A plumb bob is often the go-to tool for anyone who needs to hang a picture, shelf, or anything else on the wall. But what if you don’t have one? What modern tool replaces a traditional plumb bob? This blog post will explore some tools that are similar to the traditional plumb bob and help you find an alternative in no time!

What Is Plumb Bob?

A plumb bob is a device for determining the vertical from something that has been dropped. It consists of a metal ball with a pointed end, usually on an attached string or wire. Although both devices use reference to gravity as their basis, they are not used in construction work as often as line levels and laser levels because they cannot be seen from above.

A plumb bob is used for a number of things, such as:

1. To check the accuracy and alignment of objects or structures (like a wall) at eye level;
2. In construction work to establish plumb lines by allowing gravity to keep verticals true. The weight can be made adjustable so that different levels could remain on the string and the weight could be adjusted until its string is exactly vertical; and
3. To establish a line of a reference at any desired height. The plumb bob can actually be used as an accurate square by sighting across it, but this practice has been largely replaced with laser levels or compact optical square/levels for convenience purposes.

What Modern Tool Replaces a Traditional Plumb Bob?

In the past, a plumb bob was used to find the vertical direction. Today, many construction professionals go without using this simple tool that has been around for centuries and is still widely in use today.

It’s true that builders have graduated from using a string with a weight on it to more advanced technology such as lasers and other tools which are far easier to use. However, there are just some jobs that call for the traditional plumb bob.

A modern version of a plumb bob includes an electronic device known as a digital level or laser level which is built into something like a tripod to help easily adjust it when needed. These devices can be used indoors and outdoors in all types of weather conditions without any additional accessories needed.

The traditional plumb bob is a classic construction tool that some professionals still rely on. Technology will probably never replace it completely unless lasers can function in rain, snow, and other bad weather conditions, making them more appealing to the industry.

However, many younger generations of builders who were born into using modern tools might not realize the benefits of using a plumb bob.

A Self-leveling point-to-point laser tool is a tool that can be used in a similar way to the modern plumb bob.

This device emits a laser beam that is visible from both ends of the range, and it can measure distances so users know where they are pointing their lasers at, even when working on an incline or decline.

This type of tool uses gravity as other traditional tools do, and it can also be used for tasks like spraying chemicals and other outdoor jobs.

It is useful because the laser beam projects on a surface, which makes it great to use as a guide when cutting or drilling materials such as concrete, stone, or brick.

The self-leveling point-to-point laser tool is often compared to modern tools that use lasers for alignment and it is a popular choice in the industry because of its accuracy, reliability, and durability.

This device provides a bright line that can be seen from long distances, making it easier to use when working outdoors or on large buildings with workers gathered at different areas around the structure.

In comparison to modern tools such as laser levels or digital levels, the self-leveling point-to-point laser tool is less expensive, and it can be used in all types of weather conditions.

However, this device doesn’t function as lasers do with digital levels because there is no way to gauge whether or not a surface has been leveled unless users go over every section themselves, which wastes time.

We now know what modern tool replaces the traditional plumb bob. You can also check our post about running plumbing to a shed and knowing what is a plumber’s helper tool.