A flashing red indicator light indicates that the batteries are low and need to be replaced. The
laser may continue to operate for a short time while the batteries continue to drain, but the
beam(s) will quickly dim. After fresh batteries are installed and the laser is turned on again,
the laser beam(s) will return to full brightness and the red indicator light will stay off. (A flash-
ing laser beam is not caused by low batteries; see
Out of Tilt Range Indicator
.)
OPERATION
To Turn the Lasers On and Off (Fig. 2)
DW086:
With the laser off, place it on a flat surface. Press the ON/OFF button (C) to power the
laser on. The laser will turn on and project a horizontal laser line. Press the ON/OFF button
again to turn the laser line off.
DW087:
With the laser off, place it on a flat surface. This model has two ON/OFF buttons, one
for a horizontal laser line (C) and one for a vertical laser line (D). Each laser line is powered on
by pressing its ON/OFF button. The laser lines can be powered one at a time or at the same
time. Pressing the ON/OFF buttons again turns the laser lines off.
Using the Lasers
The beams are level or plumb as long as the calibration has been checked (see
Field
Calibration Check
) and the laser beam is not flashing (see
Out of Tilt Range Indicator
).
OUT OF TILT RANGE INDICATOR (FIG. 3, 4)
The DW086 and DW087 lasers are designed to self-level. If the laser has been tilted so much
that it cannot level itself (average > 4° tilt), it will flash the laser beam (Fig. 4). The flashing beam
indicates the tilt range has been exceeded and IS NOT LEVEL (OR PLUMB) AND SHOULD
NOT BE USED FOR DETERMINING OR MARKING LEVEL (OR PLUMB). Try repositioning the
laser on a more level surface.
USING THE LASERS WITH ACCESSORIES
The lasers are equipped with a 1/4" x 20 female thread on the bottom of the unit. This thread
is to accommodate current or future D
E
WALT accessories. Only use D
E
WALT accessories
specified for use with this product. Follow the directions included with the accessory.
CAUTION:
The use of any other accessory not recommended for use with this tool could be
hazardous.
If you need any assistance in locating any accessory, please contact D
E
WALT Industrial Tool
Co., 701 East Joppa Road, Baltimore, MD 21286 or call 1-800-4-D
E
WALT (1-800-433-9258).
See our catalog on the World Wide Web at www.dewalt.com.
USING THE PIVOT BRACKET (FIG. 5)
The DW086 and DW087 lasers have a magnetic pivot bracket (E) permanently attached to the
units. This bracket allows the unit to be mounted to any upright surface made of steel or iron.
Common examples of suitable surfaces include steel framing studs, steel door frames and
structural steel beams. The bracket also has a keyhole slot (F) allowing the unit to be hung from
a nail or screw on any kind of surface. Position the laser and/or wall mount on a stable surface.
Serious personal injury or damage to the laser may result if the laser falls.
USING THE LASER WITH THE WALL MOUNT (FIG. 5)
The DW0860 Laser Wall Mount offers more mounting options for the DW086 and DW087
lasers. The wall mount has a clamp (G) at one end which can be fixed to a wall angle for
acoustic ceiling installation. At the other end of the wall mount is a screw hole (H), allowing the
wall mount to be attached to any surface with a nail or screw.
Once the wall mount is secured, its steel plate provides a surface to which the magnetic pivot
bracket can be attached. The position of the laser can then be fine-tuned by sliding the pivot
bracket up or down on the wall mount.
LEVELING THE LASERS
As long as the DW086 and DW087 lasers are properly calibrated, the lasers are self-leveling.
Each laser is calibrated at the factory to find level as long as it is positioned on a flat surface
within average ± 4° of level. No manual adjustments must be made.
MAINTENANCE
• To maintain the accuracy of your work, check the laser often to make sure it is properly
calibrated. See
Field Calibration Check
.
• Calibration checks and other maintenance repairs may be performed by D
E
WALT
service centers.
• When not in use, store the laser in the kit box provided. Do not store your laser at temper-
atures below -5˚F (-20˚C) or above 140˚F (60˚C).
• Do not store your laser in the kit box if the laser is wet. The laser should be dried first with
a soft dry cloth.
