The Skil 360° Green Crosshair Laser Level Offers Excellent Value
If your installation project to-do list is getting out of hand and you can't afford the price of a quality professional crosshair laser, there's good news. There is a Skil 360° Green Crosshair Laser and Tripod Set that offers professional features at a very affordable price.
advantage
- Green Light for Higher Visibility
- Full 360° horizontal beam
- Rechargeable lithium-ion battery (built-in)
- Self-leveling with lockable transom
- 6 hours run time
- run while charging
- The included tripod is perfect for projects around the house
shortcoming
- A tripod could be stronger
From the beginning, Skil made two major upgrades to this laser: a green beam and a rechargeable battery.
The human eye picks up green beams better than red, and you end up with a longer working range. However, green beams use more power.
That's one reason why this Skil Green Crosshair Laser runs on an integrated lithium-ion battery. You don't have to worry about keeping a bunch of AA alkaline batteries in a drawer or shelving your project for a run to the store.
The battery lasts up to 6 hours. We make the most of it by using the beams we need (vertical or horizontal) instead of holding them all the time.
The downside to integrated batteries is that you can't replace them like you can with lasers that use alkaline or power tool batteries. During our testing, though, we noticed that you can use the laser while it's plugged in. If money is tight, AC power can be used as a backup option.
Skil 360° Green Crosshair Laser Leveling Accuracy
Skil adjusts this laser level to an accuracy of ±3/16 inch within a range of 30 feet. We tested the laser on some picture hangings, curtain rod mounts and track rack mounts and it worked really well. Professional contractors want tighter tolerances on some jobs, but the Skil's accuracy is fine for most home improvement projects.
Laser diode self-leveling up to 4°. If you go beyond that, the beam will flicker so you know to set it closer to level.
If you purposefully use a beam that is off-horizontal, you can lock the beam in place and tilt the laser to get the angle you want. This helps to add creative interest to a series of pictures, to place the tiles at an angle to the wall instead of square, and many other decorating ideas.
Includes tripod
We love this Skil Green Crosshair Laser with Tripod Mount. If you're going to be using a laser level on a regular basis, this is something you must have. Trying to find the right combination of boxes and books to stack at just the right height can look comical and frustrating when you're trying to get work done.
We really like how light the tripod is. Unlike most camera tripods (which usually have the same 1/4" screw connection), this one only goes up to 3 1/2 feet. You can place it on a table or counter without any problem. From there, the vertical adjustment of the tripod helps you adjust to the perfect height. There have been a few times when we've been working in closets, though, where we've wanted a higher height.
While the tripod is light, it's not designed for slamming around in the back of a work truck all day, every day. This kind of work requires a more robust design. If you're traveling with it, just be careful to place it where its legs won't be damaged by hitting it with other objects.
Skil 360° Green Crosshair Laser Feature Set
- 360°horizontal beam
- Green beam visible up to 100 feet in diameter (50 feet radius)
- Self-leveling up to 4º with over-level alarm (beam flashes when over-level)
- Lockable diodes project beams at non-horizontal angles
- Integrated rechargeable Li-ion battery (micro USB charging cable included)
- Includes tripod
Skil 360° Green Crosshair Laser Combo Price
We are very excited about Skil's pricing on this green crosshair laser. The whole package is just $139.99 on Amazon.
To put that in perspective, a good professional red laser running on an AA with a 50-foot range runs about $150. The green beam tops out at $180, and adding a rechargeable battery on top gets you over $200. Plus, none of these include a tripod.
the bottom line
If you're looking for a reticle laser to help with projects around the house, you won't find a better value for money on the Skil Green Reticle Laser and Tripod Set. It's got everything you need in one box, and there's no upgrade we trust anyone else to offer in the same price range.
Skil 360° Green Crosshair Laser Specifications
- Model: Shiqi L9322G-01
- Battery life (hours): 6
- Laser type (nanometer): green light, 520nm, class 2, <1mW
- Accuracy: ±3/16 inches, ±0.5 mm/meter at 30 feet
- Projection: 360º horizontal and one vertical line
- Typical Laser Visibility/Working Range (feet): 100 feet 30 meters
- Self-leveling range (°): ±4°
- Height: 4.21 inches
- Length: 3.78 inches
- Width: 2.87 inches
- Weight: 0.97 lbs
- Warranty: 5 years
- Price: $139.99