How can I level line posts for a chain link fence?
Written by General Seo on Mar 10th, 2011 | Filed under: Link Building
I’m building a fence around my yard and i’m having trouble getting the line posts level. They’re set in the concrete already and I’m just sawing the tops off to level them. Hanging a string doesn’t seem to be working… It’s a 72′ run so the string is sagging, and measuring from the ground up doesn’t seem to be working either (the concrete was poured higher on some poles than others). Any suggestions?
I used to use a line level, which is a small, pencil-sized level that attaches to a mason string, which is a poly or nylon string used by carpenters. Both are pretty cheap. There are a couple of tricks for using these:
- With a tight string, raise or lower one end of the string with the level at the center until its level.
- Depending on your length, raise the center of the string a little bit. If memory serves me, about 1/2" for a 30 foot long string is about right. Raise at one-quarter in from each side about 1/4", The rest should be pretty close.
Another way is to but a laser level. You can get them for $20 to $40 now, and although not as accurate as the ones that cost a thousand bucks, they would work perfectly for this application. Best used at night, or late evening, so you can see the laser better. Then just mark your posts at the laser line.
Now, do you really want it LEVEL? Or, do want it to follow the contour of the land? In other words, if the ground slopes from one end of the fence to the other, you can follow the slope of the land. That’s pretty easy – just lay a long board, like a 16 foot 2×4 down on the ground and measure up from it to the top of the post. Move it about 8 feet at a time and continue marking until you are done. That way, all of your fencing material will be the same height from the ground.
Good luck.
String it at smaller intervals and you’ll get a better result without the line sagging
GO TO HARDWAE STORE AND GET WHAT IS CALLED A LINE LEVEL IT IS ABOUT 2 INCHES OR SO LONG AND IT HANGS FROM YOUR LINE AND HAS A LEVEL BUBBLE IN IT..PULL LINE REAL TIGHT AND PUT LEVEL ON IT AND ADJUST FROM THERE …PROBABLY START FROM LOWEST POINT IN FENCE AND WORK TO HIGHEST OR VISE VERSA…GO ABOUT THIRD OF THE WAY AT A TIME SHOULD DO THE TRICK …LINE LEVEL IS INEXPENSIVE ALSO…
For not a whole lot of money, you can buy a laser level with a range of 100′ or more. You can get one that will do what you need for $30 – $40. Check Sears.com The biggest disadvantage is that the light isn’t easily visible during bright daylight, but you could run the level in the late afternoon, mark the post and cut the next day.
Use a laser level being sure of the slope if any of the ground, compensate for the angle then saw the post of level where the laser beam touches each post.
I have done this several times. I use a nylon string and pull it really, really tight so there is no noticeable sag. I also use a simple line level that clips to the string.
use a 7 6" piece of wood and a spirit level put it on 1 post and raise or lower the other end untill the buble is in the middle of the level and draw a line on the post you want to cut with a pencil the it will be level