The Many Uses of a Mechanical Pencil .3mm

When your job, your school project, or even your artistic passions required that you have high quality writing utensils, the type of tool you use can make all the difference. Typically known for their consistent lines, mechanical pencils are advantageous over traditional pencils, markers or pens. In fact, here are some of the many uses of a mechanical pencil .3mm:

Engineering

Often times, engineers must draw mock ups and outlines with very fine turns, corners and details. The .33 is build with top quality polymer, so it bonds together and prevents annoying breakage. The carbon and graphite particles leave the pencil cleanly, without smudging or dotting. These fine characteristics mean that engineers can draw, and of course present, sophisticated plans with ease.

Library Science

When librarians attempt to find a book based on someone's writing that used an old fashioned #2 pencil, the lead often gets spread around. When letters and numbers are difficult to read, it takes that much more time to find what you're looking for.

Art

When artists began a sketching, they need a variety of lead thicknesses at their disposal. Luckily, a mechanical pencil .3mm comes in a variety of softness levels, from the lowest to the highest. In addition, the consistent line clearly performs better than standard pencils, letting the artist focus on their work and not on their pencil.

School

When students sit down to take notes in a class, they often bring more than one pencil. With mechanical pencils, students can pay more attention to the instructor and less attention to sharpening their pencils. That's because .3mm mechanical pencils don't need any sharpening at all.

The joy of a mechanical pencil .33m is more than just knowing that you'r using the latest technology. With high quality carbon materials that bond tightly, it doesn't break as easily as traditional varieties. It's lack of smear, it's consistent lining, and of course it's easy-to-use reload functionality mean that you can use them for a variety of functions. From fine lines, to sketching, to taking important notes, everyone can benefit from using a mechanical pencil .33m

Benefits of Having a Wooden Drafting Desk

Although metal desks have become popular in recent years, a wooden drafting table provides a wide range of benefits not offered by metal tables. For example, wooden drafting desks are great for office workers who want to improve their posture. Medical studies show that sitting at a conventional desk for 8 hours a day quickly causes muscle degeneration and postural issues.

A wooden drafting table, on the other hand, allows the user to stand at his or her desk all day without having to slouch or sit unnaturally. Additionally, standing at a desk strengthens the back muscles, which eliminates many of the postural problems faced by people who sit at a desk all day.

Other Benefits of Wooden Drafting Desks

Like other types of wooden furniture, wood-based drafting tables are easy to take care of and extremely versatile. Wooden tables are extremely easy to clean and care for. The only thing you need to clean a wooden drafting table is a wet rag.

Another advantage of switching to a wooden drafting table is that drafting desks are portable. This means that office professionals can easily change the position of their desk if they feel like rearranging their workspace. Alternatively, most metal-based desks are extremely heavy, and cannot be moved very easily.

The Many Uses of Drafting Tables

The great thing about wooden drafting tables is that they are completely customizable. Engineers regularly outfit their wooden drafting tables with high-tech equipment needed to conduct different types of experiments. Of course, wooden desks can also accommodate computers, printers, architectural equipment, and most conventional office tools. While most drafting desks do not come with built-in storage space, most desks can be outfitted with storage containers or cabinets.

Most Popular Types of Wooden Drafting Tables

The vast majority of wooden drafting tables are constructed from high-quality oak, cherry, or walnut wood.

How to Use an Architect's Scale Ruler

Sturdy Measuring Tools

Anyone working on architectural drawings needs to have sturdy measuring tools that are especially designed to create blueprints. Architects have scale rulers to make correct measurements on their drawings to ensure buildings are constructed properly. Regular practice sessions using this intricate device are vital for architectural students to learn how to use it quickly while making precise measurements to create blueprints at work.

Measuring Feet or Inches

The primary purpose of this instrument is to measure several units of length to help construction workers cut pieces of wall or pipe when building a structure. In the United States, this measuring device has inches or feet to create a blueprint while in other countries it has metric units. Most of these rulers are made of metal, plastic or wood in a triangular shape to flip or turn the devices to make numerous measurements. The end of the ruler is labeled with the particular type of measurement to help an architect move the device quickly to the correct position.

