📏 Swanson TL043M 9-Inch Magnetic Torpedo Level Review

I had another digital level that is no longer made and it became very sensitive and difficult to read. (Ok, I borrowed it and it came back with a cement film on the LED.) It works really well. My only complaint (not blaming her) is that she throws an error if you put her on her back. That means you need to have a flat bottom on the surface to be tested. Sometimes it can be difficult in the sun or on the ground. This "feature" was not in my old level.

I work in commercial HVAC and use my torpedo quite a bit. For what I do, I need strong magnets and a spirit level that can withstand a 15+ foot drop onto hard concrete. The savage does his job well. It's well made and doesn't dent too much when it hits concrete, reducing accuracy. I will keep buying this level until I find the best one. This does NOT come with a backlight. So if you're looking for a backlit version, this isn't the one.

It's well built, seems very accurate and easy to use. However, every time I pick it up or adjust it to get a reading, I unintentionally turn it off with my thumb. This happened to me several times in the first few days. Sorry to have to go back for the power button location. Maybe all torpedo sized digital levels have the same problem? I DON'T KNOW. I have a 16" Digital Empire and it has no problem, but it has a bigger fire button, it's not as sensitive and its placement doesn't attract my…

I really like this spirit level. It's thick metal, so I'm not worried about an accidental fall knocking it out of square. The bottles are easy to read and I like the variety of positions. The rules are useful too, but don't go to the end of the level like I'd like. The magnets on it are very strong. The spirit level "snaps" securely into the metal surface and it will take some effort to remove the spirit level. Be careful when holding it to a thin metal object (or turn it upside down so the…

I have been using two of these levels to build and install wood frames for about 6 months. Our typical week tends to be tool-heavy as we are constantly on the move and have many tools for our high-end joinery applications. I always carry a few essentials in my pockets or bags: a sharp pencil, a marker, a tape measure, and THIS LEVEL! All angles are fairly common and read to within 1/128th. Works better as a ruler than any speed square as the 9 inch format gives a little more room to work. I…

Why buy some flimsy plastic spirit levels when this bad boy will last a lifetime? Really solid construction at this level, I wouldn't mind taking it to any job site (other than getting it stolen because it's so pretty). Appears as machined aluminum surfaces with epoxy adhesive holding glass sensors together. The magnet is strong enough for the purpose, won't fall off work, but you don't have to struggle to take it off either. Electricians may find these more useful than others with built-in…

When I entered the (mostly non-union) profession in Texas, the hefty pay for the large number of general-purpose tools an electrician needs was intimidating, so I cut back where I could. The magnetic level was one of those items that I couldn't justify asking for the $30-$40 price tag. After all, that was what my little ones were worth. It turned out to be a solid investment. As a professional, you don't have many opportunities to cut corners when it comes to tools, but this could be one of…

So the level is quite high quality and definitely helps in many situations, especially when bending the pipeline. 3 stars for several reasons: 1- I had to have the Dremel on/off button to keep it submerged because this thing is on all the time. In my pocket, bag etc. It inevitably kills the battery sooner and the fact that the designers didn't think of it, probably knowing that this level would actually be used by a dealer in a tight toolbox/bag makes me wonder what they thought. 2- I returned…