Six years ago, when I bought my
first (now-discarded) CAD system,
I thought drafting skills would soon
be as obsolete as wizardry with the
slide rule. Maybe so for large
offices, but not for those of us who
do residences and renovations. I
still use steam-age hand drafting,
helped by some tricks and equipment
that improve my efficiency.
Here are a few of my favorite tools
and tricks gleaned from several
decades of drawing.
Tool Notes
Most of my tools are listed in the
accompanying box ("Equipment
and Supplies"). Some, however, are
worth a few extra words.
Triangles. Check any triangle
before you buy it to be sure it is
square. Very carefully draw a sharp
vertical line off a straightedge;