Essentials in Mechanical Drawing

Excerpt: This brief treatment of the essentials of mechanical drawing is designed to give instruction in the rudiments of plan drawing as it occurs in everyday life, so that the student will be able to read and understand ordinary drawings and be able to do ordinary mechanical sketching. The book should be of value also to one who is about to take a longer course in drawing, for it aims to correct the common mistakes of the beginner. Where work is given without the regular instruments, it is well to provide the students with small drawing boards about 12 X 18 inches in size, together with a T square. This equipment makes for more rapid and accurate work. The bottom edge of the drawing board can be planed square with the left side so that the T square may be used for both horizontal and vertical lines. The lists of exercises offered are merely suggestive. Where possible it is best to have drawings made from the object itself rather than from another drawing. This is possible even in the drafting room, in institutions where shop work is given, for one can there secure enough joints or other woodwork so that at least every two students will have the object on the drafting table.