Why does nobody talk about using a laser level for shell fit-up?

Been fighting a big tank shell fit-up last Tuesday in Gary, the plates kept walking out of plumb no matter how many times we checked with a string line. I finally borrowed a rotary laser from a guy on the pipe crew and shot a level line across the seams, took us maybe half an hour to get everything true where we used to burn two hours sweeping the old way. Has anyone else switched to laser levels for layout on curved sections, or is there a reason the old timers stick to plumb bobs?

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1 Comment

shah.olivia1mo ago

Hold up, though. A rotary laser shoots a flat plane, so on a curved tank shell you're only getting a true level line at the point where the beam actually hits the plate. It's still way better than a string for checking plumb, but you gotta keep moving the laser around the curve or you'll think you're straight when the edges are actually dipping. I've seen guys make that mistake on big radius stuff, and it comes back to bite you at the weld.