Use Special Architectural Paper

Architects typically use extremely large sheets of durable paper to create blueprints or schematics. The first thing to do is line up the ruler on the sheet of paper to make a mark with a pencil where the zero is located. Next, decide how long the wall or floor in the building needs to be before making another mark. In this case, a wall that is 8-feet high is represented by an 8-inch mark on the paper. By using the edge of the ruler, an architect can make a straight line with the pencil that connects the two marks.

Tiny Measurement Increments

By continually turning the ruler to different sides, it is possible to find tiny measurement increments to make very precise drawings. After all of the pencil lines are 100 percent accurate, the architect goes back over the lines with an indelible ink pen to make the drawing easier to view. Architects have scale rulers along with other important tools of their trade stored in locked drawers of drafting tables that are located in offices.

Why You Need a Mat Cutting Table

Cutting mats are designed to be used on stable and flat surfaces. A cutting table is a surface that is made to handle a cutting mat. It is generally dedicated to the task. A mat cutting table is a necessity for several reasons.

Stability and Safety

It is important to place a large cutting mat on a stable surface when using sharp tools. Placing the mat on the floor or a makeshift surface will create an unstable situation. This can lead to inaccurate cuts and potentially even injuries. A cutting table provides a large surface that is firmly set on the ground. The mat will not move or shift while being cut on the table. This allows for the safest and most accurate cuts possible.

Handle Any Size Material

A mat cutting table makes it possible to handle nearly any size material. The size of the underlying surface often limits the size of the material that is being cut. Draping a large cutting mat over a smaller table limits the size of the material to the size of the table underneath. A cutting table makes it possible to utilize the full dimensions of the mat. Clean and long cuts can be made without having to stop or shift in the middle of a cut. This makes it easier to work with large materials.

Protect the Cutting Mat

If a cutting mat is consistently used on an improper, small or uneven surface, then the mat can actually start to warp and buckle. Blades will cut deeper in the areas where the mat is not completely flat. The result is usually a mat that starts to wear down and degrade much quicker than usual. This can lead to problems. Using a cutting table will protect the mat from harm. It will keep the cutting mat perfectly flat and in good condition.

Handle Multiple Projects At Once

One of the nice things about a dedicated cutting table is that it can handle multiple projects at once. There is no need to remove the mat from the table. Multiple people can measure and cut materials on the table at once when using one of the larger mats. The mat does not need to be removed to make space for other tasks. This makes a cutting table a good choice for a studio or office.

How to Use an Architect's Scale Ruler

Architect's Scale Rulers are commonly used in blueprints and engineering drawings to determine distances on a scaled drawing. It is important for individuals in this line of work to gain a working knowledge of how to use an architect's scale ruler. There are four steps on how to use an architect's scale ruler: determine the scale, measure feet, draw the ruler back, and measure inches. The first step is to assess the scale of the drawing with which the ruler will be used. This will allow the user to know which of the many scales on the ruler to select. Architect's scale rulers have two scales on each side of the ruler; one reads right to left, while the other reads left to right. The ruler has a total of eleven different scales to select from, including a traditional inch ruler. Once the appropriate scale has been determined, say 1/8 inch is representing one foot, line the correct side of the ruler up with the beginning point of whatever is being measured at 0 on the ruler. Count the number of 1/8' "ticks" on the ruler until reaching the endpoint of what is being measured, rounding down to the nearest foot and ignoring the "extra" (for now). The number of tick marks represents the number of whole feet the item is. The third step is to draw the ruler back, meaning that users line the endpoint of the object that was just measured up with the exact tick mark corresponding to the number of whole feet the object is - the number decided upon in step 2. This will allow the user to get an accurate measurement of the "extra" that was ignored earlier by looking at the end of the ruler near 0, measuring how many of the smallest tick marks located on this end of the ruler (each representing an inch) there are from the initial starting point of the object to 0. Combining the feet measured in step 2 with the inches measured in step 4 gives users the accurate measurement for the object.

