Changed my mind on using a laser level for guide rail alignment

I was working on a full mod in a high rise downtown about six weeks ago. We were setting the guide rails, and I had my trusty laser level set up, thinking it was the best way to get it perfect. This old timer from another company, Frank, was there doing a check on the adjacent shaft. He watched me for a minute and said, 'Kid, that beam is straight, but your rails live in the real world.' He walked me over, had me run a weighted piano wire down the full height of the hoistway next to my laser line. The wire showed a slight bow in the building's core that the laser just didn't pick up over that distance. He said he's seen it a hundred times in towers over forty stories. Now I use the wire for the long plumb check and just use the laser for quick reference. Anyone else run into building sway or core shift messing with their alignment tools?

3 comments

3 Comments

jesse_fisher1mo ago

Frank's wire trick is solid for a final check, I get that. But honestly, I've done over thirty high-rise installs and my laser has never steered me wrong if you use it right. You have to account for the building settling by taking multiple shots from different spots in the hoistway, not just one line. Tbh, a wire can catch a draft or get bumped just as easy. For me, the laser's speed on the initial runs is worth it every time.

butler.abby1mo ago

You're both missing the human factor. A new guy on the crew can see a physical wire, understand it, and check it. Hand him a thousand-dollar laser and he might not know how to tell if it's lying. The best tool is the one your whole team can use and trust without a week of training.

abby_wilson511mo ago

We ran a laser against a plumb wire on the Sears Tower job, matched within an eighth inch.