Shoutout to the guy who talked me into using a string line for a long run

I was putting up about 200 feet of split rail in a big field last month and figured I could just eyeball it. A guy at the lumber yard kept saying I needed a string line, but I thought it was a waste of time for something that's supposed to look rustic. After the first 10 posts were all over the place, I gave in and ran a line. Man, what a difference. It took maybe 20 extra minutes to set up, but the whole fence looks straight and even from end to end. I was totally wrong to skip it. Now I use one for any run over 50 feet, no question. Anyone else have a simple tool they fought against that turned out to be a game changer?

3 comments

3 Comments

taylor_young1mo ago

Same thing happened to me with a laser level lol. Thought it was overkill for hanging shelves, but now I use it for everything.

the_margaret1mo ago

Ever try to cut trim without a miter box? I was so sure I could just freehand it with a saw. Wasted so much wood before I caved and got a basic plastic one. Turns out those little guides exist for a reason.

black.pat1mo ago

Read a story once about a crew building a stone wall without a line, just going by feel. The owner made them take the whole thing down and start over when he saw the waves in it. That story stuck with me. I fought using a chalk line for marking floor tiles for years, same dumb pride. @the_margaret is right about the miter box, it's the same lesson. The simple tools that feel like a hassle usually save you more time and headache than they cost. My dad always said the pros use the guides for a reason, and he was never wrong about that stuff.