The Many Uses For A Roll Of Vellum

High-quality drafting paper made from vellum provides architects and design engineers with the best pre-blueprint material available. Clear vellum is highly resistant to humidity, rolls easily while at the same time maintaining its flat structure, and can be imprinted with hard drafting pencil lead without smudging.

A roll of vellum paper made from a specialized cotton fiber has long-lasting integrity value and can be stored for years without wrinkling or fading. It is the material of choice for those who need a drafting paper that can be photocopied. Most vellum rolls come in lengths of up to 50 yards and in widths ranging from 24 inches to six feet.

Many Uses Of Vellum Paper

Vellum can be used as an architectural print material because graphite, lead, and charcoal adhere with virtually no smudging or particle dust loss. This means that design architects can apply various highlighting features such as colored pencil and even paint. Artists often use vellum paper to create a rough draft of their envisioned project because the drawing can be rolled up without damage to any of the products used for the printing.

Acrylic painting is a snap when vellum paper is used. Pastels and water color paints also stick to the paper nicely, meaning that a roll of vellum paper can be used as a picture board covering.

How Vellum Is Made

The original vellum papers were made from the skins of animals. Modern vellum is produced through the creation of a special rag cotton fiber. The cotton fibers are pressed to a thin sheet, and the result is a highly translucent paper.

This manufacturing process allows the fibers to be stretched and squashed into a mesh that becomes impervious to cracking or peeling. It is unaffected by freezing temperatures and holds any paint or pencil drawing even when the humidity level is high.

Purchasing Vellum Paper

Most suppliers offer a line of products made from vellum that includes squared sheets as well as longer rolls. These vellum products are generally listed on a catalogue page that includes information on the thickness, length, and width of the paper. For those who prefer to order an entire vellum roll, the paper is available in various sizes and roll lengths. The paper can be cut to any dimension required, and smaller sizes can even be placed in a printer for reproduction. Buying in bulk is a real money-saver because the rolls are fabricated in long lengths, therefore reducing the cost to package and ship.

What are Engineering Drafting Supplies?

Engineering Drafting Supplies

Engineering draftsman may create designs for mechanical, architectural, structural or civil engineering projects. The engineering drafting supplies found most often include:

. Drafting tables and drawing boards with mechanical arms and lights

. Several types of drafting design templates

. Compasses, curves, triangles and scales

. A 10 point equal space divider

. Ruling pens

. Drafting pencils, lead, pencil sharpeners, erasers and erasure brushes

. Protractors, parallel rulers and slide rules

. Large drafting paper

. Drafting graph paper in pad form

. Technical pens and markers

. A rolling cart to keep drafting supplies neat and organized

. Store carts for drawing tubes and drawings

Supplies at the Ready

When engineers are busy working on designing projects, they are pictures of intense concentration. Their work is tediously detailed. All designs must be error-free for safety reasons. This is why it's so important to locate supplies ergonomically convenient to engineers and draftsmen's work stations. Their work supplies should be replaced before the supply dwindles. The worst time for engineers and draftsmen is downtime. This is when their design or project is delayed for lack of sufficient supplies. Consider the various types of supplies used on a daily basis and insure that these are reordered promptly. Engineers and draftsmen work with time constraints. Loss of time for any reason can delay the completion of a major project; for simple lack of sufficient supplies of drafting paper, pencils or erasers. Keep supplies at the ready.

Where to Buy Drafting Tools

Today drafting and engineering supplies can be ordered online. Shipping is fast and simple. However, it's best to choose a supplier with experience in this particular line of products. Visit the online website and browse through the large supply of supplies available at reasonable prices. Look for brand names that are recognized in the engineering and drafting fields. Also, take the time to check out the quality of the items available. Professional designers rely on highest quality supplies for their work. When their supplies are of the highest quality, this insures that the design work will be as well. Brand name quality is a reflection of the supplier of choice.

What Tools Can I Use on My Cutting Mat?

What Tools Can I Use on My Cutting Mat?

Cutting mats are very versatile and are designed to work with a variety of drafting and craft tools. These tools make cutting paper or boards much easier when working on a cutting mat. It will help to know what tools can be used with a cutting mat.

