Drafting books/course - FaithManor and others?

[Colleen in NS]

...three years of practical drafting ... doing the work "the old fashioned way" leads to a lot of specialized learning and skill - metalworking, electrical engineering, etc.

 

Hi FaithManor and anyone else knowledgeable about this,

 

This quote really caught my eye tonight. I know nothing about drafting (well, maybe a tiny bit from a jr. high industrial arts class I had in the early 80s), but I'm thinking my son might be interested in something like this. And of course the idea of doing the work the old fashioned way interests me...I guess it's like learning to spell before learning to type - what good is typing if you can't spell. (I hope you all know what I mean)

 

So, where could I do some more reading about this? Any good courses out there (preferably not online, but in books)? Older texts that are really good (like the 1960s Dolcianis are good for math)? What would I need to know to put together a basic course? Tools? Where to find them?

 

Thanks!

[FaithManor]

A very nice place to begin is "Practical Drafting; Applied Engineering Graphics Workbook" by Melvin G. Peterman.

 

I believe that I purchased ds's through Timberdoodle.

 

After that, you can look at some of the Charles Ewing books..."A Manual of Drawing for Students and Draftsmen" or "Mechanical Drawing" which would probably be a review of the Peterman concepts plus a few more advanced topics. Ewing also puts out a book on scene and set design that I think might be fascinating for artistic/film oriented students.

 

I haven't used the Ewing books, so I don't have a review. My dad broke out some old Mechanical Drafting books from his Air Force days and worked with ds some after the Peterman book. Since Dh built a CNC machine out of ebay stepper motors and parts from old printers - uses a dremel or router for cutting depending on the material - ds is learning the basics of CAD now. Dh wrote the software for the machine too, so ds has learned the programming end of it as well. Actually, our entire 4-H club has. Down to the 4th graders, they've learned to use graph paper and very basic algebra skills to plot coordinates to create different shapes and then imput those values into the software. We don't let them use dh's more sophisticated software that would allow them to scan an image. We wanted them to learn "the hard way" because there is so much critical thinking skill attained from the graphing and plotting. I'm happy to report that this makes 10 and 11 year olds think algebra and geometry are "way cool". A good thing I think!

 

Anyway, I hope that helps you out.

 

Faith

[northcoast]

We 2nd the "Practical Drafting" book. My engineering husband called it "a thing of beauty" when my friend found it at a used curriculum sale. If your son is interested in house drawing plans, try "A Blueprint for Geometry" for starters http://www.amazon.com/dp/1572322780

 

Tools - get a T-square, protractor, quality compass (w/ a ball screw for adjusting, not a the cheap grade school kind), plastic triangle kit (one w/ 30-60-90 and 45-45-90) and a engineering scale (looks like a three sided ruler).

 

The kit linked here would be a good starting tool kit. The brush isn't necessary unless you desire it. Of course, you can go cheaper and more expensive with kits.

http://www.amazon.com/Staedtler-Engineering-Design-Layout-engineering/dp/B0006VRKEC/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1371300883&sr=8-16&keywords=engineering+drawing+kit

 

As for other texts, we haven't yet delved into any others as we just are not there yet. May some others can chime in for a 3 year plan of drafting.

[Colleen in NS]

...they've learned to use graph paper and very basic algebra skills to plot coordinates to create different shapes and then imput those values into the software. We don't let them use dh's more sophisticated software that would allow them to scan an image. We wanted them to learn "the hard way" because there is so much critical thinking skill attained from the graphing and plotting. I'm happy to report that this makes 10 and 11 year olds think algebra and geometry are "way cool".

 

 

FaithManor, because of what you described here (that I didn't know enough about so I couldn't put it into words), that Peterman book looks exactly like what I was looking for. And thanks for mentioning followup books. I'm going to see if ds would like me to buy the Peterman book. Thank you so much!!

 

We 2nd the "Practical Drafting" book. My engineering husband called it "a thing of beauty" when my friend found it at a used curriculum sale. If your son is interested in house drawing plans, try "A Blueprint for Geometry" for starters http://www.amazon.com/dp/1572322780

 

Tools - get a T-square, protractor, quality compass (w/ a ball screw for adjusting, not a the cheap grade school kind), plastic triangle kit (one w/ 30-60-90 and 45-45-90) and a engineering scale (looks like a three sided ruler).

 

The kit linked here would be a good starting tool kit. The brush isn't necessary unless you desire it. Of course, you can go cheaper and more expensive with kits.

http://www.amazon.co...ing drawing kit

 

As for other texts, we haven't yet delved into any others as we just are not there yet. May some others can chime in for a 3 year plan of drafting.

 

 

northcoast, thank you so much, too, for your input. Telling me what your engineering husband thinks about that book is very helpful, too. I know nothing about this stuff, lol.

 

I'm happy to say that we do have some of those tools floating around the house! Just things I've picked up in surplus stores, yard sales, etc. We have good protractors (whole and half circles, several of them, several of both of those triangles, and even those engineering scales (several of those, too!) that I didn't know what to use them for but that looked interesting at the thrift store. :D We do have my old school compass; it's not terribly difficult to use, but being able to lock it in place would be nice. I'll have to look for a better one. If only because *I* like playing with these tools. Oh, and I'll have to look for a T-square.

 

So, thank you so much, ladies!

[Arcadia]

We do have my old school compass; it's not terribly difficult to use, but being able to lock it in place would be nice. I'll have to look for a better one. If only because *I* like playing with these tools. Oh, and I'll have to look for a T-square.

If you have a Michaels near you, the T-squares and lockable compass are good deals when paired with a 50% off store coupon. The 40% off coupons are more often.

I am eyeing a drafting table but no floor space in my home at the moment. I had a lot of technical drawings and CAD/CAM in my civil engineering course.

[justamouse]

Let me ask my father. He bemoans the loss of hand drafting (his was on the surveying/architectural side), he said many drafters were artists in their own right. I took drafting in one of the last years before nothing but CAD was taught.

[cbollin]

FaithManor, because of what you described here (that I didn't know enough about so I couldn't put it into words), that Peterman book looks exactly like what I was looking for. And thanks for mentioning followup books. I'm going to see if ds would like me to buy the Peterman book. Thank you so much!!

 

 

just for purchase info.... my father's world carries that book too. don't know how the cost comparison is...always good to have shopping options? that's the only reason I mention it.. places to ship, cost, etc...

https://www.mfwbooks.com/products/M50/50/25/0/1#drafting

 

(and if I thought I could get it to you cheaper than either timberdoodle or mfw, I'd send you my copy.. but I don't think I can get it there as quickly.)

[Colleen in NS]

If you have a Michaels near you, the T-squares and lockable compass are good deals when paired with a 50% off store coupon. The 40% off coupons are more often.

 

I had no idea Michaels sold these types of items. My local store had a 40% off the ENTIRE REGULAR PRICE PURCHASE the other day for four hours (I've never seen them do this big of a sale before!!!), so I went and, along with art supplies, I bought a T-square and a good compass! ALL of it for 40% off. :D Thanks for the tip!

 

...he said many drafters were artists in their own right...

 

And this is what I would like to capture. Thanks!

 

just for purchase info.... my father's world carries that book too. don't know how the cost comparison is...always good to have shopping options? that's the only reason I mention it.. places to ship, cost, etc...

https://www.mfwbooks...25/0/1#drafting

 

(and if I thought I could get it to you cheaper than either timberdoodle or mfw, I'd send you my copy.. but I don't think I can get it there as quickly.)

 

Thank you for your help! I am in Canada, so I'll have to go through a different route. I've got it on my various wish lists, so I can watch the secondhand prices.