Draft Table Quick Buying Guide

Creative minds need creative and efficient work space

Whether you're an architect or artist, student or just need an efficient place to draw or sketch, you'll be glad you chose either a drafting, drawing, or light table. Standard tables are rarely at the right height or angle for you to work comfortably and the tabletop tends to be too small for your large paper or project. Find out which one drafting, drawing, or lighting table best suits your needs.

Drafting tables Drafting tables serve a variety of functions and are perfect for any work that requires more space than a typical desk. Commonly associated with professionals such as architects and cartographers, drafting tables are also popular with art students and anyone interested in drawing or sketching. The drafting table's ability to tilt up to 45 degrees makes it a great choice for artists and others such as designers, commercial artists, and advertising layout specialists. Adjustable or fixed height tables are available. Fixed height table tops are normally 30 or 37 inches from the floor. This determines whether you use a standard height desk chair or a taller drafting stool or chair. Adjustable height tables will adjust for any chair height, but are not quite as sturdy as the traditional 4-post fixed height design. When accurate measurements are important in your work, a drafting table is a perfect choice. Most styles offer built-in pencil ledges on the front to keep your writing materials in place. And the tops of drafting tables are designed with a variety of materials, including glass, wood, and laminate. A precise machine edge on all drafting tops allows a T-square to slide accurately up and down the side for precise parallel lines. A drafting machine can also be attached for very professional output.

Drawing tables
Similar to drafting tables, drawing tables offer a large, flat surface to create drawings, sketching, or any craft project. These tables' oversized tops give you plenty of room to work when you're using large sketch pads or artist paper. Drawing tables have a lip or edge to keep your instruments in place.

Additionally, drawing tables offer trays for your writing and art supplies. You'll find working on a table more convenient and efficient than any ordinary table, and you'll appreciate how your drawing table can also tilt up to 45 degrees so you can comfortably work on long projects. The machine edge on drawing tables also allows for a T-square to slide across the work for exact straight lines. The main difference between a drawing table and a drafting table is the size. Typically, the width range of drafting table tops is 48-84 inches and drawing table tops are in the 24-48 inch range.

Light tables and light boxes
If your projects require you to work with tracing paper, multiple layers of floor plans or transparencies, you'll be amazed how a light table can save you time and effort. A light table is simply a box with a clear or translucent surface with a light inside that gently shines through so that any paper becomes transparent. Whether you're editing plans, drawing cell paintings, initial pencil work, or frame-by-frame animation, a light table is essential to your creative work space. You can also use a light table to view slides or transparencies perfect for photographers.

The choice between a glass or plexiglass illuminated surface should be determined based on use. A glass surface will not stain with paint, or inks and a trim knife can be used without marring. Plexiglass is lighter and more flexible for viewing slides or transparencies that do not require cutting on the view surface or any drawing media contact. Often smaller light boxes are shipped without the glass. This allows clear or frosted plexiglass or standard glass to be selected by the end user.