Gearhungry logo. Gearhungry logo.
  • Gear
    • Gun Cleaning Kits
    • Pocket & Folding Knives
    • Penlights
    • Slingshots
    • See More
  • Home
    • Essential Oil Diffusers
    • Cold Brew Coffee
    • Tea Makers
    • Hygrometers
    • Meat Cleavers
    • Lunch Boxes
    • See More
  • Tech
    • Shower Speakers
    • Mini Projectors
    • HDMI Cables
    • Smart Doorbells
    • Gadgets
    • Electric Toothbrushes
    • Vertical Mouses
    • CD Players
    • See More
  • Tools
    • Torque Wrenches
    • Tool Chests
    • Torque Screwdrivers
    • Ratchet Screwdrivers
    • Spirit Levels
    • Breaker Bars
    • Tool Bags
    • Cordless Lawn Mowers
    • Locking Pliers
    • Electric Precision Screwdrivers
    • See More
  • Fitness
    • Fitness Gifts
    • Boxing Gloves
    • Gym Equipment for Your Home
    • Curl Bars
    • Barbell Collars
    • Mouthguards
    • Speed Bags for Boxing
    • See More
  • Style
    • Leather Belts
    • Stretch Denim Jeans
    • Trucker Hats
    • Beard Trimmers
    • Men’s Walking Shoes
    • See More
  • Fun & Games
    • Chess Sets
    • Adult Jigsaw Puzzles
    • Graphic Novels for Adults
    • Basketballs
    • Beach Volleyballs
    • Gundam Model Kits
    • LEGO Technic Sets
    • Adult Coloring Books
    • Laser Tag Sets
    • Frisbees
    • See More
  • News
  • Blog
  • More
    • About Us – Learn More About GearHungry
    • Editorial Guidelines: How We Create Reviews and Buyer’s Guides
    • Advertise
    • Brand assets
    • Contact
  • Home
  • Tools
product-img
product-img
product-img
product-img
product-img
craftsman torpedo level 9
craftsman torpedo level 9
craftsman torpedo level 9
Craftsman Torpedo Level 9
Craftsman Torpedo Level 9
By Sam Anderson
Last Updated May 26, 2021
Sam Anderson
Sam Anderson has followed a passion for well-told stories and nature's beauty from university classrooms to mountain adventures. After earning a bachelor's degree in literature, he leaned into a life fueled by road tripping, rock climbing, coffee and beer, and renegade camping. He has worked as a chainsaw operator, house carpenter, and window cleaner, at one point running his own window cleaning business. He has finally settled with his girlfriend and small zoo in the western American desert, trading his tool belt for a keyboard.
Learn about The Gearhungry's Editorial Process
GearHungry may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn more

Durable, Affordable: Craftsman Box Torpedo Spirit Level

Craftsman builds a stout 9-inch box torpedo level with rubberized, non-marking ends and a magnetic edge. The Craftsmen spirit level’s magnified center vial makes reading easier.

When I say stout, I mean it: the anodized aluminum level seems heavy for its size, especially compared to resin or polypropylene competitors, and it remained accurate even after I dropped it repeatedly. Some of the level’s weight is due to the fact that the ends are not tapered (unlike most torpedo levels, as the name implies). But it should easily outlast plastic competitors and read accurately for years to come.

If you’re looking for a moderately-priced spirit level (also known as a bubble level) that will be useful over the long term, I would recommend the Craftsman 9-in Box Torpedo spirit level. During my review, it did everything I needed it to.

Craftsman Spirit Level in Practice

The Craftsman 9-in. Box Torpedo level fit right into my varied, light-duty home tool kit. My bag happened to have a pocket that held it just right and didn’t make it hard to insert or remove.

I did find the magnified vial easy to read, but I do have one small gripe. With any spirit level, I prefer a bubble that touches both hairlines at once. If the bubble floats between the lines without touching either one, you have to guesstimate for accuracy. Again, this is minor, but the Craftsman level’s bubbles were too small to contact both lines in any vial.

The level measures horizontal level, vertical plumb, and 45-degree angles. The magnet on the bottom was very strong; if I had a big shop toolbox, I wouldn’t flinch at sticking it to the side for storage.

