3 A Drawing Objects

Youth Explore Trades Skills
Design and Drafting – 2D Drawing
Drawing Objects (Architectural Board Drafting)
Description
In this activity the teacher will demonstrate the use of drafting equipment to create basic object
shapes. Students will use a piece of paper with a title block to complete this activity. Students
will practise lettering and line-weight techniques.
Lesson Objectives
The student will be able to:
• Complete a board set-up
• Identify and appropriately use drafting tools
• Differentiate line weights
• Refine lettering techniques
• Create basic object shapes, based on instructions
Assumptions
The student will:
• Have a basic knowledge of drafting tools and equipment
• Have a foundational understanding of how to appropriately use drafting equipment
• Know how to create a title block on which to complete this activity
Terminology
Border lines: thick, dark lines used to create a solid border around a blank page.
Drafting board: a flat, smooth surface usually covered in vinyl to which paper is affixed. The
drafting board has square, parallel edges that allow a T-square to slide easily.
Drafting brush: used to sweep away debris from a drawing so the full drawing is not smeared.
Eraser shield: a micro-thin piece of metal with cut-outs that allow the user to erase detailed
sections of a drawing without erasing the rest of the drawing.
Guide lines: thin, light lines drawn using the lettering guide for evenly spaced letters.
Layout lines: very light lines used to lay out measurements before those measurements are
drawn in heavy, dark lines (border lines).
Lettering guide: used to assist in the drawing of uniform lines to draw consistent, evenly spaced
lettering.
Lineweight: the thickness and darkness of drawn lines.
Masking tape (drafting dots): holds drawing paper and/or vellum to the drafting board so the
paper does not shift while drawing.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License unless otherwise indicated.
Drawing Objects (Architectural Board Drafting) Design and Drafting – 2D Drawing
Pencil: a drawing utensil with a mechanical or solid core (lead). Leads range from hard to soft:
6H, 4H, 2H, H, HB, 2B, 4B, 6B. H is very hard with a fine point and B is extremely soft with a
blunt point. A hardness of 2H is recommended for these activities.
Precision drawing: the act of creating drawings with specialized tools and equipment.
Steel rule: a straightedge made of rigid material and divided into specific increments, found both
in metric and imperial units.
Title block: comprised of the information boxes found on the bottom right-hand corner of a
drawing, the title block indicates drawing details such as the title, author name, scale, and date a
drawing was created.
Triangles (right angle and isosceles): drafting guides made of hard, clear plastic that are used to
draw lines at vertical and set angles (45°–90°–45°, 30°–60°–90°).
T-square: a precision drawing instrument that is used as a guide with other drafting equipment.
The T-square has a 90° angle where the head and blade attach.
Estimated Time
30–60 minutes
Recommended Number of Students

20, based on BC Technology Educators’ Best Practice Guide
Facilities
• Regular classroom space with desks/chairs for all students
• Drafting boards (any large enough smooth, flat surface will also work)
Tools
• T-square
• Steel rule
• Triangles (right angle and isosceles)
• Eraser shield
• Drafting brush
• Masking tape (drafting dots)
• Drafting board
• Lettering guide
• French curve/spline
• Circle template
• Compass
• 2H mechanical pencil
2 Youth Explore Trades Skills

Design and Drafting – 2D Drawing Drawing Objects (Architectural Board Drafting)
Materials
• Handout for students with instructions (suggestion: develop a handout using the
instructions from the teacher-led activity).
Resources
• Drafting Dictionary Activity Plan
Teacher-led Activity
1. Gather all materials listed above.
2. Using the T-square and masking tape and/or drafting dots, align blank paper to your drafting
board and securely tape down (Figure 1).
Figure 1—Secure paper to board
3. Using the steel rule, divide the drawing space of your paper into four even sections (each
section should be 3¾" wide by 4¼" high). Draw these lines lightly (layout lines).
Youth Explore Trades Skills 3

