I think I’ve got a chalk reel around here somewhere, and for the longest time I had a small bottle of Irwin’s purple dust-off chalk staring at me from the shelf. Of course now that I want to find it, I can’t. Not to sound uncertain, but I can’t remember if I ever used a chalk reel before.
Chalk reels are used for layout work. You anchor the hook, release a length of line, pull it taut, let it go, and the chalk-loaded line snaps across whatever flat material you want a straight layout mark on. Bam, there’s your instant layout line.
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Nearly 2 years ago, I talked about which brands I would pick if I had to replace all of my tools. For chalk lines, I left a series of question marks. In the time before and since then, I played around with chalk reels at media events, but never had a real use for one. Maybe there were times I could have used one, but I never found the need to go out and buy one.
At Milwaukee’s recent media event, they showed off some new hand tools, including a geared chalk reel. The chalk line comes out easy, and is returned into the reel housing with speed, thanks to the 6:1 gear ratio.
I can definitely see why you would want a chalk reel to have geared return. Compared to a non-geared chalk reel, you can return the line in 1/6th the time with 1/6th the effort.
Is there any value in buying and using a chalk reel that doesn’t offer this a geared return crank?
Looking at Amazon, there are all of the familiar construction tool brand names: Irwin, Stanley, Dewalt, and also Tajima – a brand I’ve been hearing about more and more – but also other brands, such as Keson and M-D Building Products, that I am completely unfamiliar with.
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You guys recently shared valuable insights, opinions, and recommendations for A-frame step ladders, and then caulk guns. I figured that maybe you would be willing to do the same for chalk line reels.
So what do you like to see in a chalk line reel? Do you have any brand or style preferences? A favorite chalk to use?
If I had to run out right now, I’d likely buy an Irwin chalk line reel and some basic chalk. They offer a 100-foot reel with 4 oz of blue chalk as a $6 combo pack on Amazon (add-on item). I presume it’s similarly priced in stores. Apparently Amazon is currently offering an extra 20% instant-at-checkout discount on that combo pack, thru 10/31/2015. There’s also a 100-foot reel with 4 oz of red chalk, for $3.70 via Amazon (add-on item).
I can’t tell you why I’d gravitate towards Irwin and their Strait-Line options.
But if I knew I would need a long run, or that I would definitely get multiple uses out of the chalk reel, I might invest in a geared return reel, but which one…?
Marty
I use two tajima chalk lines. One is a regular chalk line and the other is the ink-rite line that produces a very fine line. I’ve used quite a few brands including Irwin, Dewalt and Stanley, but the tajima has produced the best results and it’s held up really well.
Skippy_chippy
Another vote for the tajima ones. Been using them for 10+ years. The line holds the chalk well and give nice crisp lines and their gears work great and dont pack it in after a few months use. Ive tried just about every other brand without any luck. Tajima dont make a wide range of tools, but the ones they do are awesome.
Lu
I swear by them as well. I remember framing with a guy who always used a Stanley or some such that used to bleed black chalk all over him and the construction site and snap a line a 1/4 inch wide. The first time I laid out a house he couldn’t believe it.
The lines seem to hold chalk incredibly well. I have an old one, dedicated red, kicking around with a broken handle that I pull out whenever I happen To misplace my current one. I don’t think I’ve put chalk in it in a decade and it still gives me a line 2 or 3 times a year.
Mike
I really like dewalts 30 ft. It’s small and has a clip on it so u can put it on your pocket. It also has a 3:1 gear ratio. I normally use a chalk box for cutting sheet goods on site.
Jay
Only ever use Irwin strait line aluminum chalk boxes. Always remove the stock string and replace it with some good stout masons line. We don’t use them for fine work, mostly for cutting sheets, popping lines for roofing, as a string for straightening walls and setting trusses, laying out wall plates and for cutting out damaged drywall for repairs.
