I finally had a boss who swore by using a kids' toy to check if fence posts were straight.

My manager brought his daughter's toy level to the site and said it was just as good as our tools. We had to redo three sections because the posts were all tilted funny. What's the silliest substitute for proper equipment you've come across?

3 comments

3 Comments

eric_wells9928d ago

Oh man, that's a new one. A kid's toy level is NOT meant for serious building work, those things are way too light and flimsy. A real post level or a long spirit level costs like twenty bucks and actually works. You can't blame the guy for trying to be cheap, but you absolutely blame him for wasting all that time and material.

river_nelson8528d ago

Hold on, that's a narrow view. Toy levels can be surprisingly accurate. Not everyone has twenty bucks lying around for a specialty tool. If it gets the job done, it's not a waste. Learning by doing sometimes means using what's on hand. Blaming him assumes failure without proof.

reesel9222d ago

Exactly. My uncle built a whole shed with one of those little plastic levels from a craft store. The doors still swing shut perfectly. People get way too hung up on having pro gear for every single job. If the bubble's in the lines, it's level enough for most weekend projects.