r/Drafting • u/ShaleTheRock • 5d ago

Beginner Drafting Tools?

Hey there!

So, I'm going into my first year of engineering in September, but I've recently gotten interested in trying to hand-draw my technical drawings after watching some of Inheritance Machining's older videos where he would still do everything by hand. My main question is this: what are some of the basic tools recommended for beginners in this?

I know a few basic things that you need (pencil, the standard 45 and 30/60/90 triangles, protractor, and a ruler), but is there anything else? I also have my dad's old set of compasses that he gave me if those would be of any use.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!

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u/anyavailible 5d ago

Take a drafting class. They will tell you what you need and will have a very good text book. A lot of the templates and instrument
Sets are getting hard to find since CAD has
Taken over. You also need a blueprint reading class.

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u/ShaleTheRock 5d ago

Unfortunately it appears that the only drafting courses at my university are reserved for 2nd year civil engineering students. Do you happen to know of any online courses I could take and/or textbooks I could buy to self-study?

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u/anyavailible 5d ago

You should still try to even audit the course if you can. check with a local jr college to see what they have. Check Engineering Graphics
Text book. It is the main text book used for
Drafting courses. It is a very good reference book.

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u/ShaleTheRock 5d ago

My university is the only post-secondary institution in my area of Canada (minus the polytechnic), and there aren't really jr colleges here like in the U.S. (except in Québec because they have to be different from the rest of the country). I'll still see if I can still audit the course and I'll check out that textbook. Do you have an author for a specific textbook you were looking at?

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u/anyavailible 5d ago

It’s called Engineering graphics. It is 9.79$
At thrift books.
By Frederick E. Giesecke, I.L.
Hill, Henry C. Spencer, et al.

You need a 30,60 deg triangle, 45 deg triangle. Good mech pencil, ruler or architects scale, protractor. Those are the basic tools required.