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Plumb bobs are used to establish vertical reference lines. These tools have been around for thousands of years and are still widely used because of their simplicity and accuracy. They are symmetrical weights suspended by a length of loose string or wire. The force of gravity pulls the weight down, the string or wire establishes the vertical reference line, and the pointed end of the weight marks the location directly underneath the point from which the string or wire is hung.


Plumb bobs are more accurate than levels because the plumb bob establishes a vertical reference along the entire length of the string or wire. Levels directly measure the slope only along their own length. The degree of slope is usually extrapolated beyond the length of the level, but very small errors can result in large discrepancies over large spans. This error is negligible for lengths as small as the height of doorframes, window frames or residential stud placement, but it would be significant when constructing pyramids, cathedral spires or modern skyscrapers.


The weight of a plumb bob is called a plummet, and brass plumb bobs are the most commonly encountered plummet material. Brass plumb bobs are common because brass is cheap, heavy and resists corrosion. Steel plummets are less frequently encountered, but Sears carries plummets in both materials.


Suspended plumb bobs have a tendency to swing like a pendulum. Heavier plummets come to rest more quickly than lighter weight plummets, and so heaviness is a desired quality. Magnetic plumb bobs are constructed of steel instead of brass and are popular with contractors because they quickly come to rest when placed over a magnetic target. They are often called quick-stabilizing bobs. Sears sells magnetic plumb bobs from multiple manufacturers, including Tajima Tool, Great Neck and Empire.


Plumb bobs are often used outdoors. They are usually thought of in terms of building construction, but bridges and mines are also constructed using plumb bobs that weigh up to 200 pounds. Many modern builders use laser plumb bobs to avoid dealing with this weight. Laser plumb bobs are not affected by the wind. They also establish multiple reference lines in a single operation.

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