Brag-Worthy Chalk Box
The Tajima Chalk-Rite II Ultra-Thin has a durable design that lasts longer than other "disposable" chalk boxes.
Some may consider a chalk box a disposable tool—if the line frays, breaks, or gets tangled up, they toss it and buy a new one for $10. Not me—I’ve owned the same Tajima Chalk-Rite II Ultra-Thin ($45) for over 15 years, which is a testament to how well it’s designed. The locking mechanism works well and is easy to use even with gloves on. The line stretches and snaps like a rubber band, is strong, doesn’t dump an excessive amount of chalk, winds up fast, and rarely gets tangled. The hook holds to edges way better than any other chalkline I’ve owned. The tool is compact with a collapsible handle and fits nicely in the smallest pouch on my belt. The small size does mean it needs refilling more often, but the large fill hole makes that easy enough to accomplish. Tajima has other nice chalklines too: some larger; some smaller; some designed to snap extrabold lines visible in dusty, wet, and snowy conditions; and some made of ABS rather than aluminum, which is more comfortable when working in the winter. For much of the work I do, every 1⁄32 in. matters, so I use Tajima-brand ink rather than chalk. The 0.02-in. braided line leaves a beautifully narrow, crisp line.
—Chris Lange, a remodeler in West Concord, Minn. Photo by Rodney Diaz.
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