school supplies

[Cleetus]

Hello and good evening
I am geting ready to sign up for Westlawn and I am pricing around for supplies and I had a couple questions. First off, I was wondering if there is an online drafting supply store that anyone who knows their stuff would recommend. I can't afford solid gold supplies but I don't want crap either.

I am also wondering if there are any rules of thumb for buying drafting tables. I am planning on using both the computer and the old fashioned way initially so I want a table as well as a PC. Is there any thought on desktop versus stand-alone drafting tables?

Thanks for your input!

-Cleet

[Cleetus]

I just saw on the Westlawn "materials to buy" sheet that they suggest 5 foot wide draftin table...is that standard?

[marshmat]

Big, but not uncommon. Mine is 4' x 3', plenty big as I never actually draft anything on it.... virtually all my drawings are digital these days.
Keep the table tilted, of course; if you ever leave it horizontal by accident, desk junk and paperwork will promptly begin procreating on top of it.

[Figgy]

Originally Posted by Cleetus

I can't afford solid gold supplies but I don't want crap either.

eBay, go the eBay route. Good stuff for good a price.

[westlawn5554X]

he... i am still stuck on ebay... last counting 6 mechanical different planimeter and 2 digital planimeter... real dirt cheap on ebay... dont fight with the guys just contact the bidder and say you gonna use it for study and u badly need some equipment, they would let you win some.

PM me... I can see your list and tell you where to look. AVOID K+E and richter equipment... many bidder, look for cheaper and nice alternative.

Built your own table see my gallery if you have an uncle who is a carpentar OR use your kitchen table... Dave told me that trick

Always find an engineer scale or ruler, percision, do not use school ruler.

Drafting instrument use BOFA chinese set, complete and practicle.

It all depend on luck and the chance the other bidder are sleepy.

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[westlawn5554X]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Faber-Castell-Te...QQcmdZViewItem

Faber Castel pens... MY first love...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ROTRING-DRAFTING...QQcmdZViewItem

rotring start bid at US$1.00... set of modern tools I am presently using

http://cgi.ebay.com/Six-Lutz-Draftin...QQcmdZViewItem

BUY this..... all for US$10.

http://cgi.ebay.com/LOT-OF-VINTAGE-D...QQcmdZViewItem

THIS IS AN EVERYTHING IN IT SET..... stop bid if you think it is useless dont let ebay stuff sucked you in like me

http://cgi.ebay.com/Tomar-Highway-Cu...QQcmdZViewItem

Highway curve but bend like a set of coopenhagen to me... up to you.


Well the rest up to you mate... Good luck. I have this bad feeling you gonna be the better one finishing the program than me... I do take a lot of time... sort of working.

[Cleetus]

OK I guess I need to ask another question here. There seems to be a wide array of Planimeters, both mechanical and electrical.

Any thoughts on whats best? Better? Good?

[westlawn5554X]

Mmm... you need a mechanical polar planimeter and later you can upgrade to a roller.

Digi Planimeter is more acurate but as time go by, u need fussy calibration and the salt might do harm to the wires..... my guessing.

I stick digi for home use and mechanical for field use. BTW mechanical are better collectors item.

IF you feel rich and want new planimeter look at mid priced LaSico website at

http://www.lasico.com

the owner is a nice guy, make sure you look for a price cut and look for his cosmetic defect set. L-30 is good. Vesitile.

[westlawn5554X]

Originally Posted by Cleetus

OK I guess I need to ask another question here. There seems to be a wide array of Planimeters, both mechanical and electrical.

Any thoughts on whats best? Better? Good?

Mmm... HAFF come to my mind as the most expensive mechanical planimeter I have seen in the web. It is in EURO and delivery also in that currency. I bought one in ebay second and it is beautiful and simple. Keuffel & Esser seem to have HAFF produce some of thir best item it seem. (Made in German)

the Simple and good with long reputation would be LaSico with more 100 years experience. (Made in America)

My favourite Planimeter Italian Filotecnica Salmoiraghi... Catapillar guys and Malaysian water work use it. I found a good one for US$13+ and another covered with a bit of paint for US$9.99 for spare-parts. I only seen 4 unit in ebay now gone. 2 units with me. Well now the price might rise because of this promotion.(Made in Italiano)

Borrowed Planimeter- The best type in the world, make sure you dont break it.

P.S. Sorry my country doesnt make planimeter and getting one is hard so I decided to stock up................

[DavidJ]

Planimeters don't get used very much anymore. Seek out old engineers to see if you can get theirs. There are many sitting in dusty closets.

[Cleetus]

ahhh good call I know just the guy to ask, THANKS!