Drafting | Services | Precision Woodworks

The Drafting Flow

This step of the process can’t be missed. Well, actually it can, but then we are no longer Precision Woodworks. Without this important step, bringing the exact and intended item to fruition can be dicey.

Drafting is the action of completely building something on paper, and before any wood is cut. Paper is not always needed, but it saves on memory. Perhaps with some practice it is possible to draft in the mind and hold all the information steady, I know I draw pictures in my mind all the time. Drafting is a tool that allows you formulate and dissect a project, view the interrelationships of applicable data, change sizes as needed, and end up with workable plans that can be built.

When the project then goes to production, the hat of production can be worn. A woodworker won’t need to attempt drafting something in his head while cutting on the table saw.

The action of drafting can be translated into any field of production. Accurate planning is what I’m talking about. Come to think of it, had I drafted and planned the pages of this website prior to starting to make them, I would have made them correctly the first or second time and not had to change fonts and layouts midway along.

This brings me to realize that an amateur will usually skip the planning or drafting stage of production. When I started making this website I didn’t have enough information to plan with, so I just dabbled a bit until I got it right. Same goes for cabinet making. I see amateurs in the field often, or have to come in after them and fix their mistakes. Their failure and amateur status is only borne out of their failure to plan and draft.

There is an awareness characteristic that goes along with all this, in any production activity. That is prediction. Our activities of drafting, scheduling and ordering are all related in the purpose to achieve prediction. Prediction relies on information, also on the importance of that information. To sum up drafting very simply, Drafting = think it through, and then draw your thoughts. Once that’s done, you know how to make it, what size every part is, how long it will take, how much wood you need, etc.

Here is my process of drafting really cool and incredible stuff:

Step 1: Data Gather

First thing to get is the plans, the design. From architects this might be a set of blue prints, plans from a designer might include a picture or cad program, and getting plans from the homeowner might be tracing paper or notes from a discussion.

Before I do anything with these plans or begin drafting, I study the plans carefully. A highlighter works pretty good. I’ll go through all of the information and highlight everything I understand. If there is anything that needs clarification, it’s left un-highlighted until I clear it up.

At this stage it’s important to gain a clear understanding of the style and look that’s intended. Many times, we will have to change sizes and details from other’s plans, and that is ok as long as we stay within the guidelines of the design.

Next thing to get is all of the appliance or auxiliary product specs. This goes for a kitchen or bathroom, and not necessarily a dining room table (unless the table has built a built in garbage disposal).

Appliance specs are key, key in drafting. They are the only things that cannot be changed in size. With all the variables in custom cabinetry and woodworks, it is nice to get a hold of a descriptive appliance spec sheet. The walls of the house are far more fluid than an appliance. I always urge the homeowner or contractor to get every appliance, sink and even faucet spec as soon as possible.

In the course of working closely with appliances, I have developed preferences and I’ll be happy to recommend anything you need. Ask the designer or shop around when it comes to sinks and faucets.

AJ madison is a great source to start shopping for appliances. Their site is easy to navigate, lots of pictures and I can get almost any appliance spec I need.

Site measurements happens within the data gather stage. Widths and heights of walls are definitely important. We also take note of electrical outlet locations, plumbing, location of lights and fans is important, doorway and constraining hallway measurements are also important. One more thing, sometimes the walls and floors have to be checked for level. Using a long level to see how much the floor dips, or how much the wall curves, is something I should turn into a habit.

Step 1: Draw

The top down view, aka the plan view, is usually the drawing that comes first. By drawing the entire job from a bird’s eye perspective, you can work out the overall sizes and relationships.

Elevation views might come next. This drawing looks at the object, cabinet or kitchen straight on. This is handy for working out all the heights.

A section view is a drawing of something from the side. The handy thing about this drawing is you can look at the thing from the side, or use x-ray vision and look see the internal workings

Note: I use the word look in the above examples because that is exactly what you are doing. These drawings act as a window into the realm of the not yet, but soon to be existing. In addition to that, these drawings would include detailed sizes, and you can start to get a firm grip on the nature of every single part that will be needed.

A perspective drawing is how something looks to the normal eye. This is a drawing with depth, it’s 3D. This drawing is great for presentations, but it also serves the draftsman. It is not a must for drafting, although it can be handy if you have a little practice drawing things in this way.

A perspective drawing can be a shortcut and can include elements of all three drawing types mentioned above. If the project is simple enough, sometimes this drawing will be sufficient as long as it shows all the necessary sizes.

When I’m drafting and I’m not quite sure how something will look, that’s when I use the perspective the most. I can mold and shape and gain certainty on something before I get into the mechanics of detailed sizes and the way parts fit together.

These drawings comprise the ‘Draw’ part of drafting. In the case of a kitchen it’s necessary to work the sizes of the whole kitchen and the overall sizes of it’s parts, and THEN do the drafting for each individual cabinet, drawer, door, etc.

Step 3: Paperwork & More Math

Once the drawings or adequate sketches are complete, then comes the cut list. Each part is broken down to it’s exact size and put on a list. We’ll separate the lists by material type, thus we typically end up with about 9 lists for a kitchen.

By doing all this, it’s possible to cut all the parts at the same time. This cuts down on material waste and time spent.

Materials are now figured out. After doing drafting, we know almost exactly how much material we’ll need. This would apply to wood, hardware, as well as doors that might need to get ordered.

The plans and drawings are checked, notes that need to be added are added and the whole shebang is printed off and separated for handout to needy shop workers.