Precision matters. The difference between creating something beautiful and wasting a lot of time trying to get it right. For many people who build things out of wood (or furniture) precision isn”t just important; it is the difference between creating something magnificent and destroying everything due to an oversight. Many times it is the smaller, less expensive, and sometimes least impressive tools which give the biggest reward to a person building. Tools like small round bubble levels provide the benefit of being small enough to take anywhere and so useful that each builder (woodworker/hobbyist/furniture installer) needs one nearby. This small tool is also called a bullseye level. A bullseye level has a major advantage over other longer and older style spirit level tools because they measure both the left-right and front-back, and diagonal (top-bottom) areas of a surface at the one time. Unlike larger spirit levels which allow you to a verify that a surface is level along a single axis and a round bubble level lets you determine whether or not a surface is completely flat across every dimension immediately. Therefore, using a round bubble level saves valuable time and reduces risk associated with mistakes made while working under extreme pressure.
The value of a round bubble level resides in its small size and mobility. Round bubble levels usually have a simple, transparent body of durable plastic or glass, are very easy to view, contain a large amount of liquid, and include a clearly defined bulls-eye type target circle. They can easily be laid on any flat surface without crowding your work space. Not only does perfect leveling enhance the beauty of furniture it also enhances safety. Furniture that a sits slightly askew may create an unstable situation and such as rolling objects on top of a poorly leveled dining room table. Unstable shelving units may result in poor alignment causing long term warping of the door frames resulting in poor closure or complete inability to shut them. Using a round bubble level on your work-piece provides immediate visual feedback about minute movement and therefore real-time adjustment capability when assembling joints, screwing parts together or clamping pieces together. Small footprints make round bubble levels especially valuable in extremely limited working spaces where larger spirit levels simply cannot go. Examples of these types of limited workspaces would be the interior of a drawer of a custom bathroom vanity or the narrow shelf space of an enclosed built-in bookshelf.
In addition to the use of round bubble levels during the initial setup phase of they woodworking projects there are also numerous applications during the final layout and the installation phases. When installing large cabinets onto walls or setting up large entertainment centers on uneven floors, round bubble levels quickly illustrate how well installed components interact with their surroundings. All workshop equipment (table saw extensions, drill presses, etc.) will greatly benefit from having a round bubble level in your toolbox as proper leveling of these machines results in better quality cuts and safe operation by eliminating hazardous kickback possibilities. Due to its ability to show deviation in all horizontal planes at once, round bubble levels eliminate the laborious task of constantly turning a traditional rectangular level 90 degrees to check the opposing plane.
Using a round bubble level as part of your regular shop routine is the best example I know of an affordable way to increase your overall craftsmanship and attention to detail. It exemplifies another common proverb used in woodworking "measure twice cut once" - acting as your mainstay for accuracy throughout the entire length of your job - from rough lay-out to adjusting leveling feet in someone else”s house. Light weight, inexpensive and very intuitive to read, round bubble levels provide assurance that your finished product remains upright, operates properly and lasts for years.
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