Remember when we used chalk lines instead of lasers?

I was framing a wall yesterday and it hit me - I haven't snapped a chalk line on a job in probably 8 years. Back in 2015 I was still using that old Stanley chalk box my dad gave me, lines everywhere, blue dust on everything. Now I just grab my Huepar laser and I'm done in half the time. Does anyone else feel like we lost something when we stopped using the old tools, or is it just me?

3 comments

3 Comments

patricialee17d ago

My old man still has that same Stanley box in his garage, and every time I see it I think about how we traded a little bit of messy satisfaction for pure speed. It's like how nobody writes letters by hand anymore, something feels missing even though it's way easier now.

the_paul17d ago

Man, that hits hard. My buddy Dave had an old Craftsman chest his grandpa left him and he kept it in his shop even after he got a brand new Snap-On roller. One day he was rebuilding a carb and he reached for the new box out of habit then just stopped and walked over to the old one. Said the drawer felt different, the rust on the handle felt right, like he was doing the job with the old man standing next to him. He ended up selling the Snap-On a month later.

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juliag1017d ago

Nail hit square on the head, we traded the dust and satisfaction for just another glowing blue box.