Vent: My old chalk line snapped on a 40-foot deck layout

Last month, I was marking out for a big deck in Bellingham and the line broke halfway across. I ended up using a 3/8 inch drill bit as a makeshift reel to wind up the string so I could finish the job. What's your go-to quick fix when a tool fails on site?

4 comments

4 Comments

daniel1402mo ago

That drill bit trick is a solid save. Had a chalk line snap on a long fence run once, and just tied the broken end to a spare deck screw. Wrapped the line around the screw head to keep tension and finished the mark.

emmahayes2mo ago

Saw a guy use a bent nail as a reel once.

piperbailey2mo ago

Honestly, that bent nail trick works in a pinch. Tbh, a big finish nail with the head bent over is my go-to for a quick reel. Just wrap your line around the shaft and you're good.

fiona_west211mo ago

Buddy of mine had his chalk line let go during a shed foundation layout in the rain. He grabbed a wire nut off a spare box in his truck, wrapped the string around it a few times, and just kept going. Worked well enough he finished the whole outline before it slipped off.