BLACK+DECKER BullsEye Auto-Leveling Laser with AnglePro (BDL170)

I've recently purchased a new home and have used this laser level for approximately 1 month. Typical projects included hanging artwork, curtains, etc. As an engineer I can say this is one of the most useful tools I've ever purchased because it easily eliminates a lot the guesswork associated with creating a level line of reference over a long distance.The self leveling feature is by far the most useful quality about this product. I had to hang two sets of curtains on the same wall. Using 3M Command Adhesive strips I mounted the laser level at the desired height in the space between my window and sliding glass door. I projected the self leveling laser line to the right and I mounted the curtain rod over my sliding glass door. I then pushed the side button on the laser level to project the line to left and proceeded to mount the other curtain rod over a window. Both curtain rods were easily mounted level and at the exact same height - no guess work - no need to use a standard level or tape measure. It really made the job a breeze.Even on a bright afternoon you can still see the line in a well lit room, however I'd be skeptical that it would work outdoors in a bright environment. The line easily projects over 20 feet which should be fine for almost any interior wall. Corners are a bit of a problem b/c this unit is wall mounted, but moving it is quite easy.It does have the ability to lock the laser in place (such that it does not auto level) so you can point it in a particular direction / angle. The angle gauge is completely useless. There are stick marks, but it does not have the actual number of degrees labeled. You'll have to use a protractor or just "eye-ball it" if you're doing an angle measurement.Keep in mind what you're purchasing: this is a general household use level. It's not an adjustable rotary level that a contractor would purchase for a few hundred dollars. I gave it five stars b/c it fulfills (what I consider to be) its intended purpose perfectly.Bottom line - this will give you a horizontal and vertical level line of reference that will work for nearly all typical household chores such as mounting wall decor, curtains, etc. The $25 you spend is WELL worth the hassle it can save you.

I bought this unit to replace the previous model because, after 20 years of use, my old one quit working. When I saw this, I jumped on it. However it doesn't have the free floating laser feature. Instead the laser beam is fixed and you have to basically get it level by reading a floating gauge and turning the whole unit until the indicator is in the level position. That is not easy to do with one hand while you try to mark location with the other. The floating laser beam in the old model automatically stayed level whether slightly turned it or not. Still a very useful tool and does have a better way to mount it to a wall for hands free use but I don't use it much if I'm measuring for a picture a certain height from the ceiling or furniture below. Good unit but I liked the previous free floating laser beam better.

So, I was initially torn on buying this product, based on some of the bad reviews it has gotten. Long story short, I am glad I pulled the trigger. I spent this past weekend hanging our pictures, shelves and curtains in our new place and this thing made the job much easier. The laser is strong, clear, and oh yeah, VERY level. I know others have complained about how poorly it auto-levels but it always projected a very level line for me, and everything I checked with my bubble level was spot on. If that does change over time, I will be sure to note that here, but for its first batch of projects it was terrific.A few things I think worth noting...-The switch goes to the middle to LOCK the line if you want to use it for an angle. Pushing it to the far right moves it to auto-level and you have about 5 degrees of leeway there for the laser to be projected out of the housing. If you are trying to line up 0 or 90 degrees using the little angle readout, you are doing it wrong!!!-The angle readout feature IS pretty much useless, but the real reason I bought it is for 0 and 90 degrees, so I can live with this.-This is not a contractor grade foundation level. If you expect to get such a level at this price, you're barking up the wrong tree. This is a tool for the DIY type, for projects around the house. If you buy it for that reason, I think it is a perfect fit.-Others have complained about the drywall spike being flimsy, but I used it at least a dozen times and it gave me no trouble at all. Just make sure you push it STRAIGHT into the wall.-In fact, I found it extremely handy the way the spike lined up level with the laser, so if you needed two holes, you could put the spike into the wall and it would automatically mark out your first hole. Using this method, I had no problems keeping things level.Overall, I think this is a very good product for a good price, and I would strongly recommend it to my friends and family and I think that pretty much says it all.