Steve owens
What type mason line, do you mean the yellow or now they have red and white together. I have a big Dewalt line that is 150 feet
This is the 3rd one the gear keeps breaking do you have a suggestion
Larry
Heres a reply most of this junk we buy is made in China
Inferior is a kind word recently purchased a stanley and an Irwin and both expired slmost immediately.Older is better but going to try a Tajima as its suppose to come from Japan but who knows.Ive been in the construction industry for 46 years and have watched the quality of tools spiral downward just like building materials.
Before purchasing tools ya gotta do some research
Stan
Keeson brand Giant Box lines are what I recommend as that is what I’ve seen legitimate tradesman use and best of all these are made in the United States of America.
Below is a link to the manufacturer’s website and an Amazon link to this product.
http://www.keson.com/products/marking/chalk-line-reels.aspx
http://www.amazon.com/Keson-G150-Giant-Chalk-box/dp/B0001VNX0W
Jeremy
Tajima Chalkrite II. Absolutely the best chalk box I’ve ever used. It’s alumininum and the line it leaves it way crisper and sharper than any Irwin or Dewalt box I ever owned. I carry a black one and a white one. You can buy the line separately too and put it in any chalk box
Blythe M
For general work, I really like my dewalt box. If you plan to do any marking over long distance make sure to get something with a braided/mason line, you can pull it much tighter and get a more accurate line
Blythe M
I’ll also mention I’ve had a few of the plastic low cost Irwin boxes and it seems like the gears in all of them start to strip/get gummed up after a few months of use
Vaheh
Irwins and stanleys are junk, Tajima easily. Nobody even looks at the irwins anymore then again these guys are doing this for a living.
ken
Irwin’s and Stanley’s were not always junk though and that needs to be remembered.
I have a composite newer Irwin which works fine and I use it when I need to take it away from home could possibly use it, however an older USA made Irwin is my favorite and can be had on eBay fairly cheap.
My Grandfather has been a restoration carpenter his entire life and uses 30-40 year old Irwin lines with no issues ever, so that’s naturally what I use.
Vaheh
Those are relics of a bygone era, I was talking about boxes currently on the market. Stanley used to be top notch decades ago but I still like fatmax tapes which are pretty much the standard.
JMG
It seems to me that many of the modern tool manufacturers who produce string lines have forgotten why certain shapes were used and had a sharp point on the end. One of the secondary uses for those chalk boxes was that of a plumb bob. On top of a wall and need to level it up without running out to find a level? Drop your string line off the side and line up the pointy end on the bottom board’s edge.
I have a couple of very old string boxes in my tool collection, one of which has the fill cap on the end with a point on it, and the other with the general shape that’s close enough. Although it has been many decades since I last framed a house or addition, I can still remember a carpenter on a job site complaining about being chewed out for being to slow because he had run out to his truck to search for his level to check the wall he had just set, and the old salt of a contractor who had been doing the chewing shaking his head in disgust and walking away.
Mike aka Fazzman
I have a Starrett Aluminum one that ive had forever.
Jay
Have a couple of Starrett utility knives that I’ve had forever. Would not trade them for anything new on the market. Keep two knives in the pouch. One straight blade and one hook blade. The Starrett holds the hook blades because the knife is longer and thus saves the knuckles when cutting shingles and other rough materials. Use Stanley’s for everything else.
Just want to add that our old aluminum Irwin chalk boxes aren’t fancy but they always get the job done. They work just as hard as we do. Haven’t had the need to buy one of the new generation chalk lines because the Irwin boxes only ever need a new string and they are good to go again. The one in my pouch was purchased better than 35 years ago and has never failed.
James
Tajima is hands down the best. They also make a really sweet rasp.
Jerry
I can see the appeal of the geared ones, but I’ve seen a couple fail under abuse, while the old style all-metal ones never seemed to need more than more chalk, and an occasional string. I also have an ancient one I inherited, with the plumb bob point on it.
Josh
I highly recommend Tajima chalk lines. After using one i would never go back to any other chalk box. Tajima CR301JF Chalk-Rite Jam Free Chalk Snap Line is the one to have in my opinion and only $15 on amazon. I do prefer Irwin chalk over Tajima chalk though.