What additional features do plumb bobs have?

3rd March 2020

What additional features do plumb-bobs have?
			Shop for Plumb-Bobs
			Screw caps
			Plumb-bobs with a screw cap allow the string to protrude directly from the centre of the weight, helping to achieve greater balance and accuracy. Buy this Stanley Plumb Bob

			All you have to do is unscrew the cap, feed through the string, knot it and screw the cap back on.

			Reels
			External reels Some plumb-bobs come with a reel so that you can more easily wind your string back in without it getting tangled.

			Built-in reels Other plumb-bobs combine the reel into the body for ease of use and compact storage.

			Box reels with magnetic strips Some modern plumb-bobs often have their reel encased in a box which itself has multiple functions. The box sometimes has additional features such as a magnetic strip along its side so that you can easily attach it to steel-stud constructions and other metal objects. Buy this Faithful Plumb-Auto Automatic Plumbline Plumb Bob 400g

			The magnetic reel box can be placed against a metal object and the plumb bob suspended below. The magnetic reel box on some models is designed to automatically retract the line when taking the weight off it.

			Box reels with retractable pins As well as the magnetic strip, many modern plumb bobs have a retractable pin built-in to their reel boxes, so, at the push of a button, you can quickly and easily attach the tool to a piece of timber, saving you time and effort.

			By pushing the button forward and engaging the pin, you can pin this plumb bob tool to a wooden stud or any piece of timber.

			Replaceable tips
			Many plumb-bobs can be purchase with parts that unscrew from the main body of the tool. These are typically a screw cap and a replaceable tip. Replaceable tips are usually made from steel for durability as this is the part of the plumb-bob that will see the most bumps and knocks and the tip needs to retain its fine point for accuracy. Spare tips can be purchased from your manufacturer.

			The key advantages of having a replaceable steel tip are that you can simply purchase a new tip if the old one becomes unusable instead of having to buy a whole new plumb-bob. It also keeps the plumb-bob accurate and easy to read with precision. A disadvantage is that the replaceable tip (and other screw-on parts) are very small and could be easily misplaced or lost at the bottom of a toolbox.