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A simple chalk line sparked a memory about our trade's evolution
I was marking out a floor yesterday with a laser level, and it made me think of my first boss. He always used a chalk line and a trusty square. We would spend hours making sure everything was perfectly aligned. Today, tools do most of that work for us, which is efficient. But I wonder if new installers learn the same basic skills. That hands on process taught me to see the entire room as a puzzle. Now, it is more about speed, but the pride in a flawless install stays.
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mia5925mo ago
Honestly, that whole "feel" thing @black.jordan mentioned reminds me of learning to drive stick shift. Sure, an automatic gets you there just fine, but you learn a different kind of control. I make the new guys use a chalk line once in a while for that same reason.
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black.jordan6mo ago
That line about "pride in a flawless install" really hits home. New tools are faster but those old school skills gave you a deep feel for the work that's hard to teach. Do you ever have the new guys use a chalk line just to learn the feel?
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davis.dakota6mo ago
Yeah that "deep feel for the work" idea. I get the respect for old ways, but sometimes it's just slower. A chalk line is messy and a laser level is dead straight every time. Does the "feel" actually matter if the tile looks perfect?
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