BOSCH GR16 Aluminum Telescoping Rod

After having two other products flake (not ship) it is good to find an affordable grade rod from a reputable source. There are several kinds of grade rods with different scales and features. This one combines several useful features. 16 feet long is adequate for excavating a basement. It is marked in feet, inches and 8ths, which I prefer (to feet and tenths). It has two useful scales. The main scale starts at 0 at the bottom and a laser sensor can be placed at any height to find if/where that height has been achieved. Sections are expanded from the bottom in this case. The back side has a scale that starts from the top and shows the height from the ground to the sensor. This is most useful for identifying the height of a given location. It is a bit awkward in that the sensor must align with the top edge, and most sensor clamps are centered at that point, so they are half way off the top. I made a modified clamp that clamped below the reference point. When used in this manner, the rod is expanded from the top down, with the last expanded section sliding to the correct spot. This means it is read at a comfortable height. It isn't necessary to climb a ladder and adjust the sensor and read it way up at the top. Just start expanding the rod with the top section first until the correct height is reached and then read it at a comfortable location near the bottom of the rod. The one thing this rod doesn't automatically do is cut/fill. That requires zero in the middle and adjusting the sensor to a position that matches the zero. Oh well. You can't have everything in one rod. Do a little math, keeping in mind that the difference is backwards from the reading (depending on which scale is used).

*update: This is a great story pole and feels like good quality for the price. I purchased 3 of these at the same $50 price point and this seems to be the best. I thought the measurements were off at first but it's just the way the design works. It's deceiving to the eye but the overall measurement is true. I just wish this came with a storage/carry bag like some of the others. Original: This seems like a decent story pole for the price. It's lightweight and compact, but the height measurements on the backside are off by a little over an inch at every extention. It's not terrible if you are grading your tolerance within that extention but if you need to go back and forth between extentions for your grade then good luck. Front side is fine, the measurements line right up.

I just received this and haven't used it in the field yet, but my first impressions are: 1) it's good and sturdy - no flimsiness and no play 2) construction seems to be solid - no flaws whatsoever 3) the coating and numbers seem to be of good quality and should last 4) the measurement markings are accurate Shipping was fast and the packaging protected the device when the delivery guy dropped it out the back of his truck. I would buy again, but it doesn't look like I'll need to for a while. Field work tomorrow. If something goes wrong with it I'll amend this review.

Good product

This grading rod works awesome. Easy to read and have slid it up and down multiple times with no fading of the numbers. I would give it a 5 star if it came with a sheath or case to store it in.

Probably the best quality you can buy although the coating finish was poor in places

Well built and easy to use. Accurate measurements. I would buy again.

Good grade rod but only numbered on one side