Installing emblem with laser level?

[BDinTX]

Sounds like this "high-tech" appoach is uncharted territory, but I have a new toy and I want to play with it.

Ok… interesting challenge.

I have one of these laser levels and have tried using it a few times as a straight line on something that isn’t necessarily level.

The first problem I have when doing this is the laser inside is on a gimbal. So I have to rotate the entire thing out of level far enough that it hits one of its limits and the line stops trying to self level.

The second problem I have is that I’m using a regular camera tripod. It’s a fairly good one, but like most, it’s made to pan, tilt, and rotate (a camera) where large adjustments are what you want. It doesn’t have a fine adjustment mechanism to make minuscule changes.

If you figure out something that works please share. It could be a trick up my sleeve for next time.

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[Murphy Slaw]

I’d just eyeball it.

 

[b22wheeler]

I'm adding an emblem to the rear of my Jeep and need some tips. All of the laser-level how-tos on YouTube seem to use a tripod-mounted level projecting a line, along with some painter’s tape as a “ledge.” Problem is, our Jeeps aren’t level left-to-right to begin with.

I want to mount the emblem similarly to the EcoDiesel emblem in the attached image. For those with more experience than me, do you pick a presumably level reference point (like the nearby body seam under the tailgate) to calibrate the laser and then gently move the projected line up and to the left to the install location? Or am I better off going low-tech with a ruler and my own eyeballs?

Tbh the low tech painter’s tape and eyeball method works better than people wanna admit lol. I’d just measure from body lines in a few spots first so your “eyeball” has some backup before sticking it permanently. Once that adhesive touches, game over haha.

 

[Terrymo]

Ok… interesting challenge.

I have one of these laser levels and have tried using it a few times as a straight line on something that isn’t necessarily level.

The first problem I have when doing this is the laser inside is on a gimbal. So I have to rotate the entire thing out of level far enough that it hits one of its limits and the line stops trying to self level.

The second problem I have is that I’m using a regular camera tripod. It’s a fairly good one, but like most, it’s made to pan, tilt, and rotate (a camera) where large adjustments are what you want. It doesn’t have a fine adjustment mechanism to make minuscule changes.

If you figure out something that works please share. It could be a trick up my sleeve for next time.

 

[rickinAZ]

Don’t mock me for my kindergarten crayon artwork here. I would use painters tape shown in blue to prevent scratching. Use a framing square (masterfully shown in silver) with the tailgate gap as your vertical straight line.

Terry, not only will I not mock you, I think that this is the perfect low-tech solution. Challenge is: I no longer own the EcoDiesel to use as a model, and I'm not sure I want the same right-ward placement. I'm more inclined to centering the new emblem.

The second problem I have is that I’m using a regular camera tripod. It’s a fairly good one, but like most, it’s made to pan, tilt, and rotate (a camera) where large adjustments are what you want. It doesn’t have a fine adjustment mechanism to make minuscule changes.

Brad, you just nailed the high-tech challenge: The intuitive approach is the line-up the beam on the body seam under the tailgate - that's likely the straightest reference point in that area. But, as you point out, the challenge then is to "move" the now leveled line over to the general area where I want to do the install. I know that the Jeep lists several degrees from side-to-side and my camera tripod won't adjust the way I want it too.

Thanks for all of the responses. The old school eyeballing is likely the way I'll go. The laser level feels like it may turn into a saying my dad used to use sarcastically: "you are marking it with a micrometer and then cutting it with a chainsaw".

Big boys and their toys. Weve all been there.

Once I finish I'll post a pic.

 

[rickinAZ]

Here is a photolog for your entertainment. Given that it’s 101° with bright sunshine the pictures have a lot of glare. The first one of you wiseasses who says "it looks crooked" gets bitch slapped.

My Dad would have called this: "Turning a routine pop fly into a circus catch"

 

[Bugly]

Looks real good to me

 

[wibornz]

So what I do is a use four floor jacks and level the Jeep. Then secure the jeep to shimmied up Harbor Freight Jack stands. One the Jeep is properly leveled and secured to work on, I mark out the location that I want the decal to be at. Then using small self tapping screws, I drill the screws into the body of the Jeep and create a shelf that the decal can rest on as I do fine adjustments to insure proper placement. I set the decal on the screws then use a laser lever the verify my process. Using 16 points of reference, I then remove the backing off the decal and place it planned location. After the application of the decal, I remove the screws, fill the holes with bondo, and sand, the bond, apply primer and paint. Usually I over spray the decal with said paint and pull the original decal off and get a new decal and then eyeball it over the two screw holes to hide my fucked up paint job. Then take the Jeep of the jack stands and go inside cursing at myself and play Call of Duty for a few hours. Later I drive the Jeep and forget to remove the laser level and lose it. So then I go home and order a new laser level.

Follow me for more tips, tricks and generally good ideas. Or not.

 

[Terrymo]

Looks good and no scratches from using a framing square

 

[siggy]

Wrong tool for the right job or right tool for the wrong job?

 

[zouch]

looks good. this is kinda' like what i would do.

i'd typically find some painters tape that is the same width as the distance i want the emblem to be from the nearest seam, lay the tape down parallel to the seam, and align the emblem/sticker referencing that.

Here is a photolog for your entertainment. Given that it’s 101° with bright sunshine the pictures have a lot of glare. The first one of you wiseasses who says "it looks crooked" gets bitch slapped.

My Dad would have called this: "Turning a routine pop fly into a circus catch"

<snip>

 

[Zandcwhite]

I would just eyeball it personally, but if you want to use a laser level I'd throw a jack under the low side and level it. Then use the laser level. The ones we use self level so I couldn't align the laser to a crooked Jeep.

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