Drafting Machines

[Garcky]

Just my opinion, but those round tube style drafting table frames are not all that steady and tend to wiggle. I've had a few over the years and was not happy with any of them.

No doubt they do. My point was just to illustrate something that is available for small $$. It's not entirely clear what the OP wants or needs, so I'm just tossing available stuff out. There are lots of drawing tables and drafting machines on my local Craigs List here in the Twin Cities. I imagine the situation is similar in other metro areas. They're just not that popular any more. But, a lot depends on what you want, what space you have, and other factors. As I mentioned above, I had a small drafting machine on a 2' x 3' portable board I used on a tabletop. That worked for the 11x17 drawings I was doing. You can still buy a scaled-down drafting machine for a board that size for under $40. They work. They're not wonderful, but they work. All depends on what work you're doing and whether you're doing it to make a living or just for fun.

 

[Garcky]

where does one buy the rulers/scales for these ? I have a nice Vemco machine but the both rulers were broken by the movers about 15 years ago, never tried to replace them at the time and then could not find some. I do find them on Ebay but not many, is there a place that still has them or is it orphaned technology ?

Lots of scales on eBay. Just search for Vemco scales and you'll find them. That drafting machine technology is old school and I don't think you can even buy new machines these days at that level of quality. Everyone is using CAD, it seems.

 

[jives]

Not to hijack, but this is the first thread on this topic I have seen. I have been dying to share my one, only, and best inheritance from my GF to my father to me. A vintage Frederick Post drafting table. The one below is a random pic from the internet. I need one more kid to move out so I can set the table up in a spare room. Both my GF and father were mechanical engineers. Not sure of the drafting machine brand that comes with it.

 

[firebirdparts]

I love it! I have a combo tanker desk/drafting table, space race era, (in tne tanker desk thread) and it has a big optional aluminum casting on top that keeps your drafting machine off the work surface. I really want one, but don’t really need it. I cruise eBay for them once in a while but haven’t pulled the trigger.