The Snap Back is a chalk line with a unique self-releasing tip. Standard tips work fine until it’s time to reel them in after chalking long lines. If you can’t shake them free from the edge with the line, you have to walk back and unhook them by hand.
The Snap Back was developed as a ready-to-use chalk reel, and a tip-only upgrade for your existing chalk line reel.
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The Snap Back tip is designed to hold tight during snaps and automatically release after. It has hooked stainless steel fangs with a spring-loaded plastic piece inside. Pull the line tight, and the fangs grip while the plastic piece pivots up and out of the way.
Release tension, and the piece swings down and disengages the tip from the edge. If you gather some slack and release the line quickly, the tip will instantly pop free. It’s still possible to hook the tip on a nail.
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Tips will be available separately or on a Snap Back Chalk Line. The chalk line has a belt clip, 4.4 to 1 gearing, and a recess on back for storing the clip. It’s flat enough on the sides to stand on edge while you fill the reservoir with chalk.
Price: $20 for a chalk line with tip, or $6 for just the tip.
Update: Street price for the tip is $10 at Amazon.
Buy Now(Releasable Chalk Line Tip via Amazon)
More Info(via CE Tools)
First Thoughts
I was introduced to the Snap Back chalk line at the National Hardware Show in May 2017, and was taken by the idea of making long snaps on horizontal surfaces without having to walk back to unhook the tip.
It isn’t out yet but its maker says it will soon be available for purchase—though it’s unclear where that might be. The manufacturer was at the show to find vendors willing to stock the item. If that doesn’t work out it’s possible they’ll choose to sell from their website.
The Snap Back would be worth considering if and when it comes out. It depends, really, on the kind of work you do. The company video (below) shows roofers snapping out lines for shingles. It would be equally useful for framing and foundation layout.
The chalk line is nice, but nothing special: I appreciate the belt clip, the place to store the tip, and its ability to stand on edge while being filled. What this tool is really about is the self-releasing tip. I could see using it on the Snap Back or any other chalk line for chalking long lines—ones where walking back to unhook would be a serious hassle.
ca
Looks useful, though I’d worry that you have to keep constant tension on the line while spooling it out or the clip would release.
Nicholas Fortier
Doesn’t need anymore tension then reeling out a regular line
fred
At $6 – it might be worth a try to see if it really increased productivity.
The last add-on chalk line tip that I saw was from CH Hanson. Theirs supposedly helped with angles. We tried it out (paid $1.50) and said ho hum. Maybe others thought the same – because its not widely available.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/rj2/Hanson-4000-Mate-Chalk-Line-Double-Hook/B000646QF8
Stanley also had what they called a Quick Spike:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Stanley-Hand-Tools-47-496-FatMax-Xtreme-QuickSpike-Line-Anchor/22229565
We bought one of those complete with a Stanley chalk-line box for $10 in 2007 – and never bought another – preferring the Tajima brand – lik one you picture
fred
BTW – I see its up to $10 on Amazon (I guess $6 for the item + $3.99 for the “free” shipping)
Stuart
$6 could be the direct-from-manufacturer cost, but not the final retail cost. That price is 2-months old, when the tip wasn’t available on Amazon or other retailers.
Amazon charges fees for “fulfilled by Amazon” products, and as you mentioned, shipping.
JoeM
Stupid question time: Could this be adapted to serve a Tape Reel as well? Aside from having to snap the tape measure, they suffer the same issue. Has to hold in place, pain in the butt to hold in place until you are done measuring, don’t want to walk so far to unhook it when you’re done measuring.
Double the use, double the market. Of course, regular metal tape measures are not included in this… I mean the 100 foot reels. The ones with no spring, just a crank. This seems logical to me. Latch it somewhere, walk to the point you’re measuring, pluck the tape to trigger the clip at the end like a chalk reel, reel in your tape.
No one else see this? Am I crazy?
Szymon
It does sound like a good idea.
But you would have to have it “calibrated” or do some manual math as this little device probably would add an inch or two to the total length.
Since we are on the topic of improving current tools.
Why not make a Chalk line that automatically retracts. Same idea as a regular tape measure.
You usually have to reel the entire string in anyways for a second use so it gets coated with a new batch of chalk.
fred
How about this Tajima:
https://www.amazon.com/Tajima-CR101S-0-CHALK-RITE-ReWind-Snap-line/dp/B0000AMK5G
or this Shinwa:
https://www.amazon.com/NEO-Chalk-Line-Auto-Rewind/dp/B004494A7C
Dan
Hello. I am the inventor of the SnapBack chalkline and president of CE Tools. Thanks to all of you for looking at and commenting on the SnapBack chalkline and tip. I really appreciate the review by David. Thanks for stopping by our booth at the National Tool show in Las Vegas. If its ok, let me answer a few questions..
You do not have to keep constant pressure on the line, no more than usual for a traditional tip. You always keep some constant pressure when using a chalkline so your string doesn’t get enough slack to touch the surface you’re marking. We spent over 3 years developing this and I went through about 100+ prototypes to get this to where it works perfect all the time. The spring is annealed and formed in just the right spot to give the tip ‘forgiveness’ while using. You can relax the string and even let it totally loose and it will not come off the working edge. You have to make a deliberate snap of the string backwards to release the tip. Then it covers the teeth so you can reel it back without catching anything. It’s really great.
JoeM-Yes it can be used on 100′ tape measures too. I have the patent for that as well. I just have spent so many years and so much $$ getting this ready for the chalk reel I will have to wait to add it to a tape measure. Szymon is correct too, it would have to be calibrated.
Fred- yep. Amazon fees….. But its worth it!
I would like everyone to know we will have our SnapBack Chalkline available in September. I have worked an additional 2-3 years improving a lot that is wrong with the chalkline. I am very proud of the chalkline with the tip. I hope you guys give it a try when it is available. I feel like its the best one out there. I chalked so many lines over the years I knew everything I wanted changed on a chalkline. The first thing was I didn’t want to walk back and get my tip every time I hooked it in place.
Thanks again everyone and to ToolGuyd and David for taking the time to do this . BTW CE Tools stands for ‘Contractor Engineered Tools’. I am trying to develop tools from the contractors side of the table.
Please try out the SnapBack tip on Amazon. You will love it, and when the chalkline is available with the tip, you have got to try it. It really is a great tool.
Honored…. Dan.
JoeM
Can’t you just use a hook adapter? Most tape reels I’ve seen have a metal loop to pin it in place where you’re measuring from. I see a hole in the plastic “Release Mechanism” for the chalk line to go through. Wouldn’t a simple hook, or screw/washer combo do the job to grab the loop/d-link at the end and hold it flat to the mechanism, acting as all the calibration you need? After all, it would pinch a certain amount of the first few lines of measurement this way, approximately equal to the distance between the edge of the tool, and the hole where it’s anchored.
I like this little invention of yours. Simple and elegant solution. I hope you get a better price on this thing, and it catches on for more standard use! I, personally, don’t own either a chalk line, or a long tape… but if I ever buy one, I would be EXTREMELY proud to buy some of these for them!
I like it! Good Job, sir!
rodney smith
why don`t this item ship to the uk I want one,, dids smith