-tapping screw.
Having a template constantly before our eyes, the evenness of the surface is monitored during plastering or similar work.
Features
Along with the construction bubble level, a plumb line is one of the devices that almost all basic construction work cannot do without. List of some operations:
- checking the straightness and verticality of the walls;
- monitoring the correct assembly of furniture and household appliances;
- checking the evenness of brickwork.
A weight suspended on a thread is applied in turn from two sides, checking the distance to the cord along its entire length. It must be identical everywhere. Distance control is performed at several different points. By the same principle, the verticality of surfaces erected from logs or timber is checked. If non-cylindrical elements are used, the difference between the dimensions of the crowns must be taken into account.
Despite all the practicality and simplicity of the device, it has a significant disadvantage. Since construction manipulations are often carried out on the street, gusts of wind do not allow fixing the device. You can solve the problem very simply by first lowering the load into a container of water. A light wind in this case will not be a particular hindrance.
What is a plumb line with a magnet?
In the construction discussed earlier, the cord is the weak point of the tool. It is often torn, confused or not amenable to 100% fixation. To avoid these shortcomings,The design has been slightly improved. In an improved version, the thread is wound on a special spool placed inside the core.
Easy fixation on the work object is guaranteed with built-in magnets. They provide reliable fastening on any metal surface. The magnet allows you to position the tool at any height. When using the device with wood, an additional needle is provided, built into the body.
Laser modifications
The vertical position of the surface to be examined can be checked with laser plummets. The simplest representative of this category is the pointer. It is made like a key fob with a laser target indicator. There are not so many such devices focused exclusively on construction work. One of the modifications is a metal case, on the pin of which there is a pointer directly.
The fixture generates points on the floor and ceiling. The leveling process takes place automatically using a special mechanism, vaguely reminiscent of an analogue of a plumb line. Well-known manufacturers in the construction market offer devices with a range of up to 30 meters. They are highly accurate, battery powered and quite expensive.
Inexpensive obscure brands and artisanal versions are widely available in the markets. Such an instrument requires proof checking with reliable reference instruments. One of the design options is a plastic case with aLED and self-leveling system that responds to a certain degree of deviation in the horizontal plane.
Electronic version
This is more likely not a plumb-line device, but an application installed on an iPhone or Android. One of these programs has the original name "Handy Carpenter". This version is not considered a professional tool, but it allows you to assess the degree of evenness of a particular surface, determine the quality of the finish, the correct installation of furniture or home appliances.
The principle of operation of such a device:
- the application is launched and applied to the object under study;
- the display will show the coordinate system with the displayed weight;
- deviation is visible visually, additionally the results are displayed at the top of the screen;
- also displays the error relative to the conventional system (in degrees).
A similar application is available for smartphones and tablets, it is called Plumb-bob. The program makes it possible to measure the distance, angles, horizontality and verticality of lines. All measurement results are calculated from the photo and the loaded parameters, which must be strived for.
How to make a plumb yourself?
If scheduled or urgent construction work is planned at home or on a personal plot, and there is no plumb line in the tool kit, there is no need to rush headlong to a specialized store. When you need to definea straight vertical line or level the surface, a homemade analogue is quite suitable.
To make a plumb line, you will need a reliable strong cord (its length is approximately 1000 mm). Any suitable object is taken as a load, for example, a nut that is heavy in weight. After checking the reliability of fixing the two elements, you can start work. When taking measurements, hold the thread firmly and make sure that the load does not unwind to the sides. If you need to check a surface that is small in area, you can use a small bottle of cosmetics instead of a nut.
The main thing when working with such a tool is not to let the device come into contact with the measured object. There must be at least a minimum gap between them.
To carry out large-scale manipulations, you will also need an appropriate tool. Instead of a thin cord, it is better to take a thick twine, and a plastic container with water will completely replace the load. Although experts still recommend using metal weights.
Finally
Despite the development of progress, homemade or classic plumb lines remain the most popular representatives in their category. They are simple in design. With a little experience and skill, it can be used to get accurate readings without spending a lot of labor and money. But for beginners, without the supervision of a specialist, it is not recommended to use such a device, since there is a high probability of errors. This is especially true when buildingscale structures.
The second most popular device for measuring the vertical position of the surface are laser modifications. What is a plumb line in this performance, discussed above. From the foregoing, the conclusion suggests itself that its demand is due to a simple principle of operation.
Despite all the advantages, not everyone is willing to pay the price that such versions have. It is worth noting that the error of these devices is only 0.4 mm, and well-known brands are engaged in their production, including Bosch, Spectra, Dew alt, Ebon. In conclusion, a few words about electronic applications: they are easy to use, but not all professionals tend to trust them.
