Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2001 16:51:53 -0400
From: John Kleber & Annette Worthington <73761.230@compuserve.com>
Subject: Digital Levels
Sender: John Kleber & Annette Worthington <73761.230@compuserve.com>
To: Lancair List <lancair.list@olsusa.com>
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Greetings:

This post is especially for those new builders who are about to purchase 
a digital level.

Several years ago Macklinburg-Duncan (spelling?) sold a digital level
called a "SMART LEVEL."  The Lancair assembly manuals refer to this tool
frequently, and is a very good, if not essential, tool in the builder's
arsenal.  However, M-D no longer makes this tool.  You cannot buy it
anywhere, not even from Lancair.  What is being sold as it's replacement is
a "SMART TOOL."  

CAUTION:  The SMART TOOL is NOT a SMART LEVEL.  It is a cheap, plastic
digital level, and lacks one very important feature --- alternate zero, 
which is the ability to "zero" the level out on an inclined surface, and
then precisely measure angles relative to this surface.   A good expample
of this is when we set the up & down stops on the elevators, or when we 
set aileron travel..  

So what is a builder to do since SMART LEVELS are no longer available?   

M-D now makes a very good digital level which includes the "alternate zero"
feature.  It is called the ACCUPRO 360 digital protractor.  It is housed in
a rugged aluminum extrusion, and is reasonably priced.  It is available
from MSC Tools for $149.99.  MSC phone number is 800-645-7270.

This is NOT a plug for MSC or the ACCUPRO360.  I'm just trying to save
fellow builders the frustration I experienced when I found out the tool I
just paid $100 for didn't do what I expected it to do.  Buy the right tool
the first time!


John Kleber
Legacy,   N83JK

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LML website:   http://www.olsusa.com/Users/Mkaye/maillist.html
LML Builders' Bookstore:   http://www.buildersbooks.com/lancair

Please send your photos and drawings to marvkaye@olsusa.com.
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