Just curious about what y'all are lining your sticks with--chalk or ink? What color? How often are your lines visible in the finished frame?

We have been using black chalk for a while. Not nearly as messy as ink and perhaps more permanent. I have had ink fade/smudge after a rain. But the black chalk leaves a fine clean line that sticks around.

I recently found red chalk lines on some old square ruled timbers. The lines were still visible after about 150 years. Two lines on each face, as Jack Sobon describes.

We typically leave the lines when we can. This depends on the nature of the job and what is called for in the specs, but I personally like to see the lines and marks left behind by the carpenter.

Whit