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A crucial tool for measuring and imparting straight lines onto any floor or object, chalk lines are used extensively throughout construction, planning, and DIY tasks.

Cromwell stocks a variety of high-quality chalk lines and chalk line tools from own brand Kennedy® as well as national brands Stanley® and Spear & Jackson®, used and trusted by industry professionals around the world.

What are chalk lines?

Chalk lines and chalk line tools are simple devices used to create straight lines on surfaces. They consist of a container with a reel of string and chalk powder. The reel of string is coated in the chalk powder, then reeled out and used to make temporary markings on any kind of surface. The far end of the string often comes with a metal hook or attachment device, which means it can be fitted to an object.

Once the string is suitably placed for marking, users can knock or 'pluck' the string to snap it back onto the surface, leaving a marked straight line of chalk for users to work with.

Why buy chalk lines?

Despite their simplicity, chalk lines are invaluable for marking medium to long distances in a very short amount of time, and with excellent accuracy. They are perfect to use when a ruler or measuring wheel would both be inappropriate.

Chalk lines can prove useful on virtually any surface, especially hard and flat surfaces such as metal, concrete, or wood. Professionals who regularly work with such materials use chalk line tools to guarantee perfectly straight cuts.

When are chalk lines used?

Chalk lines are used throughout a varied range of industries to create reliable and accurate guidance when performing a range of common tasks. Tasks where chalk lines are invaluable include:

• Hanging wallpaper
• Creating cutting guides for handheld jigsaws
• Accurately laying tiles or flooring
• Roofing
• Levelling posts

If you're looking for the right type of chalk line tool for your usage but aren't sure about the best choice for your needs, feel free to ask our experts for specialised advice.

Chalk line types

Chalk lines and chalk line reels are generally refillable, making them extremely cost effective. We've outlined the two main types of chalk line products below.

• Chalk line refill - Suited for refilling your pre-existing chalk line reel or chalk line pen, chalk line refills come in various colours and sizes.

• Chalk line reel - The reel itself is usually pre-loaded with chalk powder, and can be used in conjunction with a chalk line refill when the powder has been used up.

Considerations when choosing a chalk line

• Colour - The colour of the product or material upon which you intend to use a chalk line may determine what colour chalk you need to use. Chalk lines come in a variety of colours all of which are designed to stand out to provide a clear guide.

• Type - Chalk lines usually take the form of a reel, however there are other types of chalk lines, such as chalk line pens.

Chalk lines jargon buster

We want to make it easier for you to shop our range of chalk lines, so we've outlined some key terms to ensure you make an informed purchasing decision.

What does gear ratio mean?

In broad terms, a gear ratio explains the mechanical relationship between two cogs within a machine. Specifically relating this to chalk lines, this refers to the rate at which your chalk line can reel the string back in.

Gear ratio is determined by counting the number of teeth the larger cog has and dividing it by how many teeth the smaller cog has. For example if the driving cog has 80 teeth and the driven cog has 20 teeth, you have a gear ratio of 4:1. What this means is that for every 1 rotation of input force you will get 4 rotations of output force.

So what is the best gear ratio?

Most chalk lines have a 1:1 gear ratio, which means that both cogs in the reel mechanism are the same size. Anything that has a higher ratio than this means that it is easier for the chalk line to reel the string back in. For example, a 6:1 gear ratio chalk line will be quicker when winding in the string.

FAQs

Do chalk lines wash off?
This depends on the type of chalk powder used for your chalk lines. Most chalk lines wash off relatively easily, however some fluorescent chalks are designed to be more visible and harder to remove.

What surfaces does a chalk line work on?
Chalk lines show up far better on hard, flat surfaces such as concrete, tile, wood, etc. however they are also somewhat effective on gravel and soil. It is harder for chalk lines to show up on soft, moving materials such as grass.