Scissors, Knives and Rolling Cutters

A cutting mat is designed to handle nearly any type of cutting tool that is commonly used for drafting, crafts or illustration. The mat can easily handle hobby knives and utility knives without any problems. It can actually increase the accuracy and precision of the cuts. The mat can withstand the edge of scissor when scoring paper. Cutting mats are even strong enough to handle the sharpest rolling cutters that would usually tear through lesser materials.

Safety Rulers, Straight Edges and T-Squares

Some of the most popular cutting mat tools are safety rulers, straight edges and T-squares. These tools make it easier to mark off long, straight lines before making a cut. The rulers will be very stable because of the flat surface of the mat. They will even gain some traction if part of the straightedge is touching the mat and not the paper. Safety rules are particularly helpful since they protect the fingers while working with sharp blades.

Light Boxes

Light boxes can be used on or with cutting mats. The cutting mat provides a firm and secure surface that will hold the light box in place even when working on an angled drafting table. The heat from the light box will not harm the cutting mat in any way. An added advantage is that a translucent cutting mat can be placed on top of a light box. This makes it easier to trace patterns from one paper to another with a knife.

Compasses

A final tool that can be used on a cutting mat is a compass fit with a blade. Using a compass on a bare drafting table is not always easy. The sharp point might slide because it cannot find purchase on the hard surface. A cutting mat provides a surface where the sharp tip of the compass will dig in and remain stable so that arcs and circles can be cut quickly and accurately.

Our Top 3 Favorite Art Supplies

When putting together a fun art project, it is crucial that the proper supplies are being employed. That is because these supplies have the power to truly inspire both artists and students. Whether it is an item from ChartPak or Alvin, art supplies that are high quality should always be selected.Whether you are looking to take part in drawing, painting, or graphic parties, check out our three favorite art supplies below:

1. Clear Storage Case with Carrying Handle

Obviously any art student does not want to lose their supplies. The best way to prevent this from happening is by purchasing a clear storage case with carrying handle. It can fit everything from paint brushes to card stock. Not only will this item hold all of your supplies, but it's also portable. That means with this product you can carry your art supplies all around in a way that is convenient for you.

2. Premier Soft Prismacolor Pencil Sets

A premier soft prismacolor pencil set is another one of our favorite art supplies. That is because this item is ideal for all types of people. Whether an architect, landscape designer or professional artists owns this product, blending becomes much easier. That's not all, though. Premier soft prismacolor pencil sets also create beautiful saturated colors which really enhance whatever project is being put together. With these pencils, artists can truly create paintings and other art pieces that will impress all those who see it.

3. Light Tables Porta-Trace

Light tables porta-trace is one item that an artist won't want to miss out. This is one of our top art supplies because it allows individuals to work and create masterpieces at any time of the day. There are typically two different kinds of light tables. One is better suited for photos while the other deals specifically with tracing. Either way this product helps artists go through each and every one of their photos and art pieces. Since there is the light illuminating from this item, artists can truly see every fine detail in what they are working on.

What is Tube and Roll Storage?

Those who do a lot of drafting, such as architects and engineers, go through large quantities of paper every day. As a result, they need a reliable way to store the products of their creative efforts. One convenient way to do this is through the use of Tube and Roll Storage.

As the name would suggest, Tube and Roll Storage is a system wherein papers are rolled into cylinders and inserted into protective tubes. This type of storage is suitable for many different sizes of paper, especially large papers such as those containing blueprints or drawings. If multiple tubes are being used, clip tag labels can be affixed to their ends in order to ensure easy identification of the contents.

There are a variety of tubes available to suit one’s preferences. Aside from size and color options, some containers are adjustable as well. Telescoping document tubes can expand in length, so they can accommodate a large variety of paper sizes, while other tubes are segmented, allowing the internal volume to be changed by fixed amounts.

The tubes themselves are easy to store. Though they can be stacked in any convenient receptacle, there are also containers that are specially made for them. Box filing cabinets and vertical rack storage are two popular ways of keeping tubes organized.

