How to Use a Chalk Snap Line

A chalk snap line is an inexpensive way to "draw" a long line between two points, when a ruler is not feasible. For instance, you may have a large piece of plywood that you need to rip from one end to the other. By using a chalk line, you can snap a fairly steady line the length of the board. Or, you might have located the top and bottom points of a stud within your wall. By snapping a line between those two points, you can indicate where that stud is, showing its entire length. It is important to realize that a chalk line does not take the place of a straight edge. The line produced by the chalk snap line is fuzzy and sometimes hard to follow when sawing along it.

First, shake up the chalk inside your tool (or add chalk if it doe not have any). Then, hook one end of the chalk snap line to your beginning point. If you have a well-functioning chalk snap line, you can slowly play out the line without using the crank. If the line plays out with difficulty, then be sure to use the crank to reduce the strain on the line.