4. In the top left section, draw an object that focusses on sloping and parallel lines. Practise
using the right angle, isosceles triangle, and T-square. Leave enough room underneath
the object for the following label: OBJECT No. 1 PARALLEL LINES AND SLOPING LINES
(Figure 2).
Figure 2—Parallel lines and sloping lines
5. In the top right section, students will draw an object that focusses on circular lines. Practise
using the circle template and protractor. Leave enough room underneath the object for the
following label: OBJECT No. 2 CIRCULAR LINES (Figure 3).
Figure 3—Circular lines

6. In the bottom left section, students will draw an object that focusses on lines at right angles.
Practise using the right angle and isosceles triangles. Leave enough room underneath the
object for the following label: OBJECT No. 3 LINES AT RIGHT ANGLES (Figure 4).
Figure 4—Lines at right angles
7. In the bottom right section students will draw an object that focusses on free-form lines.
Practise using the French curve and/or spline too. Leave enough room underneath the object
for the following label: OBJECT No. 4 FREE FORM WITH FRENCH CURVE (Figure 5).
Figure 5—Free form with French curve
Youth Explore Trades Skills 5

8. Fill in the title block at the bottom of the page with the information below. Remind students
that drafting convention requires that all lettering be done in CAPITALS.
NAME
ACTIVITY # 1
DATE
SCALE OF DRAWING 1:1
OBJECTS
PAGE 1 OF 1
Student Activity
• Complete object shape drawings.
• Fill in title block with appropriate information.
Extension Activity
• Practise drawing more objects, using all the tools in the Drafting Dictionary Activity Plan.
• Practise lettering when labelling object drawings.
Assessment
• Student participation in discussion/demonstration
• Criteria for completed drawing:
–– Basic object shapes are drawn based on instructions.
–– Corners of borders are closed (horizontal and vertical lines cross).
–– Lettering is neat, even, and all uppercase.
–– Title block is filled out correctly with appropriate information.
Appendix Acknowledgment
© Camosun College. Trades Access Common Core: Competency D-3: Read Drawings and
Specifications (pp. 25–33). The Trades Access Common Core resources are licensed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Unported Licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/
by/4.0/), except where otherwise noted.

COMpETENCy D-3: READ DRAwiNgS AND SpECifiCATiONS LEARNiNg TASk 2
Appendix
LEARNING TASK 2
Describe lines, lettering, and dimensioning in

drawings
The purpose of engineering drawings is to convey objective facts, whereas artistic drawings
convey emotion or artistic sensitivity in some way.
Engineering drawings and sketches need to display simplicity and uniformity, and they must be
executed with speed. Engineering drawing has evolved into a language that uses an extensive
set of conventions to convey information very precisely, with very little ambiguity.
Standardization is also very important, as it aids internationalization; that is, people from
different countries who speak different languages can read the same engineering drawing and
interpret it the same way. To that end, drawings should be as free of notes and abbreviations as
possible so that the meaning is conveyed graphically.
Line styles and types

Standard lines have been developed so that every drawing or sketch conveys the same meaning
to everyone. In order to convey that meaning, the lines used in technical drawings have both a
definite pattern and a definite thickness. Some lines are complete and others are broken. Some
lines are thick and others are thin. A visible line, for example, is used to show the edges (or
“outline”) of an object and to make it stand out for easy reading. This line is made thick and dark.
On the other hand, a centre line, which locates the precise centre of a hole or shaft, is drawn thin
and made with long and short dashes. This makes it easily distinguishable from the visible line.
When you draw, use a fairly sharp pencil of the correct grade and try to maintain an even,
consistent pressure to make it easier for you to produce acceptable lines (Figure 1). Study the
line thicknesses (or “line weights”) shown in Figure 2 and practise making them.
Technical Sketching
9H 8H 7H 6H 5H 4H 3H 2H H F HB B 2B 3B 4B 5B 6B 7B 8B 9B
Hardness Blackness
Figure 1 — Lead grade and usage
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Drawing ObjectsD-3:
COMpETENCy (Architectural Board
READ DRAwiNgS Drafting)
AND SpECifiCATiONS Design and Drafting – 2D Drawing
LEARNiNg TASk 2
In computer drafting, the line shape remains the same, but line thickness may not vary as it
does in manually created drawings. Some lines, such as centre lines, may not cross in the same
manner as in a manual drawing. For most computer drafting, line thickness is not important.
Type Weight Line Description

