Basic Drafting Tools

Drafting & Design TechnologyUnit 2

Compass• Used to draw

circles and arcs

Divider• Used to transfer

dimensions

Drafting Tape• A specially-

prepared tape used to adhere drawing media to the working surface

Dusting Brush• Used to brush

loose graphite and eraser dust from a drawing

Eraser• Used to remove

pencil lines and graphite smudges from a drawing

Erasing Shield• A metal plate with

various slots and openings used to protect line work when a portion of the drawing is to be erased

Irregular Curve• Used to lay out

any noncircular curve

Lead Pointer• Used for

sharpening mechanical pencil leads

Lettering Guide• Used to lay out

guidelines for lettering

Mechanical Pencil (Lead Holder)

• Used to hold leads of various hardness's

Protractor• Used to measure

angles

Scale• Used to measure

the length of a line

Template• A thin, flat, plastic

tool with various size openings of different shapes used to expedite the drawing of standard features

Triangle• A thin, flat, right-

angled piece of plastic or metal with acute angles of 45, or 30 and 60 used for drawing vertical or inclined lines that are multiples of 15

Rules for Maintenance and Care of Drafting

Tools & Equipment• Keep hands and

equipment clean• Keep all instruments

clean and dry• Do no bend templates

sharply• Do not use templates

or scales as straight edges for cutting tools

• Do not use templates as eraser shields

• Do not hit scales and triangles on edges

• Do not overextend compasses and dividers

• Clean plastic tools with soap and water only

• Do not stick compasses and divider points into scales and triangles

• Never sharpen leads over drawing or table surface