Here's a possible differential screw arrangement- it turns out you can easily buy a straight 3/8 x 27 tpi tap. Never heard of it, but there it is. Make a bronze plug threaded 3/8 x 27 on the OD. Drill and tap it 1/4 x 28 (common tap). Knurl a section on the top to grip, or slot it for a coin or screwdriver. Put the plug in the plate you want to move (tapped), and attach a 1/4 x 28 screw to the fixed surface below. That will give you an equivalent 756 tpi adjustment screw. 27 tpi is a common pipe thread, so almost all imperial lathes will have a setting or gear for it.
I could be wrong but unless it clearly says minutes, I assume degrees. If so your link shows a rather low-resolution device, looks like up to 10 degrees, and only one division per degree.
If you want a 2D level, at least this one clearly indicates it has 4 divisions per degree (eg. 15 minute). https://www.aliexpress.com/item/HACCURY-High-Quality-Metal-Universal-Bullseyes-Level-Spirit-Level-bubble-Black-Color-accuracy-15-2mm/32832307350.html
Thank you JBeale for starting this topic
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/HACCURY-90-17mm-High-precision-level-Construction-Machinery-Level-bubble-universal-protractor-Shell-Black-Bubble-Green/32668111401.html
For @ez24's application I think it's ideal.
... I like the old idea of a hydrostatic hose balance. ...
Why are you fixed on aliexpress? Ebay seller offers a UK located 5"/2mm vial, much more trustworthy.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ersatz-Wasserwaage-Glaslibelle-Blase-Empfindlichkeit-Feder-100x-9-5mm/132588613741
-branadic-
> how is the electronic level coming along?
Several days of operation shows a big temperature-dependent offset. Likely related to my casual use of cheap hot-melt glue (I think it is 50% wax) to temporarily hold the capsule in place. That material has a huge(!) thermal expansion coefficient. No time for experiments recently, but next chance I get, I will try some plaster for mounting instead.
English version of brandadic's listing.
www.ebay.com/itm/Replacement-Glass-Vial-Spirit-Bubble-Level-nib-Accurate-100mm-x-9-5mm-Clear/142762523186
They do 45"/2mm which is still too sensitive for ez24 ?
"Thanks rhb but 1 degree is too much. I calculate this is 2.5 inch drop at 12 feet."
On this round one, you'd quite easily see around 1/10 degree = 0.25 inch drop at 12ft ?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Acrylic-Large-Spirit-Bubble-Level-GR-Liquid-66mm-Bulls-Eye-Bullseye-Vial-Round/132378829060
You're really concerned about the movement of the piers on which the house rests, not the house itself. As long as the piers don't move, movement of the house doesn't matter.
It sounds as if you are adjacent to a cliff or very steep slope. A water level on the ground near the house and one as far away from the cliff as you can get is important. If the ground is moving underneath you, you need to know about it before there is a landslide, not when it happens.
I'd also suggest using PEX tubing, which is likely what you're describing as it has become very popular for plumbing. Epoxy the pipette to a PEX fitting and then attach to the PEX. I don't know how PEX does in sunlight, so a piece of black polyethylene to protect if from sunlight might be a good idea. I have no idea what "funny pipe" is. PEX uses brass fittings which are clamped to the tubing by a copper ring.
That round level I linked is graduated to 0.6" in 12 ft. It's the same vial as StillTrying linked. So as a daily spot check you'll quickly notice if you've had 1/4" movement in 12 ft. In fact, given the sensitivity of the eye to circular centering, I suspect you'd immediately notice a movement of 1/8" or less in 12 ft if you have it accurately centered.
There are no piers, the villa sits on bags of concrete or whatever I can get under it.
There are no piers, the villa sits on bags of concrete or whatever I can get under it.
Have you thought about putting some piers under it and stabilizing it? People add basements under existing houses, so adding some piers for a 10' x 12' building should be pretty straight forward.