20. Equipment for Mechanical Drawing, Grade Center.

Since the teacher of woodworking must also be the teacher of mechanical drawing in the grade center, no special room for drawing is advisable. With the first twelve weeks devoted to drawing, the woodworking benches can be used as drawing tables, the woodworking tools not being placed until all the drawing work is completed. When the shop is properly cleaned during the summer vacation there is no reason for its not being kept as clean as any special drawing room during the drawing period of twelve weeks. The benches should be scraped clean and shellaced.

A blackboard is needed for both drawing and woodwork and may as well be placed in the woodworking shop.

For the most efficient presentation of drawing there will need to be plenty of blueprints or plates from which the student may work. These must be so well executed, as to technique, that the pupil will have before him only the best as models. No one would think of placing before the writing class other than the best models of style and execution in penmanship, yet it is not infrequent to find mechanical drawing students copying from blueprints that are far below standard as to excellence.

In presenting the problems, models will be found of very great help to the student in his efforts to interpret the conditions. Too much dependence should not be placed upon models in the work of older pupils.

Individual Equipment

Drawing-boards, 16"x22", basswood, each.............................$ .70

T-squares, 22", plain blade, fixed head, each.............................20

45° Triangle, 8" each.................................................16

30°-60° Triangle, 10", each.......................................... .15

Desk Stool, 24", rubber tipped, each................................... 1.25

Total...........................................................$2.46

Total for 25 sets, less 10%........................................$55.45

There will be needed in addition to the above a knife, scale, compass, and sandpaper block. The knife and rule used in the woodwork will serve equally well in the drawing. The sandpaper blocks or pencil sharpening blocks can be made in the shop.

In connection with these blocks, it will be found expedient to have them so fastened to the bench that pupils cannot get them on top of the bench in sandpapering a point on the pencil. This can be done by fastening the block to the bench with a screw in such a way, that it can be revolved from under the top of the bench when wanted. Otherwise beginners will have the bench top and then drawings covered with the fine lead of the pencil.

In getting equipment aviod "baby" sets. A taboret drawing, to be well made, must be on a scale of 1/4 - size. This, with marginal lines will mean a paper of 12" by 18".

Personal Equipment

Excelsior or Eagle Pencil Compass. Pencil, Dixon Manual Training, 2H. Eraser, Ruby Pencil. Envelope for holding drawings. Thumbtacks, two.

The personal equipment to be uniform should be purchased by the school and sold to the pupils.

While this personal equipment may be kept in the woodworking lockers, some instructors prefer to have a special case of drawers to hold the drawing envelopes, and blocks of wood with suitable holes for holding the pencils, erasers, and tacks, monitors being appointed to look after them.

The paper used need not be as expensive as that of the high school where problems are to be inked. A manilla paper such as is used in the regular or freehand drawing classes will answer admirably and can then be provided by the school. Such paper is usually purchased in sizes 12" by 18" and 9" by 12". The former is the desired size for the eighth grade work and the latter for the seventh grade. A 6" by 9" size will be found suitable for stock bills, where printed blanks are not to be provided.

In the matter of paper, it is possible to practice economy without detracting from the drawing. All that are not wanted at the close of the year should be kept and the reverse sides made use of where experimental penciling is required.

Drawing quipment will be stored when woodwork is begun.