Craftsman Torpedo Level 9"

Drop Testing

I drop-tested the Craftsmen spirit level from countertop and overhead heights, and it still read accurately afterward. In my experience, this is pretty important. I vividly remember a time several years ago when a coworker ruined an old level a mentor had given me by dropping it. I was pretty angry — and clearly still am, as indicated by my inclusion of the anecdote.

As with any job site accident, there were multiple ways to avoid it, but the accident still happened. Object lesson: durable gear is better for longevity. The Craftsman Box Torpedo spirit level’s rubberized ends should help soften impacts from drops. In my experience, the more you use a tool, the more you want to protect it. If your tools are built well, you’re off to a good start.

Anodized Aluminum vs. Plastic Construction

Simply put: any plastic level eventually ends up in the trash can. If you want a level capable of lasting forever, it needs to be metal. That’s pretty intuitive if you think about plastic’s malleable properties. All plastic reacts to heat changes and direct sunlight by warping, cracking, reshaping, etc. Any change to a level’s original shape damages its accuracy. Since it’s a tool with only one purpose, it’s trash as soon as it doesn’t work as intended anymore. Object lesson: stable materials are better for levels.

Thus, aluminum levels are the industry standard for trade workers who require them, like framers, cabinet installers, fence builders, appliance installers, etc.

If you add Craftsman’s anodized aluminum 9″ box torpedo level to your kit, you’re choosing a professional-grade tool.

Craftsmen Spirit Level Review Conclusions

In a 9-inch torpedo spirit level, Craftsman makes a capable entry. Its anodized aluminum box torpedo resisted drops; it was highly readable and highly magnetic. I’m fully confident that mine will last as long as I do unless I do something really dumb to it (back over it with my truck, try to use it as a boomerang, pry a large boulder out of the ground with it; you get the idea).

It fit nicely into a tool bag pocket, though I did end up choosing an intermediate-sized pocket. MSRP is $17.

BUY ON AMAZON
BUY ON WALMART
Sign up for our newsletter

Overview

  • Categories#Tools
  • BrandCraftsman
  • ModelCMHT82390
  • Weight3.91 ounces
  • Dimensions12.32 x 3.31 x 0.91 inches
  • ColorRed and black
Related Reads
Tools post-thumbnail
Best Laser Measuring Tools in 2022
author-image
by Andrew Marshall
Last updated: October 26, 2018
Tools post-thumbnail
Best Digital Calipers In 2022
author-image
by Andrew Marshall
Last updated: November 7, 2018
Tools post-thumbnail
Best Tool Boxes in 2022
author-image
by GearHungry Staff
Last updated: July 19, 2018
Tools post-thumbnail
Best Tool Belts in 2022
author-image
by GearHungry Staff
Last updated: July 16, 2018
Tools post-thumbnail
Best Circular Saws in 2022
author-image
by GearHungry Staff
Last updated: July 11, 2018
Tools post-thumbnail
Fastener Island: Best Torque Screwdrivers of 2022
author-image
by Sam Anderson
Last updated: July 22, 2021
Tools post-thumbnail
On the Bubble: Best Spirit Levels of 2022
author-image
by GearHungry Staff
Last updated: June 7, 2021
Tools post-thumbnail
ISO A Long, Stiff Tool: The Best Tape Measures in 2022
author-image
by Sam Anderson
Last updated: September 30, 2021
Tools post-thumbnail
Best Electric Chainsaws in 2022
author-image
by GearHungry Staff
Last updated: January 26, 2018
Sign Up Now
GET THE VERY BEST OF GEARHUNGRY STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX
Gearhungry logo
  • Home
  • About Us – Learn More About GearHungry
  • Contact
GearHungry – West Hollywood, California
8605 Santa Monica Blvd
PMB 30337
West Hollywood, California 90069-4109 US
GearHungry – Denver, Colorado
1624 Market St Ste 226
PMB 30337
Denver, Colorado 80202-1559 US
GearHungry ©2023 Privacy policy Affiliate Disclosure
DMCA.com Protection Status