This type of storage comes with several advantages. Tubes not only provide a hard casing that screens documents from damage, but their cylindrical shape also preserves a paper’s contents. Since papers are not folded at any time during storage, they don’t develop any destructive creases.

Finally, document tubes are efficient in both their use of space and their impact on one’s wallet. Their compact form enables portability and, averaging out at less than $20 apiece, tubes are a relatively inexpensive way to protect and store precious papers.

What Is a Drafting Board?

Drafting boards are extremely useful for many occupations. A drafter is someone who would use a drafting board. These boards are smooth and usually made out of wood or a synthetic material. You can find all different types of boards for drawing and drafting. For example, there are those boards that sit on top of tables;those that stand on the ground and those that are attached to large drafting storage spaces so that drafters, have all of their most important materials right at hand. It’s important that drafters have their tools and accessories nearby so that they can accomplish their work efficiently. Drafters often need many different types of tools each day.

The quality of the board

It is important that drafters have quality boards to accomplish their work. Each board needs to be incredibly smooth because the blueprint paper that is often used, when drafting plans for buildings or homes can be very thin. Any bump or blemish on the material of the board might end up making errors on the final project.

In addition it is important that the boards have stability. Drafters are a combination of planners, architects, construction professionals and artists. They often need to make extremely fine details, exact curves and perfectly straight lines. If their board is wobbly or unstable at all, it could hinder their ability to render the best artistic or technical drawings.

The other essential items that go with boards for drafting

There are other accessories and tools that drafters, architects, city planners and technical artists need to use when they use their boards. Pens, pencils, protractors, compasses and triangles are all necessary, and often, each of these items has multiple parts or comes in a large set. For this reason, the best boards also come with storage space that is attached to the bottom or side. Even the most basic boards have a pencil and pen rest at the bottom of the board. Some boards even have a light at the top that can help drafters see their work more clearly. If you need a board for drafting, check them out online.

How Does a Self-Healing Cutting Mat Work?

Drafters, artists, architects, city planners and technical drawers need self-healing cutting mats to do their work. For many people, these cutting mats that self-heal are a mystery. To be sure it’s a rather odd phenomenon, but it will be explained below.

First of all, these mats are not made out of a life form or anything of that sort. They are simply made of a special composite vinyl that has self healing properties. When you shop for these mats at the best stores, each mat will be 3mm thick and will consist of 2 soft vinyl layers that sandwich another hard 1.5mm layer of laminate in the middle.

These amazing cutting mats can be used on both sides. They are great for drafters, but other people that do not draft like them as well. Each cutting mat has an extensive grid system on it. There are even diagonal guidelines. Quilters, knitters, sewers, artists, architects and other individuals use these mats with their rolling cutters. Rolling cutters look like pizza cutters, but they are meant to cut cloth, paper and other materials that may be extra thick. When these cutters are used on self healing mats, the cuts they make into the mat go away. It may seem like magic to a lot of people, but it is simply great engineering and science.

Cutting mats that self heal make great gifts, or if you are an artist or drafter yourself, these are a must-have for any home office. They are sold in two different colors. There is the translucent color for use with crafts, photography, quilting and sewing, or there is the black and green color combination.

For those who are in the market for self-healing cutting mats, these items are available in brick and mortar drafting supply stores or online. Many people like to buy these particular items online because they can find the best variety of items on the web, and the best discounts and deals can also be found there. Go online to get the drafting mats you need today, and give them to the drafters in your life as holiday gifts!

3 Affordable Gifts for a Drafting Professional

For those who have a drafting professional in their life, gifts for birthdays or the holiday season are easy to find. There are many different gifts for professional drafters that can be found in drafting supply stores or online. Here are the top 3 affordable gifts for a drafting professional that you should look for.

1. Drafting boards

Drafting boards are large, smooth boards that are usually made out of durable acrylic or wood. They can be fancy with desk lights and storage attached, or they can be simple with just a pen and pencil rest at the bottom of the board or on the side. If the drafter already has a built-in drafting board at home or at the office, a portable drafting board is very affordable and makes a great gift.

