Drawing Board Setup and Board Practice Techniques for JSS 1

Workshop Processes: Board Practice

Performance Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. fix drawing sheet to the board;
2. sharpen pencils to conical point and knife edge;
3. draw border, horizontal and vertical lines;
4. place and draw the title block;
5. write freehand legible letters and numerals;
6. draw lines, curves, circles, and irregular shapes.

Introduction to Board Practice

Board practice is the systematic process of setting up drawing equipment and using drawing instruments to produce neat, accurate and standard technical drawings.

In technical drawing, accuracy and neatness are highly important. Proper board practice ensures that the drawing paper is correctly positioned, the drawing instruments are used effectively, and the final drawing meets standard technical specifications. Developing these foundational skills is essential for any student studying basic technology or engineering design.

Setting Drawing Paper on the Board

Setting or fixing the drawing paper on the drawing board is the first step in board practice. If the paper is not aligned correctly, all lines drawn on it will be crooked, leading to inaccurate drawings.

The required materials for setting up a drawing paper are:

1. A clean drawing board
2. A drawing sheet (usually A3 or A4 size)
3. A T-square
4. Masking tape or drawing clips

The procedure for fixing the drawing sheet to the board involves the following steps:

1. Clean the surface of the drawing board to remove dust, graphite particles, and dirt.
2. Place the drawing board on a flat, stable table with the working edge on the left-hand side for right-handed drawers.
3. Place the drawing sheet near the center of the drawing board.
4. Slide the stock of the T-square firmly against the left working edge of the drawing board.
5. Align the top edge of the drawing sheet with the top edge of the T-square blade.
6. Hold the drawing sheet firmly against the board with one hand to prevent it from moving.
7. Apply a small piece of masking tape smoothly across the top-left corner of the paper, followed by the top-right corner.
8. Slide the T-square down slightly to ensure the paper remains flat, then apply masking tape to the bottom-left and bottom-right corners.

Sharpening Pencils to Conical Point and Knife Edge

Technical drawing requires different types of pencil points to achieve different line weights and qualities. Pencils are sharpened using a sharpener, a utility knife, and sandpaper.

The Conical Point

A conical point is a pencil tip sharpened to a sharp, symmetrical cone-like shape.

This point is used for general drawing, freehand sketching, lettering, and writing numerals. It produces lines of consistent thickness when the pencil is rotated slightly during use.

The procedure for sharpening a pencil to a conical point involves the following steps:

1. Remove the wood from the pencil tip using a pencil sharpener or a knife to expose about 8 to 10 millimetres of lead.
2. Hold the pencil at an angle of approximately 15 degrees to a piece of fine sandpaper.
3. Roll the pencil between the fingers while moving it back and forth across the sandpaper to form a smooth, sharp cone.
4. Wipe the pencil tip with a clean cloth to remove loose graphite dust.

The Knife Edge

A knife edge is a pencil tip sharpened to a flat, chisel-like shape.

This point is used primarily for drawing long, straight lines with the aid of a T-square or set-square. The flat edge does not wear down as quickly as a conical point, ensuring that the line width remains uniform throughout the drawing.

The procedure for sharpening a pencil to a knife edge involves the following steps:

1. Expose about 8 to 10 millimetres of the pencil lead using a knife.
2. Hold the pencil flat against the sandpaper on one side and rub it back and forth to create a flat surface.
3. Turn the pencil over by 180 degrees and rub the opposite side on the sandpaper to create a parallel flat surface.
4. Rub the narrow sides slightly to form a sharp, straight chisel edge.
5. Wipe the pencil tip with a clean cloth to remove graphite dust.

Using the T-Square and Set-Squares

The T-square and set-squares are the primary instruments used to draw straight lines in technical drawing.

Drawing Border Lines

Border lines are thick, continuous lines drawn around the outer edges of the drawing sheet to define the active drawing area.

The standard margin for a border line is usually 10 millimetres or 15 millimetres from the edges of the drawing sheet. A border line is drawn using a medium-grade pencil (such as HB) to make it stand out clearly.

Drawing Horizontal Lines

Horizontal lines are straight lines that run parallel to the top and bottom edges of the drawing board.

The T-square is the only instrument used to draw horizontal lines. The procedure involves the following steps:

1. Hold the stock of the T-square firmly against the working edge of the drawing board with the left hand.
2. Slide the T-square vertically to the desired position on the drawing sheet.
3. Place the pencil point against the top edge of the T-square blade.
4. Incline the pencil at an angle of about 60 degrees in the direction of the line movement.
5. Draw the line from left to right, rotating the pencil slowly to maintain a uniform conical point.

Drawing Vertical Lines

Vertical lines are straight lines that run perpendicular to horizontal lines, moving from the bottom of the sheet to the top.

