Why I stopped using a string line for posts after 12 years

I was setting a fence line in Austin last month for a backyard job, about 150 feet of privacy panels. I always ran a string line between two stakes and just eyeballed the posts against it. Then my buddy who works for a commercial crew stopped by and watched me for a minute. He asked why I wasn't using a laser level for the post tops. I told him the line was fine for keeping them straight. He pointed out that three posts in the middle were a quarter inch low and I'd never catch that with string. I checked with a level and he was right. That string sags no matter how tight you pull it. Now I pick up a cheap rotary laser at Habitat for $40 and it saves me a ton of rework. Has anyone else switched off the old string method or am I the last guy to figure this out?

2 comments

2 Comments

coran6312d ago

Funny enough I used to think string lines were the only way to go because thats how my dad taught me 20 years ago. Then I did a deck last summer and my neighbor let me borrow his rotary laser for an afternoon. Man, it totally changed my mind after I saw how the string drooped across 40 feet even when I thought I had it tight. Now I just grab a cheap used laser when I see one at Habitat too. Its way easier to set one dead-on reference and just work from there. The string line is retired for good at my place now lol.

daniel21412d ago

That string droop is no joke once you get past 20 feet or so. I had the same wake up call on a fence line years ago. Lasers just save you from that headache.

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