Tools in Drafting

What is a Drafter?

Drafters or draughtsmen are people who draw and prepare drawings of a technical nature. It is their job to work with engineers or architects to create the outline or blueprint of a future model or building. This job is quite difficult and be quite tedious, but with the right tools in drafting, it is much more easily performed. 

Landscape plans like that of bridges, public centers, parks, houses or other buildings are created by drafters or draughtsmen using tools in drafting. All of the work is done manually, so naturally, a lot of tools are necessary. 

Where Does a Draughtsman Work and What Do They Need to Work?

The basic setup will be a smooth surface that is perfectly flat. But sometimes, the surface will be tilted slightly to create an easy to work with plane for the drafter. With this setup, the draughtsman not needs their tools. They will need a pencil, t-square, triangle outlines and shapes for use when drawing angles at thirty, forty-five, sixty and ninety degrees. Other tools that will be necessary for the drafter include protractors for drawing angles of any size, different templates for specific drafting symbols, compasses for arcs and circles, dividers for sizing measurements, French curves for making curves that are not perfectly circular, accurate plans of scale and more. 

Where Can Drafting Tools and Accessories Be Purchased?

Most of these items can be purchased in drafting supply stores, arts and crafts stores and of course, online. There are many sites that cater specifically to drafters and their work. Some of the best drafters are those who actually design the tools that other use. 

Smaller items like rulers, t-squares, protractors and compasses can be purchased at many stores, but bigger drafting equipment for specific use may need to be purchased directly from a drafting supply store. For example, scales, drawing boards, straight edges and precision sharpeners may need to be special ordered. Generally, engineering or architecture firms supple their own materials, but some draughtsmen prefer to purchase their own tools and materials for ease of use and portability.