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Using a Chalk Line
A Chalk Line is the Ideal Tool for Making Fast
and Straight Reference Lines
By Mark J. Donovan
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Every carpenter or experienced
home remodeler has a chalk line in their toolbox and uses it regularly.
However a chalk line seems to be one of those underrated or misunderstood
tools that novice DIY homeowners often neglect to own. It is an unfortunate
mistake, as a chalk line is an inexpensive tool, and it is useful for so
many home improvement projects.
A chalk line is used for making or “snapping” fast and long straight lines. |
Snapping a chalk line is much faster
than using a long straight edge and a pencil to make long straight lines. A
chalk line is ideal for snapping long straight lines on roofs, subfloors,
drywall pieces, plywood and many other items.
A chalk line consists of a small gear box that contains chalk and a string that
is rolled up inside it. At the end of the string is a small L-shaped hook.
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To use a chalk line all that is required is to line up the
string over two small pencil mark reference lines on either side of the
material surface, pull the string taught on both ends, and then lift the
string a few inches and then let it go. This letting go action snaps a line
on the surface of the material creating a long straight line.
Roofers use chalk lines for providing guide lines for installing
shingles. Carpenters frequently use chalk lines for quickly marking sheets
of plywood that they need to rip, or for reference marks on floors and
ceiling joists for aiding in installing stud walls. |
The L-shaped hook on chalk lines is
helpful for when you don’t have a second pair of hands. You can simply place the
L-shaped hook over the edge of a piece of lumber or surface and then run the
chalk line out to the other end of the surface. Again, all you need to do is
pull the string tight, lift the string a few inches, and snap the chalk line.
For best results, after one or two snaps of the chalk line you should wind the
chalk line back up so that the string gets recoated with chalk. Also, check the
chalk gearbox regularly to make sure it is approximately half full of chalk.
After refilling the chalk gearbox pull the string out several times and wind it
up to fully coat the chalk line.
Also, if the string breaks or gets wet you can easily find replacement string at
any hardware store.
There are different types of chalk available for chalk lines, including blue,
red, white, and even fluorescent chalk. Blue is for general purpose use, and red
is ideal for outdoor applications. White is good for interior walls and
fluorescent chalk is helpful on some hard to see surfaces.
So before you start your next carpentry or roofing project visit your local home
improvement center and pick up a chalk line.
For a comprehensive new home construction
checklist, see my
New Home Construction Bid Sheet. The New Home Construction Bid
Sheet provides a request for quote checklist section that you can provide to
prospective building contractors. It also includes a comprehensive new home
construction cost breakdown table, in Microsoft Excel format, that allows the
contractor to include his projected new home construction costs for every phase
of the project.
How to Finance your New Home Construction Project -
can help provide funds for your new home improvement project if financing is
required.
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Framing Resources
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