Object line Solid line to show visible shape, edges, and outlines.
Heavy
Margin line
Broken line of long and short dashes to show hidden
Hidden body line Medium
object lines not visible to the eye.
Broken line of short dashes to show alternate
Phantom line Light
positions or movement of a part.
Unbroken lines arranged in a pattern, usually
straight and at a 45º diagonal.
Steel Copper/Brass
Section line Light
Lead Cast iron/

General purpose
Unbroken lines that extend away from the object or

Projection line Light
feature for emphasis.
Broken line of long and short dashes to show the
Centre line Light
centre of an object.
Extension lines are small lines that extend outward
Extension line/ from an object or feature. Dimension lines span
Light 25 mm
Dimension line between the extension lines with arrowheads and a
given dimension.
Unbroken line usually drawn at an angle often with
Label a “dogleg” and an arrowhead. A dot is used in place
Leader line Light
of an arrowhead where a surface is referenced.
Usually accompanied by a label.
Broken line of one long and two short dashes to
A A show an imaginary cross-section. The arrowheads
Cutting plane
Heavy show the direction from where the cross-section is
line
viewed. A corresponding image will show the view
of A.
Unbroken freehand or straight zig-zag lines to abbre-
Break lines for viate longer spans of wood or metal.
Heavy
wood and metal
Curled lines to abbreviate a longer span of pipe.
Break lines for

Heavy
piping
Figure 2 — Weights of lines
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26 TRADES ACCESS—COMMON CORE

Design and
COMpETENCy D-3: Drafting – 2D
READ DRAwiNgS Drawing
AND SpECifiCATiONS Drawing Objects (Architectural BoardTASk
LEARNiNg Drafting)
2
To properly read and interpret drawings, you must know the meaning of each line and
understand how each is used to construct a drawing. The ten most common are often referred
to as the “alphabet of lines.” Let’s look at an explanation and example of each type.
Object lines
Object lines (Figure 3) are the most common lines used in drawings. These thick, solid lines show
the visible edges, corners, and surfaces of a part. Object lines stand out on the drawing and
clearly define the outline and features of the object.
Object line
Figure 3 — Object lines
Hidden lines
Hidden lines (Figure 4) are used to show edges and surfaces that are not visible in a view. These
lines are drawn as thin, evenly spaced dashes. A surface or edge that is shown in one view with
an object line will be shown in another view with a hidden line.
Figure 4 — Hidden lines
TRADES ACCESS—COMMON CORE 27

Drawing ObjectsD-3:
LEARNiNg TASk 2
Centre lines
Centre lines (Figure 5) are used in drawings for several different applications. The meaning of
a centre line is normally determined by how it is used. Centre lines are thin, alternating long
and short dashes that are generally used to show hole centres and centre positions of rounded
features, such as arcs and radii. Arcs are sections of a circle, and radii are rounded corners or
edges of a part. Centre lines can also show the symmetry of an object.
Figure 5 — Centre lines
Dimension and extension lines

Dimension and extension lines (Figure 6) are thin, solid lines that show the direction, length, and
limits of the dimensions of a part. Dimension lines are drawn with an arrowhead at both ends.
Extension lines are drawn close to, but never touching, the edges or surface they limit. They
should be perpendicular, or at right angles, to the dimension line. The length of extension lines
is generally suited to the number of dimensions they limit.
Dimension
Dimension line
Extension line End marks

