That old trick with the chalk line on curved tanks actually works

Been fighting with marking a 12-foot diameter tank for weeks and some guy at the hall told me to wet the line with a little dish soap before snapping it. Has anyone else tried this or am I the last guy to figure it out?

2 comments

2 Comments

ben82723d ago

Dip a rag in soapy water and wipe it along the line before snapping, works way better than just wetting it. Did 15 foot diameter tanks for years on a barge and that soap trick kept the line sharp and visible even on curved surfaces. Just don't use too much or it'll drip and mess up the mark.

ray_patel2723d ago

Well, hold on now. I'm not sure I'd call that a huge improvement over just wetting the rag. That's basically the same thing with a little extra. You're still just applying moisture to the line, aren't you? The soap might help it grip a tiny bit better on a curved surface, but for a straight line on plywood or drywall, plain water does the job just fine. No drips, no sticky residue to clean up later. I've marked plenty of cuts over the years, and I've never needed soap for a clean snap. @ben827, I'm not saying it doesn't work for your tanks, but I think you're overselling it a bit for everyday use. Seems like an extra step that doesn't buy you much.