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I was helping my neighbor fix his fence in Omaha last month and he asked me why I still use a chalk line. | Contractor Tools - Freelance Forum - The Community for Independent Professionals

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jennyfisher•7mo ago

I was helping my neighbor fix his fence in Omaha last month and he asked me why I still use a chalk line.

He's not in the trades, just a retired guy. He saw me snapping a line and said, 'My dad used one of those. Isn't there a laser for that now?' I told him yeah, but the chalk line is faster for a single straight mark, costs about $15, and doesn't need batteries. He just nodded and said, 'So the old way is sometimes still the right tool.' It made me realize I stick with a lot of simple tools out of habit, not always because they're best. What's one basic tool you still use that people think is outdated?

4 comments

4 Comments

sullivan.quinn7mo ago

Oh man, I get that. But I gotta say, a chalk line isn't just habit for me. For a long, straight line over any distance, especially outside, it's still the best. A laser can be hard to see in bright sun, and a chalk line gives you a physical mark you can actually see and follow while you work.

shane_carter7mo ago

You're totally right, @sullivan.quinn. I was laying out a patio last summer and my laser was basically useless in the afternoon sun. Had to go back to the chalk box anyway. There's just no arguing with a bright blue line you can see from any angle. Lasers are cool for inside work, but for real outdoor jobs, the old way still wins.