62
Object line
Figure 6 — Dimension and extension lines

Design and
LEARNiNg Drafting)
2
Leader lines
Leader lines (Figure 7) show information such as dimensional notes, material specifications, and
process notes. These lines are normally drawn as thin, solid lines with an arrowhead at one end.
They are bent or angled at the start, but should always end horizontal at the notation. When
leader lines reference a surface, a dot is used instead of an arrowhead.
Leader line (thin and solid)
Flat bar 3 mm thick

R 20
ø8 2 holes
Copper plate this surface
Figure 7 — Leader lines
Note that the symbol ø is used to indicate a diameter rather than the abbreviation “DIA.” The
number that immediately follows this symbol is the diameter of the hole, followed by the
number of holes that must be drilled to that dimension.
Phantom lines
Like centre lines, phantom lines (Figure 8) are used for several purposes in blueprints. Phantom
lines are used to show alternate positions for moving parts and the positions of related or
adjacent parts, and to eliminate repeated details. Phantom lines are drawn as thin, alternating
long dashes separated by two short dashes.

Drawing ObjectsD-3:
LEARNiNg TASk 2
Existing column
New girder
Figure 8 — Phantom lines
Cutting plane lines

Cutting plane lines (Figure 9) show the location and path of imaginary cuts made through parts
to show internal details. In most cases, sectional views (or views that show complicated internal
details of a part) are indicated by using a cutting plane line. These lines are thick, alternating
long lines separated by two short dashes. The arrowheads at each end show the viewing
direction of the related sectional view. The two main types of cutting plane lines are the straight
and the offset.
Cutting plane line (thick with one long then two short dashes)
A A B B
Section A–A Section B–B

Figure 9 — Cutting plane lines

Design and
LEARNiNg Drafting)
2
Section lines
Section lines, also known as sectional lining, (Figure 10) indicate the surfaces in a sectional
view as they would appear if the part were actually cut along the cutting plane line. These are
solid lines that are normally drawn at 45 degree angles. Different symbols are used to represent
different types of materials.
Section lines (thin and solid)
Section B–B
Figure 10 — Section lines combined with cutting plane lines
Break lines
Break lines are drawn to show that a part has been shortened to reduce its size on the drawing.
The two variations of break lines common to blueprints are the long break line and the short
break line (Figure 11). Long break lines are thin solid lines that have zigzags to indicate a break.
Short break lines are thick, wavy solid lines that are drawn freehand. When either of these break
lines is used to shorten an object, you can assume that the section removed from the part is
identical to the portions shown on either side of the break.
(thin and long with a zigzag)
(thick and short, wavy freehand)
Figure 11 — Break line

Drawing ObjectsD-3:
LEARNiNg TASk 2
Standard lettering
The letters and numbers on a drawing or sketch are as important as the lines. Scribbled,
smudged, or badly written letters and numbers can become impossible to read. This may lead to
time-consuming and costly errors. Lettering is necessary to describe:
• the name or title of a drawing
• when it was made
• the scale
• who sketched it
• the dimensions
• the special notations that describe the size
• the materials to be used
• the construction methods
The American Standard Vertical letters (Figure 12) have become the most accepted style of
lettering used in the production of manual drafting. This lettering is a Gothic sans serif script,
formed by a series of short strokes.
Font styles and sizes may vary in computer drafting. Note that all letters are written as capital
(upper case) letters. Practise these characters, concentrating on forming the correct shape.
Remember that letters and numbers must be black so that they will stand out and be easy to
read. Lettering and figures should have the same weight and darkness as hidden lines.
Title and drawing sizes = 6 mm (¼")
A B C D E F G H I J K L
M N O P Q R ST UVW
XY Z 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Dimension and notation sizes = 3 mm (1⁄8")
A B C D E F G H I J K L
M N O P Q R S T U V W
X Y Z 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Figure 12 — Standard lettering

