My old tape measure trick totally failed on a long wall

I was marking studs for a closet build in my 1970s ranch house. I always just hook the tape on one end and walk it down, but this wall was 14 feet and my tape kept bending. I spent a whole hour trying to get a straight line, even tried a chalk line that snapped. Finally my neighbor said to use a piece of string pulled tight with a pencil. It took me 5 minutes and worked perfect. Why did I waste so much time on the wrong tool? What do you guys use for long, solo measurements?

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3 Comments

robin6586mo ago

My 12-foot laser level was cheaper than all that frustration.

1

ryan_kim636mo ago

That's a solid point from @robin658. I spent way too long trying to get a shelf straight with a tiny bubble level before I gave up. The laser line just makes it so obvious when something's off.

6

tarahart6mo ago

All that frustration" is why I finally bought one too.

8