The Level Keeps Everything Level

A level is one of the basic tools in the single woman’s tool box.  Why?  Because if there is one thing women hate it is something that hangs crooked.  The level will help you keep everything straight.

Now, most of the time when we hang a picture we don’t really need a level.  We put one nail or screw into the wall and the picture balances itself on whatever we stuck into the wall.  Well, sometimes we need to put two or more screws into the wall to hold stuff.  For example, if you are putting up a shelf, we want to make sure it is straight so stuff won’t roll off one end or the over.  That’s where the level comes into play.

In the picture to the left, the single woman has decided how high she wants to place something on the wall, but now she is trying to make sure it is straight or the same height from the floor all the way from one end to the other.

The level pictured is about two feet long.  That’s pretty much too long to fit into the tool box, but it is a pretty good length to start with.  Of course, you can buy some levels that are longer and some that are shorter, but I personally like the two foot level, especially if I can have only one.

Okay, so once you have the level up against the wall, the most important thing is to be able to read it.  Well, it is kinda like reading it.  in the middle of this tool and sometimes on the ends, too, there is this little clear casing that has liquid in it.  (The picture to the left.)

When everything is level or straight, the little bubble in the liquid will be exactly between the two lines on the glass tube.  With everything level (no play on words intended) you can make two marks, one near either end of the level.  Using the line that connects the two dots, attaching screws to the wall along that line should guaranteed that whatever you are hanging, hangs straight or level.

Now, there are other gizmos today that do much the same thing and I’m sure they work just fine.  I really don’t know how much they cost or how accurate they are.  I do know that using a level like the ones pictured will help everything hang as it should, providing you mark the dots and connect them with a straight line.

If you aren’t really sure about what size level you need or how to use it, go to the hardware store and ask someone to demonstrate it for you.  It is easier than you think and more valuable to have than you can imagine.