diy alternative to chalk for chalk lines?

[NCEric]

I have a vague memory of watching a Mr. Chickadee video where he used something black for making chalk lines.  I think it was something like charcoal or creosote, but I think he must have processed it somehow to make it fine enough to be chalky-like.  Does anyone here know how to do something like that?  Thanks!

[mudfarmer]

Maybe try a mortar and pestle with a lump of charcoal?

[Ljohnsaw]

Could try the wife's blender...

[Joe Hillmann]

This summer I was straightlining a lot of lumber by snapping a chalk line then cutting it with a skill saw.

One day I ran out of chalk and didn't want to waste an hour or two to drive to a store and back to get some.

I fished some charcoal out of the fire I had burning to get rid of scraps.  I crushed it into powder between two cinder blocks.  It only took a couple minutes to crush enough to fill up the chalk line.  I didn't work quite the same as chalk. It kind of gave me 3 lines, two dark black lines about 1/8 of an inch apart with a lighter gray one in the middle. 

I don't know how permanent or temporary the marks or how well it would mark on smooth surfaces, like tin.

[Hilltop366]

The Japanese use ink lines, I've watched some the Mr. Chickadee videos but don't remember a chalk alternative.

The carpet shop uses talcum powder so it doesn't stain the carpet. 

[Hilltop366]

At 1 minute in it shows a good view of his chalk line, looks like charcoal.

[Hilltop366]

6 min on this one he uses a different line and rubs something on it, looks like charcoal too.