spirit level

A daft question maybe - I have an old brass and wood spirit level, Raybone, . I use it for general purpose jobs, trouble is the liquid has lost the colouring and it's difficult to see, esp. inside cupboards etc. Can anyone suggest a method of highlighting the phial ? I do not want to replace the glass or dismantle the thing - it's to old.

Surely, it's the bubble that you look for? It seeks the highest point in the curved glass vial.

Maybe the problem is that the glass is dirty? If so, ususually there is a small brass plate over the vial, held by a couple of screws. Once this has been removed, a cotton bud dipped in some suitable solvent/cleaning agent, ought to be able to clean the glass and improve visibility.

If you are worried as to whether it is accurate; note the reading on a surface, and then rotate, end to end, and if the reading is the same, all is well. If not, you start adjusting the position of the vial (by packing/shimming at the "lower" end) until the reading is the same whichever way the spirit level is pointing.

Howard

Gordon,

I completely agree with your unwillingness to interfere with this venerable spirit level. I suggest that you leave well alone and enjoy ownership of it in its present state and buy a modern replacement for everyday use as they are inexpensive and easier to use. Screwfix have a good selection many for less than a tenner. Other suppliers will have a similar range.

Eric

Thanks all. I don't like plastic but will have to buy one. Yes a light does help, LED torch in the cupboard, looks odd when people call though.

Hi Guys,

The earlier Rabone (& Smallwood, Preston et al) levels all had clear liquid vials and are much more desirable than the later green or orange tinted ones.

Some were sold in 'foil backed' or 'line backed' or 'paper backed' versions to help see the bubble.

IMHO these should all be left well alone and not tinkered with as the bubble WILL shatter if you breathe on it.!

I have totally given up on ever trying to remove a bubble intact. Instead I go to my diminishing hoard of spares that I paid an absolute kings ransom for at Stanleys Auction a few years ago.

There are modern replacements available but at ludicrous prices and high minimum order numbers so not worthwhile for me.

I have a REALLY rare Mathieson level that I have beeen trying to find a vial for now for over 8 YEARS!

I use a surface plate shimmed against my Precision Level when fitting vials to old levels and set them in Milliput not plaster. Works fine.

Cheers, Martin

It might be worth trying a UV led instead of white light - a small chance residual dye albeit faded may be flourescent. You can get tiny keyring uv leds on ebay for almost nowt.

This one is John Rabone & sons. makers. Birmingham. Don't know the age, was my G dads. Interestingly there maybe a backing behind the glass. Will try a clean, there are two semicircle holes to the side. Did the job with a red plastic one and didn't drop it once.

The spirit level bubbles are stored next to the spots for the spot welder!!!!!! Near the short and long stands. Or was that the sky hooks????