Wood Levels | Spirit Levels

Wood Level Overview

The wood level has been around for over 100 years. Over the last 15 years in the U.S. however, there are fewer wood levels sold as professionals begin replacing wood levels with box beam levels.

Big J Hardwood Level Wood levels can be made either of a solid piece of wood, like birch or mahogany, or can be a slow growth lumber laminate, which means several pieces of wood strips are pressed and glued together. Laminates are much stronger than solid blocks of wood. The edges of the wood level typically feature some type of edge, like a brass or steel binding, which not only gives the level added strength, it is also used a mason to tap on it with his trowel. Most wood levels traditionally feature a curved spirit level vial system, rather than the barrel vials found in i-beam levels or the solid block acrylic block vial found in box levels. Since the vial is curved, it only works in one position, so the vial system of the wood level is actually a dual (two) vial system. The vial system is hand set to "level" and his held into place by a silicon ring (historically the ring was plaster) and glue, offering more stability.

The largest U.S. manufacturer of wood levels is Johnson Level & Tool, with wood level manufacturing in the northern woods of Wisconsin, followed by Mayes Brothers Tool Manufacturing in Johnson City, Tennessee. All wood levels of significant volume in the U.S. are imported from Asia.

Who Uses the Wood Level?

Although wood levels can be used by anybody, wood levels are traditionally used by masons, or professionals in the "wet" or "flat" trades. Features of wood levels include:

Wood is very easy to clean because mortar does not stick to it. After cleaning, to keep the wood moist, the level can be cleaned with raw linseed oil, lemon oil or tung oil.
Wood does not absorb and retain heat or cold like an aluminum level would. Wood is impervious to temperature which professional craftspeople on "hot" or "cold" jobs prefer.
Spirit level vials have a long "bubble travel". Due to the curved, dual-vial system, masons can work at one quarter, one-half and even three-quarters of a bubble out when establishing a slope. Due to do concentricity of the mono (one) barrel vial system, this is not possible. With a barrel vial, once the bubble moves near one-quarter out of level, it "races" to the edge of the vial.
Glass cover plates over the vials, which are important because mortar (an abrasive) will scratch plastic vial covers, making them cloudy, whereas glass will not scratch this way.
Wood levels have a "rich" look and feel!

A four foot hardwood laminated wood level can be found in most home centers and hardware stores for around $30, while a heavier, custom wood level may cost over $100.