I need a new chalk line. Anyone especially pleased with theirs?
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The operation of the Tajima's is nice and smooth. Most of the newer plastic style of other brands crank and roll out like there's some corn inside. Tajima has a couple different "size" lines available. The fine is fine-requiring their own powder. Ink too if you're into that.
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Bill
We use the Irwin brand and we have had nothing but trouble all summer.
Seems like when I buy a new one, the only ones I can find in the van are the old broken ones. Is there a secret place that new chalk lines go to hide until it is safe to come out?
Rich
I use a good old Stanley "Chalk-o-matic". All metal, no plastic to break. Sure it is a little slower to wind in, but no gears to get packed full of chalk and sieze up, requiring the entire thing to be disassembled and cleaned out, wasting way more time than it takes me reel it in the old fashioned way. Saw one for 10 bucks at Lowes the other day. The Tajimas are nice too, real crisp line, but $30 and again with the gears if you put in even a little too much chalk.
I use the good old 'Strait Line'. Cheap and lightweight. Got 3 or so for different chalk colors. Wouldn't buy anything else. Oh, maybe spring for a Tajima if I need the precision. I see some VCT guys use the Tajima ink lines.View Image
I got 3 of those with the handle broke, 3 old solid metal ones, a new tajima ( its TOO fine mostly) and about 4 various brands that have yet to break. The old all metal are so far my favorites. I restrung them with braided deepsea fish line, and have one filled with mortar dye , Ochre.
I like the flourescent orange about the best of all colors, but plan on adding a black box next, probably a fatter Tajima.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
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I used to use a stanley fat max, then switched over to a tajima. The Tajima makes a much crisper less "fuzzy" line. A couple models are available, regular and thin line. Supposedly its best to use the Tajima brand chalk with it.
Stanley "Fat Line".
Stanley "Fat Line".Yeah! I probably could snap the Tajima line in the middle of the stanley line. Then I would know where the center of the stanley line was :)
stanley plain ones in tear drop shape in all metal w/ dacron line....
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tajima for sure, and use tajima chalk too.it's finer and leaves a better line. i've seen the plastic handle for the rewind break once when dropped though.
Interesting. Regarding the fast spool up: you'd think that someone would perfect that mechanism.I don't need a finer line than any regular old chalk line - not at work, at least. Really.One day, I'm going to make a list of all the ordinary tools that could stand to be perfected - like a fast-retracting chalk line - and start inventing. If I hit paydirt on just one, I'd retire rich! ;-D
Any type handy, pick'em up for 25 or 50 cents at garage sales, usually use laser though.
Pop always just used a length of cuttyhunk line wrapped on a kite stick and a 2" dia ball of chalk.
"...usually use laser though."I give up. How do you make a line with a laser, burn it in?
BruceT
MY dad's old Stanley from the mid 1950's Problem is it's pretty badly worn so it spills a lot of chaulk as the line is run out. However the line is from the mid 50's as well.
Tajima chalk. Have the fine and not so fine line. Both give a much crisper line than my other boxes.
Had one of the regular boxes out for a day last week. When it snapped a line the size of a median strip and dusted chalk over most of the board, it went back and the T. came out.
Irwins - the cheap ones seem to work. Got several - all in different colors. The fancy Irwin lasted one day on the roof. Handle broke.
Stanley came out with some nice looking boxes, but they put gores in the reel. The line bulges out, wears, catches, etc. Not good. Took one apart to see what it jammed solid. Nice box, stupid reel design. Trying it with 50' of line.
My old alum. Craftsmen from the '70s still works fine. No clutch, but it works fine.
The ToolBear
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I've used quite a few different chalklines. I think I have this compulsion to try new ones :-).
The red Tajima is the one I keep coming back to. It isn't cheap, but it is the best. Now that it is wet here though, for anything that'll get wet, I'll use a cheap box, since I can kill a few of those before reaching the same price as the Tajima.
The red Tajima is the one I keep coming back to. It isn't cheap, but it is the best. Now that it is wet here though, for anything that'll get wet, I'll use a cheap box, since I can kill a few of those before reaching the same price as the Tajima.@@@They are great. We had the same problem over in Mt. Vernon. Roofing in the wet. The school solution was to use the apprentice's box.We used mason's twine for layout, staple it down and shingle over it.Of course, if you have to snap a line. Cheap Irwins. Not too much chalk.The ToolBear
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Alot depends on what your chalking but for general carpentry try the plain Starrett.
Die cast metal, inexpensive, available at most hardware stores. No gearing to strip, nice thumb wheel to fine tune the length of the exposed line. Fill cap stays screwed on and doesn't fill your bags w/ chalk.
Throw away the cotton line and replace w/ braided catfish line. 50' is plenty. Use a geared chalk box, or one of the big roofer chalk boxes for anything longer .
Get several, at least one for red and another for blue. A white box comes in handy for interior finish work sometimes.
About 20 years ago I bought some Millers Falls nylon replacement line and have only had to replace one so far. It makes a thinner line and can be pulled very tight.