Johnson Level & Tool 40-6310 Aluminum Grade Rod, 13', 1 Rod, 47 Inch

This is a sturdy, compact grade rod that's definitely a good choice for a homeowner/project person, especially when used with a modern laser level. It's easy up, easy down solid, rustproof, easy to read. The advantage to a laser level is that it doesn't require two people, one can use it effectively. This grade rod comes with a circular level so you can be sure it's vertical in use, and a spare spring detent for the extension. It does not come with a vernier and I don't know if one's available, nor why a typical homeowner would need one. The detents are plastic, and I'm sure spares are available, but I won't wear this one out in my lifetime using it a couple of times a year.It does not come with instructions, so you'll have to figure out how the bubble level mounts and at first it wasn't obvious the other part included was a spare spring detent. If you don't know how to use a grade rod, you'll need to go to the manufacturer's website... (yeah, I understand...why would you buy it if you didn't know what it was?)I'm pleasantly surprised at the quality of this grade rod at the $52 price point.

Just finished shooting a contour plot of a 7 acre orchard of mine...nearly two hundred elevation points. The rod works great. Key features I like:1) The rod has very clear markings including small foot markings interspersed with the tenths so that you can confirm that you're reading the right foot value when you're so close that the major foot labels are out of the scope's field of view.2) The unit is light weight and easy to extend the sections...just push the button and slide. Easy to carry around.3) The top two sections can be pulled out of the lower two to provide two separate rods. Having two is handy to facilitate checking the calibration of the level itself. The top half scale will start at 6 feet or so, but that's fine for the calibration function.4) The rod comes in a nice carry sack for storageBottom Line: Great Grade Rod...couldn't ask for more.

This is the third one of these Johnson grade sticks I've purchased. This should have come with a level and a sleeve case to store it in. The level would slip into a thin slot in one of the black bands between the first and second joint. The slot is there for it but the level didn't come. Disappointed in the two missing items. Maybe the company is now removing these and selling them as extra add-ons to customers, I don't know. The level has 4 sections, measures in inches/feet on the yellow side and tenths/feet on the silver side. The two colors are great especially the high visibility yellow side. The grade rod is sturdy aluminum which fit nicely within each section when collapsed within each other. My box came DAMAGED as in CUT on the side with a box cutter which also cut through and sliced the side of the rod making it pretty sharp. I will sand that down a little and it'll be OK. I almost sent it back due to this. I like the Johnson grade sticks so much this is my third one.The only plastic is the bands which acts as bushings when sliding the sections in and out of each other. The tip of the smallest end is plastic with what appears to be a hooking slot for hanging the rod on a wall but that won't work since the level sections slid out as they are only held in by gravity. Also, when each section is fully extended, there is a plastic button which locks them into place. They work well in my experience with the other two. The plastic does not appear to be the stiff brittle kind which easily breaks when bumped.The grade stick/rod is on the expensive side when comparing it to others on Amazon but you will be happy when you get it. I don't like buying junk and will pay for good stuff, like this Johnson grade stick which was shipped and sold by Amazon. Another plus!

I am doing a building project where I will need to evaluate various grades, sewers, retaining walls, and the like. This Grade Rod is plenty tall for my needs, I have a somewhat sloping piece of land and depending upon the height I set my rotary laser at, this has all the length I need. I really like that it has both 1/8" readings and 1/10" Readings. I use the 1/10" for exterior grades, civil engineering is typically done that way. For a few masonry elements, piers, foundations, I used the 1/8" as the trades for those relate better and its not greek to a masonry contractor when I tell him the one foundation is 3-1/8" different than the other, If I said 3-1/10" he would probably look at me like a deer in headlights. This is not a cut on masons, they just don't deal with 1/10" increments, they use 1/8" whereas the excavator uses 1/10" and he understands when I give him my measurements that way. The 1/8" side is a yellow background to distinguish it from the 1/10" side so less chance of making a mistake. The aluminum rod easily pulls out and clicks in place for the few segments it has, and is easy to collapse at the end of the day. I would buy this again without hesitation.

Right out of the box, first use and see photo below. And upon closer inspection different types of rivers were used in different places to hold the same type of plastic... Maybe these are refurbished or something. No matter I'm wishing I would have purchased locally so I wouldn't have to deal with shipping!

Excellent construction and function. I love the size because it is portable. The little extras like a, bag, spare release button and bubble level make it a terrific buy.

This is an apparently well made grade rod for the money. It is sturdy and the numbers are easy to read. The little bubble level is a nice feature, as is the protective bag. What really attracted me to this rod was that it provides dual readings in inches and tens of a foot, (one on each side and color coded). It's frustrating to use an inches rod for stadia use, but sometimes inches are what you want, so it is nice to have a both in one rod. I just received this rod and can not say from experience how it will hold up over time, but it appears it will last anyway. .