2. Drafting kits

Drafters need tons of tools and accessories. These need to be quality-made items that will last multiple years, so they are often expensive to buy all at once for the drafter alone. Friends and family can help the drafter out by purchasing small kits that contain some of the items that drafters need. These items might include protractors, compasses, special drafting pens and pencils, erasers, drafting paper, stencils, rulers and more.

3. Comfortable drafting chairs

Drafters can stand while they work, but because they do a lot of their work at a table, they most often sit down. This means that having a comfortable, long-lasting drafting chair is very important. Find one that can be shipped for an affordable price, and it can be assembled once it arrives. These make great gifts for drafters.

Gifts for drafting professional are easy to come by. Go online to do all of your shopping at draftingsteals.com. They have the best prices and discounts on amazing drafting supplies. Find the best drafting pencils, pens, protractors, compasses and more. There are larger items like drafting tables, drafting boards, rulers, slides and drafting table chairs available as well. These are the items that the drafter in your life needs, so shop for them fast before the holiday season is over!

Create Perfection with an Equal Space Divider

Perfect Form and Design Created with an Equal Space Divider

Designers know the importance of perfection in form and modeling. Though there are many ways to achieve perfection in design, when hands on design requires precision and accuracy, an equal space divider is far more convenient than attempting an AutoCAD calculation.

For example, design and architectural engineers who travel to onsite projects with their hard copy blueprints need to calculate to perfection the distance between space and content.

When charts and maps, for example, require precise latitude and longitude or cell to cell space, the use of a 10 point divider provides maximum compilation of distance from range to range.

A Space Divider to Assist in Design Perfection

Allowing for 10 point spacing, a divider thereby assists designers who can quickly view in real time without computer aided devices. In terms of modeling, a space divider manages the full form by creating perfectly accurate scales for architectural and structural designs.

One example of this is a dimensional model of a multi-level building. Using a space divider allows designers to adapt actual vs. projected versions of space between levels externally. Internally, a scale model of floor to ceiling space is more realistically calculated with a 10 point space divider that determines distances. In terms of mechanical structures, a space divider functions as a point to point reference of lengths of joints and piping. On a blue print or schematic, the space divider shows space between inlets and outlets as well as ingress or egress within a system.

Space Dividers, Many Functions and Uses

In the highly technical nautical fields, a space divider provides certainty of distances whenever a change has to be made in navigation. These implements are also excellent for many technical meetings where it's necessary to "show" equal space in graphs that outline specific areas of interest. Engineers prefer the use of a space divider when interactive discussions of design plots become necessary to make alterations to original designs. The plot is placed on a drawing board and the space divider equalizes each specification point for more clarity.

Gifts for a Drafting Student

There are many gifts for a drafting student which will be considered helpful to their career. Purchasing books about architecture and drafting profession is a great way to help inspire their creativity while giving them long-term reference materials. This can be helpful for a person who is trying to get into the workforce but needs more time to study the traditional methods. If these books are available on CD, giving them the gift of the information in a technologically advanced way may also be an appropriate gift.

Purchasing a drafting table is on another fantastic way to support the creative outlet the student has chosen. These can be expensive so some research will be necessary in order to find a high quality affordable table. Asking about the dimensions which are necessary for the student to do their best work is also important when selecting a table or a drafting board. The drafting board is more likely to be portable however is needed for smaller projects. The table is usually intended for office space and allow for larger projects to be completed.

High quality drawing materials is also an option for people who are trying to support a drafting student who is interested in doing their work by hand. Even though the majority of students are educated on computer programs, sometimes drawing plans out by hand can help the student with visualization of finished products. It is essential to go to a reputable dealer when selecting materials for the drawing process so that the student is able to be comfortable when they are working on a project.

Purchasing three dimensional computer programs can also be helpful for students who are trying to keep up with the advances in technology. These programs will help with the design of plans which extremely detailed and require a steady hand to be able to complete. These will also show the feasibility of dimensions that have been created thereby allowing for the students to learn the best ways to complete the project in a timely fashion.