Blew $180 on a laser distance measurer when my 25 foot tape was right there
Bought one of those fancy laser measurers last month thinking it would speed up my commercial takeoffs. Used it on a job in Reno and the thing read 3/4 of an inch long on a 40 foot span because I was holding it slightly off angle. Spent two hours re-checking walls that were already right, then grabbed my old Stanley tape and everything matched up first try. Found out later the laser needs a tripod for anything past 15 feet or the error adds up fast. Anyone else go back to a plain tape after trying the laser stuff, or am I just holding it wrong?
That tripod thing is the real kicker. Even the cheap ones need a solid mount for long runs, so now you're hauling a tripod AND a laser. My tape never asked me to set up a stand just to check a wall.
Doesn't this feel like every gadget that's supposed to save time and just adds a step instead? Same thing happened to me with a smart thermostat that needed an app, a login, and a wifi reset just to turn up the heat. Half the time the simple tool wins because there's nothing to calibrate or charge.