Drafting Tools

• Drawing Board


  provides straight working edge for constructing horizontal and vertical lines.
• T-square


  used to construct horizontal lines, base for triangles, have a blade and a head.
• Parallel Rule


  replaces T-square, moves up and down.
• Triangle


  30-60-90 and 45-45-90 angles are used for drawing vertical lines with t-square. made up of transparent
• Adjustable Triangle


  used to draw angles other than the usual 15 degree increment.
• Protractor


  used to measure and draw angles not divisible by 15
• Metric Scale


  used to reproduce dimensions of an object in a full reduced or enlarged size on a drawing
• Compass


  used for drawing circles and arcs
• Divider


  needle points on both ends and is used for laying off points and transferring dimension, used for dividing lines
• Pencil


  basic instrument used in mechanical drawing
• Technical Pen (Mechanical)


  precision inking tools
• Eraser

  • Hard Rubber Eraser - dark heavy lines
  • Soft Rubber Eraser - light lines and to clean smudges
  • Special Ink Eraser - available for removing ink lines
• Erasing Shield


  made of thin flat metal or plastic with cutouts of various sizes and shapes
• Cutter, Sharpener, Sandpaper


  various tool for creating sharp conical pencil points
• Dusting Brush


  used to remove loose dirt particles on a paper
• French Curve and Flexi-curve


  used for drawing noncircular and irregular circles
• Templates 


  used for drafting symbols or repetitive figures
• Drafting Machine


  combination of drafting tools in a single contraption, it has replaced t-square, triangle, scales, and protactor
• The proper use and care of drafting materials and equipment is necessary. Here are three reminders for you:

  1.Do not roll your instruments over the drawing paper. Lift them.

  2.Use a drafting tape in fixing a drafting sheet to the drawing board so as not to damage the board’s surface the way thumbtacks do.

  3.Before using the T-square, test the working edge of the board. The T-square must be perpendicular to its head. The T-square should never be used as a cutting edge for a slight nick will ruin it.
• Cleanliness


  • Prerequisite to good drafting
• Drafting or drawing equipment cleaning

  Wash triangles, T-squares, scales, etc. with water or alcohol before and after using
• Pencil sharpening


  Never sharpen a pencil over the drawing paper
• Drawing construction lines

  Start with very light construction lines and apply the appropriate line weights when you are definite about the figures
• Eraser

  Minimize the use of an eraser
• Removing eraser crumbs and particles

  Use the dusting brush to remove eraser crumbs and other particles from the drawing surface. Using the palm of the hand, tissue paper, or rags can leave smudges on the surface.
• Wiping excess graphite powder

  Keep a cloth or a piece of clay handy to wipe the excess graphite powder from a newly sharpened lead