Chalk-line
A chalk-line is a a building construction tool used for a variety of purposes, it may be referred to as drawing, dropping, or snapping the line , the string or the plumb line. It is a way to mark a material or construction element with a straight line, which is created with a piece of string that is covered in chalk. The line is pulled back and flicked against the elements, and as the line touches it, it leaves a chalk line.
It is used for marking long pieces of timber or plaster sheets that may need to be cut and it may also be used in tiling to mark the finish line of tiles or bricklaying to leave a mark showing the horizontal. Although in masonry a line might also be created by a fixed string and in tiling today many trades will use a laser line.
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