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Update: I compared setting a 50-foot line with string versus a laser level on a sloped lot in Denver last week.
The laser gave us perfect post alignment in under an hour, while the string method took half a day and still needed constant adjustment due to the grade, so what specific jobs do you all still use string for?
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craig.alex3d ago
Saw a video last week where a carpenter was still using string to snap chalk lines for long cuts on plywood sheets. He said the line gives a physical guide for the saw base that a laser dot just can't match. So maybe it's still the go-to for stuff where you need a physical edge to follow. Makes sense for that one specific job even if lasers are better for almost everything else now.
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logan6583d ago
Forget lasers, that physical bump from the chalk line is like training wheels for your saw.
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cameronp473d ago
Read an article where a finish carpenter said the same thing about chalk lines on hardwood floors. He argued that for a long rip cut, your saw plate can actually ride against the raised chalk line for a second, keeping you dead straight at the start. A laser is just a light on the floor, so if your saw drifts a bit at the beginning, you might not know until you're a foot into the cut. That physical bump from the string line gives you instant feedback. Some old ways just work for the feel of it, even with all the new tech around.
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