Shooting Elevations- How to do?

[Dahc]

What tools are required for shooting simple elevations? I just want to be able to transfer an existing elevation to other points for footer work? Anyone have experience in this area? I'm sure it will concern some type of transit but I need to know what to look for so I can find a used one. Think "cheap" when suggesting tools. lol

I have a water level but it's only 30ft long. It is good for my own use but others probably wont be satisfied with it and it wont work in every situation.

[wy_white_wolf]

I've used a builders level like this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/DEWALT-DW090-BUI...QQcmdZViewItem
Along with a tape measure fastened to a 2x4.

Also if your water level is the hose type they are as accurate as anything else. Lengthen yours or put two clear ends onto a garden hose thats long enough.

[Micahn]

LOL when I first started reading this I was thinking of a water level myself :-)

Now days you can buy some cheap laser levels. Depending on the distance one of them might work great for you.
Something like this one
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...cStoreNum=8125

[Bearfootfarm]

You can also rent those tools if you dont foresee a future use for it

[leecofarm]

what situations would a water tube/hose not work?

Originally Posted by Dahc

I have a water level but it's only 30ft long. It is good for my own use but others probably wont be satisfied with it and it wont work in every situation.

[hillsidedigger]

As a self-employed licensed surveyor, yes, I have transferred elevations many times.

An inexpensive builder's transit would do the job if you are very careful when levelling the instrument and if you repeat each view with a 'plunged telescope', in other words flop the telescope thru the vertical axis 180 degrees and look again.

A self-levelling auto-level is easier to use than a transit, might cost a little more.

[agmantoo]

extending the water level is your best bet!

[Dahc]

Originally Posted by leecofarm

what situations would a water tube/hose not work?

Distances longer than the level itself and areas where there are obstructions like concrete block walls between the points that are higher than your stakes... etc... A water level could be used in the second situation but it seems like it would be more time consuming if it were a long wall. Maybe I'm not thinking on it right. Not sure.

I just remembered that I have a bronze laser level around here somewhere and it has a screw hole for a tripod. It's just a basic 12" level but it is very good quality, not the plastic stuff they sell today. I need to find it and try and find a matching tripod for it I think. If I'm not misunderstanding, I could use this right? Provided I had a line of sight? Is there a reason why this wouldn't be a good choice?