Swanson TL043M 9-Inch Savage Magnetic Torpedo Level, Orange

So as we all are I’m getting older and having more trouble seeing in lower light , and in the middle of remodeling my 104 year old house and desperately needed a level that I could see and that’s all I was Hoping for but i just got to say that i got way more than I expected ! This is the finest built level Ive ever used, it’s dead accurate and packed with some really handy features, along with the lighting ability but that’s not the best part , the best part is the way this thing feels in your hands ! The build quality is incredible, i honestly think this is one of the finest tools I’ve ever used and i also have other high end led levels but this one is now my go to , and also it seems to be made exactly like the more expensive Klein ! I mean exactly

Great level, light is super nice.magnets are really strong

This level is wonderful. Not only is this level lighter than the Klein levels that it looks almost identical too, (and is way cheaper), but the magnet and durability of this level are only a notch below the Klein torpedo level that it looks like. Now, this isn't near as strong durability wise nor are the magnets quote that "sticky," but as I said, they come dang close. I dropped my level from the top of a sky lift onto concrete flooring the first day and all it had was a little dent on one of the top (non magnet side) edges. For the price and what these levels go through on the job, for my money this Swanson level is the better buy. Why? Because not only is it pretty darn close to the Klein torpedo level, but it's economical pricing means if it does get lost or somehow destroyed, it's no big deal to replace it. If you absolutely need perfection in your torpedo level; one that is going to stick like super glue and withstand dozens and dozens of drops onto concrete, (and you know you wont lose it), buy the Klein. However, if you just need a very strong magnet (not super glue levels like the Klein but still very good), and are confident you might only drop the level 10-20 times on hard concrete, and realize you are prone to/might lose it within 1 or 2 years, the Swanson is perfect for you. The Swanson is still an expertly crafted and is quite a bit cheaper than the top/prefered (and expensive) level out there so buy it and don't worry about caring for it. This nice piece of equipment will do just as good a job and doesn't come with all the worry that you might develop over a more expensive investment.

12/14/2024Only one side is magnetic which is great since that gives you options, maybe you just want to check some level quickly, or you might want the unit to stay a certain way. Has holes to hang on your tool belt, is super light, really strong.My only true gripe is the measurements, one side has 7inches but the other side just says 18. Long story short the non labeled side is supposed to be cm but its rounded to18cm from 17.78cm which is what 7in is in cm. So that side is not accurate.Good unit though.Will update if anything major happens.

This level is pretty good for the price. I recently had to moonlight as a pipe fitter at the boat yard where I work. I needed a short magnetic level to fit between welds and fittings. I didn’t want to invest too much in special tools since it was a short term assignment. This level fit the bill.Here’s my view of the good and less good:It’s sturdy and fairly short with strong magnets. The bubble levels are accurate (compared with several other more expensive levels) and you get 4 angles (0, 30, 45 & 90). The bubbles fit fairly well between the lines, with just a tiny gap to either side so level could be judged as could close enough. It is NOT a machinists level however. It has the cool screw clamp on the end which allows you to better judge bend and fitting angles, and it’s orange so fairly easy to see. One end is rounded and I bet there’s a good reason for it, but I liked that it went into my pocket easily and didn’t get damaged when it fell. It worked well for me and still does.The less good bits are smaller things: The windows for the bubble levels are smaller than on others, so moderate low light conditions required my headlamp to see clearly.The viewing holes in the top of the level were also on the small side, so off angle viewing could be difficult. As mentioned above, the bubbles were not quite big enough to completely fit exactly between the lines, meaning the bubble could still be between the lines without it being perfectly level (but it was really close). All very small complaints. The only thing I have real reservations about is the thumb screw: the knurled thumb screw for the clamp end is pretty loose. I was constantly making sure it was tight so as not to fall out and get lost. It never did and it would have to unscrew a pretty long way to fall out, but I found myself thinking about it every time I reached for the level.For the price I’m not disappointed. If I was using day in and day out, I would find something else, with better visibility and a tighter screw.

I dropped this level four floors, and it works like new.