I rarely have the occasion where I need, or want, a torpedo level in my carpentry so I've been ill-equipped.  I do now have a need to do some metal working in the near future, so I have been on the hunt for an older American made torpedo level.  This Stanley was found yesterday for a $1.  It was spray painted hunter's orange.  It cleaned up enough for me to not be embarrassed by its looks in my use.  Although I admit the hunters orange could have been handy in finding it.  I have been known to spray paint 5/16 and 1/4 bits impact bits the color orange.

I'm assuming it was purposed primarily for metal working given the magnetic insets (not that this really matters to me).  Please correct me if that assumption is wrong.

NIce, have not seen a level with magnets.  I see it handy in steel building erection, very handy.    Around a job site, might be useful for the orange paint, but then I never lay anything down, Ha.  For a buck, oh yeah.

I have one with magnet on one side & V slot on other for pipe/bar, very useful in my welding tool bag...

Nice, still looking for one.
Run away from the plastic inset ones...run fast...

Quote from: rusty on September 23, 2013, 05:34:51 PM
Nice, still looking for one.
Run away from the plastic inset ones...run fast...

As luck would have it - I came across this one today and decided it had to come home with me.  Either is yours FOC - I have no preference.  I like both.

Nice find!

I have used a level with a magnet for years. Very handy for leaving washing machines. The magnet keeps the level from sliding off the top of the washer as you tilt the washer back and fourth to adjust the legs.

9" torpedo level is one of the hand tools that the contractor had to give me, andvreplace whenever I needed one.  We use them all day, every day on fire sprinkler work.  The v-groove sets on the pipe, and the magnet keeps it there.  We need both level and vertical vials inour work.  Plumbers use them also. The extra lines to the side show proper pitch.

I love the story about the hunters orange. When I went to the vocational program for carpentry I painted some of my hand tools a neon purple. I looked a little weird but I knew they were mine. They never magically walked away, and no one ever wanted to borrow a half purple screwdriver. 

I got a torpedo level with magnets. The magnets sure do help at work, when were working on steel mounting frames and have to level them. They do a good job of keeping it in place in the toolbox as well.

That sounds like my old buddy at the sewage plant, he put pink circles on his tools with finger nail polish. Its funny how his tools never grew feet.

One of the stage hands I used to work with spray painted every tool he carried, even his extension cords, with lavender paint.  As noted, none of his tools every walked!

Yupp!! started painting my work tools florescent orange stripe to spot them at a glance, easer to recover when someone else uses them..
haven't lost a tool since..  also easer to read stamped size when paint wears off, but still in recess..

My dad always painted his tools bright red so he'd know them at a glance. He also changed all his power tools and extension cords to twist-lock ends so no one else could use them!