Cleaning
Exterior plastic parts may be cleaned with a damp cloth. Although these parts are solvent
resistant, NEVER use solvents. Use a soft, dry cloth to remove moisture from the tool before
storage.
Field Calibration Check
CHECKING ACCURACY – HORIZONTAL BEAM, SCAN DIRECTION (FIG. 6)
Checking the horizontal scan calibration of the laser requires two walls 30' (9m) apart. It is
important to conduct a calibration check using a distance no shorter than the distance of the
applications for which the tool will be used.
1. Attach the laser to a wall using its pivot bracket. Make sure the laser is facing straight
ahead.
2. Turn on the laser’s horizontal beam and pivot the laser approximately 45˚ so that the
right-most end of the laser line is striking the opposing wall at a distance of at least 30'
(9m). Mark the center of the beam (a).
3. Pivot the laser approximately 90˚ to bring the left-most end of the laser line around to the
mark made in Step 2. Mark the center of the beam (b).
4. Measure the vertical distance between the marks.
5. If the measurement is greater than the values shown below, the laser must be serviced at
an authorized service center.
CHECKING ACCURACY – HORIZONTAL BEAM, PITCH DIRECTION (FIG. 7)
Checking the horizontal pitch calibration of the laser requires a single wall at least 30' (9m)
long. It is important to conduct a calibration check using a distance no shorter than the
distance of the applications for which the tool will be used.
1. Attach the laser to one end of a wall using its pivot bracket.
2. Turn on the laser’s horizontal beam and pivot the laser toward the opposite end of the wall
and approximately parallel to the adjacent wall.
3. Mark the center of the beam at two locations (c, d) at least 30' (9m) apart.
4. Reposition the laser to the opposite end of the wall.
5. Turn on the laser’s horizontal beam and pivot the laser back toward the first end of the wall
and approximately parallel to the adjacent wall.
6. Adjust the height of the laser so that the center of the beam is aligned with the nearest
mark (d).
7. Mark the center of the beam (e) directly above or below the farthest mark (c).
8. Measure the distance between these two marks (c, e).
9. If the measurement is greater than the values shown below, the laser must be serviced at
an authorized service center.
Distance Allowable
Distance
Between Walls
Between Marks
30' (9m)
1/4" (6.0mm)
40' (12m)
5/16" (8.0mm)
50' (15m)
13/32" (10.0mm)
Distance Allowable
Distance
Between Walls
Between Marks
30' (9m)
1/8" (3.0mm)
40' (12m)
5/32" (4.0mm)
50' (15m)
7/32" (5.0mm)
FIG. 4
>4° {
AVERAGE
EN MOYENNE
PROMEDIO
FLASHING
CLIGNOTANT
DESTELLA
FIG. 5
FIG. 3
E
A
C
FIG. 8
FIG. 2
B
B
C
D
DW087
DW086
DW0860
G
H
H
DW0860
FIG. 6
b
Step 1 / Étape 1 / Paso 1
c
d
d
c
e
30' (9m)
f
g
FLASHING
CLIGNOTANT
DESTELLA
a
Step 2 / Étape 2 / Paso 2
45˚
90˚
Step 3 / Étape 3 / Paso 3
Step 4 / Étape 4/ Paso 4
FIG. 7
Step 1, 2 / Étape 1, 2 / Paso 1, 2
Step 3 / Étape 3/ Paso 3
Steps 4, 5 / Étapes 4, 5 / Pasos 4, 5
Step 6 / Étape 6 / Paso 6
Step 7 / Étape 7 / Paso 7
Step 8
Étape 8
Paso 8
Step 2 / Étape 2 / Paso 2
Step 3 / Étape 3 / Paso 3
Step 3 / Étape 3/ Paso 3
f
g
5' (1.5m)
Step 1 / Étape 1 / Paso 1
Step 4
Étape 4
Paso 4
Steps 2, 3
Étapes 2, 3
Pasos 2, 3
Step 5
Étape 5
Paso 5
Step 7
Étape 7
Paso 7
Step 6 / Étape 6 / Paso 6
F
F
FIG. 1
–
+
+
