Black & Decker Accu Mark: Hang Frames and Shelves Accurately

Our apartment is filled with many pieces of original artwork, prints, and wall shelving. To be honest, and to the horror and dismay of my "by the books" girlfriend, these were mostly hung up by eye and without the aid of a level due to our impatience and trust in our visual perception. Not recommended, as a couple of our shelves mock occasionally with their noticeable (at least to us) lean to one side. If we were to do it again, we'd use a level...

Unlike the run-of-the-mill level we've got, Black & Decker Accu Mark one has a few extra features that help ensure a straight and level application. At each end of the level are anti-slip nubs that prevent your tired arms from slipping off the mark by the tiny bits that can later show up after you've already drilled or hammered. The Black & Decker Accu Mark also features two adjustable sliding marking targets. Just line up the marks with the mounts on the back of your pictures, then place the level against the wall and note the spots with a pencil. Certainly better than our "use a ruler and pencil" technique. A 24" and 36" version are available, but take note the 36" model can be had for the same price, so feel free to supersize it for those large mirrors, frames, and shelves.

Comments (7)

boy. i must be more coordinated then i thought. i've never had a problem with a ruler, pencil, and level. even adding a studfinder at times!

if it cost the same as other levels and i didn't own two already (a pocket level for placing on frames and a standard 3 footer with three leveling functions), i might go for it.

posted by healthyhome on July 23rd 2008 at 12:20pm
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this is so cool!

posted by hanako66 on July 23rd 2008 at 12:44pm
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i likes...!

posted by laura1221 on July 23rd 2008 at 1:15pm
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OK - This is seriously a good gadget to have.

(One who has multiple holes in the walls behind his mirrors and artwork)

posted by bepsf on July 23rd 2008 at 2:04pm
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My building leans so badly (and in every direction), a level is worthless. The building handyman recently installed a new bathroom shelf (level to the bubble) in my apartment and it looks like an airplane taking off.

I have eyeballed all installations since then. Any tricks for leveling in an unlevel building?

posted by RichardinLA on July 23rd 2008 at 2:07pm
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If your eyeballs work, use them. It's a sense near to sight, it's a skill near to math. It's a lot like cooking, though. Some people need to follow a recipe or else they will screw up the dish with a smidge of wrong something. Others can improvise off the recipe and come up with something fantastic.

There are gifted and handicapped people of every mental skill or talent. If this level is going to save your sanity, get it. If you make more magic working off the plan, you just have the gifted eyeballs.

posted by K T G on July 23rd 2008 at 5:38pm
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Brilliant gadget! It's on my birthday wish list now!

posted by crash on July 23rd 2008 at 7:59pm
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