Vertical lines are drawn using a set-square supported by a T-square. The procedure involves the following steps:

1. Hold the T-square blade firmly against the drawing board with the left hand.
2. Place the base of a set-square (either 45-degree or 30/60-degree) on the top edge of the T-square blade.
3. Slide the set-square along the T-square blade to the required position.
4. Hold both the T-square and the set-square firmly with the left hand to prevent movement.
5. Place the pencil against the vertical edge of the set-square.
6. Draw the line from the bottom upward, keeping the pencil inclined in the direction of the stroke.

Positioning and Drawing the Title Block

A title block is a rectangular box drawn on a technical drawing sheet that contains essential information about the drawing and the designer.

The title block is always positioned at the bottom right-hand corner of the drawing sheet, inside the border lines. The standard dimensions for a JSS 1 title block are usually 100 millimetres to 120 millimetres in length and 40 millimetres to 50 millimetres in height. It is divided into smaller rows and columns to organize the information.

The essential information contained in a title block includes:

1. Name of the student
2. Name of the school
3. Class of the student
4. Title of the drawing
5. Date of the drawing
6. Scale used
7. Drawing number or sheet number

Freehand Writing of Letters and Numerals

Lettering is the practice of writing clear, legible letters and numbers on a technical drawing.

In technical drawing, all written information must be uniform and highly legible. Standard lettering is done in uppercase (capital) block letters. Freehand lettering does not use rulers or templates; instead, it relies on steady hand movements and light guidelines.

Important rules for freehand lettering include:

1. Always draw very light horizontal guidelines using a hard pencil (such as 2H) to regulate the height of the letters.
2. The standard height for general lettering is 3 millimetres to 5 millimetres, while titles may be 6 millimetres to 8 millimetres high.
3. Maintain uniform spacing between letters and words.
4. Use single-stroke vertical or inclined strokes to form each letter and numeral.
5. Keep the pencil sharp to maintain clean, sharp lines.

Basic Freehand Sketching Techniques

Freehand sketching is the art of drawing lines, shapes, and objects without the aid of drawing instruments like rulers, T-squares, or compasses.

Sketching is used to quickly record ideas, plan layouts, or communicate designs before making formal drawings with instruments. It requires a relaxed grip on the pencil and smooth, continuous hand movements.

The techniques for basic freehand sketching include:

1. Drawing Straight Lines: Mark the starting point and the ending point with small dots. Keep the eye on the destination point rather than the pencil tip. Draw a light, trial line in short, feathering strokes, then darken it with a single, bold stroke.
2. Drawing Curves: Mark several points along the path of the intended curve. Connect the points with light, short arcs, then smooth out the curve with a continuous line.
3. Drawing Circles: Sketch a light square with sides equal to the diameter of the desired circle. Draw diagonal lines and center lines through the square. Mark the radius distance on these lines, then sketch a smooth curve connecting the marked points.
4. Drawing Irregular Shapes: Break down the irregular shape into simpler geometric parts (such as rectangles, triangles, or circles). Sketch these basic shapes lightly first, then draw the final outline over them.

How to Perform Board Practice and Basic Construction

This practical guide outlines the steps required to set up a drawing sheet, draw border lines, construct a title block, and practice basic lines and curves.

The required materials are:

1. A drawing board and T-square
2. A 30/60-degree set-square and a 45-degree set-square
3. Drawing pencils (2H for construction lines, HB for borders and lettering)
4. An eraser and masking tape
5. A drawing sheet (A3 size)

The procedure involves the following steps:

1. Fix the drawing sheet to the drawing board using the T-square for alignment, securing the corners with masking tape.
2. Measure 10 millimetres inward from all four edges of the drawing sheet. Mark these points lightly with a 2H pencil.
3. Use the T-square to draw horizontal border lines through the marked points.
4. Use the set-square resting on the T-square to draw vertical border lines, completing the border frame.
5. At the bottom right corner, measure a rectangle of 100 millimetres length and 40 millimetres height to create the title block.
6. Divide the title block into four horizontal rows of 10 millimetres height each.
7. Draw light guidelines inside each row and write the required information (Name, School, Title, Date) in neat, freehand uppercase letters.
8. Divide the remaining drawing area into four equal quadrants using light horizontal and vertical lines.
9. In the first quadrant, practice drawing horizontal lines spaced 10 millimetres apart using the T-square.
10. In the second quadrant, practice drawing vertical lines spaced 10 millimetres apart using the T-square and set-square.
11. In the third quadrant, practice freehand sketching of circles and curves.
12. In the fourth quadrant, practice freehand lettering of the alphabet (A to Z) and numerals (0 to 9).

Summary of Board Practice Rules

To maintain high standards of technical drawing, the following rules should be observed:

1. Keep all drawing instruments clean and free from graphite dust.
2. Never use a pen for technical drawings; always use pencils of the correct grade.
3. Do not slide the T-square or set-squares over dirty paper, as this causes smudging.
4. Keep hands clean and dry while drawing.
5. Blow away eraser crumbs instead of brushing them with the hand, which can smear the graphite.