Design and
LEARNiNg Drafting)
2
Abbreviations
Abbreviations are commonly used to help simplify a drawing and conserve space. Although
many fields share common abbreviation conventions, there are also field- or trades-specific
conventions that you will see as you become more specialized. Here is a common list of
abbreviations that are used on drawings. Each trade will have specific abbreviations from this
list, and therefore a set of drawings will usually include an abbreviation key.
AB anchor bolt HLS holes REF reference
ABT about HSS hollow structural steel REQ’D required
AUX auxiliary ID inside diameter REV revision
BC bolt circle IN inches RF raised face
BBE bevel both ends INT internal RH right hand
BCD bolt circle diameter ISO International Standards Org. SCH schedule
BOE bevel one end KP kick plate SI International System of Units
BE both ends LH left hand SPECS specifications
BL baseline LAT lateral SQ square
BM bench mark LR long radius SM seam
Btm bottom LG long SMLS seamless
BP base plate MB machine bolt S/S seam to seam
B/P blueprint MS mild steel SO slip on
BLD blind MIN minimum SEC section
C/C centre to centre MAX maximum STD standard
COL column MAT’L material SS stainless steel
CPLG coupling MISC miscellaneous SYM symmetrical
CS carbon steel NC national course T top
C/W complete with NF national fine T&B top and bottom
CYL cylinder NO number T&C threaded and coupled
DIA diameter MOM nominal THD threaded
DIAG diagonal NTS not to scale TBE threaded both ends
DIM dimension NPS nominal pipe size TOE threaded one end
DWG drawing NPT national pipe thread THK thick
EA each O/C on centre TOL tolerance
EL elevation OA overall TOC top of concrete
EXT external OD outside diameter TOS top of steel
F/F face to face OR outside radius TYP typical
FF flat face OPP opposite U/N unless noted
FLG flange PAT pattern VERT vertical
FW fillet weld PBE plain both ends WD working drawing
Ga gauge POE plain one end WP working point
Galv galvanized PSI pounds per square inch WT weight
HVY heavy PROJ project W/O without
HH hex head RD running dimension XH extra heavy
HR hot rolled R or Rad radius XS extra strong
HT heat treatment RND round

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Youth Explore Trades Skills

Design and Drafting – 2D Drawing

Drawing Objects (Architectural Board Drafting)

Recommended Number of Students

2 Youth Explore Trades Skills

Figure 1—Secure paper to board

Youth Explore Trades Skills 3

Figure 2—Parallel lines and sloping lines

Figure 3—Circular lines

4 Youth Explore Trades Skills

Figure 4—Lines at right angles

Figure 5—Free form with French curve

Youth Explore Trades Skills 5

6 Youth Explore Trades Skills

Describe lines, lettering, and dimensioning in

Line styles and types

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Type Weight Line Description

Lead Cast iron/

Unbroken lines that extend away from the object or

Curled lines to abbreviate a longer span of pipe.

Break lines for

Figure 2 — Weights of lines

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26 TRADES ACCESS—COMMON CORE

Figure 3 — Object lines

Figure 4 — Hidden lines

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TRADES ACCESS—COMMON CORE 27

Figure 5 — Centre lines

Dimension and extension lines

Extension line End marks

Figure 6 — Dimension and extension lines

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28 TRADES ACCESS—COMMON CORE

Leader line (thin and solid)

Flat bar 3 mm thick

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TRADES ACCESS—COMMON CORE 29

Figure 8 — Phantom lines

Cutting plane lines

Section A–A Section B–B

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30 TRADES ACCESS—COMMON CORE

Section lines (thin and solid)

(thin and long with a zigzag)

(thick and short, wavy freehand)

Figure 11 — Break line

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TRADES ACCESS—COMMON CORE 31

• when it was made

• the special notations that describe the size

• the materials to be used

• the construction methods

Title and drawing sizes = 6 mm (¼")

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32 TRADES ACCESS—COMMON CORE

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