types: paper, cloth, and film. For all practical
purposes, you, as a SEABEE draftsman, will use
tracing paper, profile paper, plan/profile paper,
and cross-section paper. Although it is not found
in the draftsman kit, illustration board is used for
preparing signs and charts. Tracing cloth and film
are rarely used by SEABEE draftsmen, and hence
will not be described here.
TRACING PAPER (also called TRACING
VELLUM) is a high-grade white (or slightly
tinted) transparent paper that takes pencil well,
and from which pencil lines can be easily erased.
Also, reproductions can be made directly from
pencil drawings on tracing paper; however, for
better results in reproduction, a pencil drawing
on tracing paper is usually inked over.
PROFILE, PLAN/PROFILE, and CROSS-
SECTION PAPER are referred to as GRIDDED
MEDIA. Each type of gridded media is designed
for a specific purpose. Most gridded media used
by EAs are suitable for reproduction.
PROFILE PAPER is normally available in
two grid patterns: 4 by 20 lines (4 lines vertical
and 20 lines horizontal) per inch and 4 by 30 lines
per inch with the vertical lines accented every 10th
line. Horizontal lines on the 4 by 20 are accented
medium-weight every 5th line and heavyweight
every 50th line. Horizontal lines on the 4 by 30
have heavyweight accent lines every 25th line.
Profile paper is generally used for road design
profiles.
PLAN/PROFILE PAPER has rulings and
grid accents similar to those of 4 by 20 and 4 by
30 profile paper, except that the grid patterns oc-
cupy only the lower half of the paper. The upper
half is plain paper, used to draw the plan view
in relation to the profile or to add explanatory
notes to the profile. Plan/profile paper is also
used for road design.
CROSS-SECTION PAPER, sometimes re-
ferred to as graph paper, is available in a variety
of grid patterns. Generally, graph paper used by
the EA has a grid scale of 10 by 10 lines per square
inch. It is used for drawing road cross sections,
rough design sketching, preparing schedules,
plotting graphs, and many other uses.
Most drafting media are available in three
styles: plain sheets or rolls, preprinted sheets
with borders and title blocks, and sheets with
non-reproducible grids. For further information
on the many varieties of drafting media available,
refer to suppliers’ catalogs, such as those
published by Keuffel & Esser Co. and Eugene
Dietzgen Co.
ILLUSTRATION BOARD is a drawing paper
with a high rag content mounted on cardboard
backing. The type normally found in a SEABEE
drafting section has a smooth white drawing
surface that takes ink readily. Normally, the board
is 30 in. by 40 in. and comes in 50-sheet packages.
Illustration board is used by the EA for making
signs and for large unmounted charts and for
mounting maps, photos, and drawings that
require a strong backing. A thinner board,
called BRISTOL BOARD, is also used for
making small signs and charts. The thickness
of bristol board is about the same thickness
as an ordinary index card. Unlike illustration
board, bristol board has two white smooth
sides that take ink very well. Bristol board
is less expensive than illustration board and
is easily cut, to size with a paper trimmer.
It is available in many sizes; the most popular
size is 20 in. by 30 in. in 50- or 100-sheet
packages.
142.131
Figure 2-1.—Grades of drafting pencils.
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