Self repair on a drafting table?
June 24, 2008 9:24 AM Subscribe
Can I salvage the parallel bar on my drafting table?
I'm starting my very first drafting class this fall and I just bought a used portable drafting table. The problem is that I moved right after purchasing it and somehow during the move, the tension cable that holds the parallel bar in place came unraveled. I can get it to wrap around the four pegs on each corner and make an X across the back of the board but there is still alot of slack and the bar just falls off whenever I move the table. I've never used a drafting table with a parallel bar and have no idea where to start. I feel lost since I'm usually pretty good at fixing things. Can I fix this myself? Where would I find someone else to fix this? Should I give up and use the board without the bar (I don't like this option at all)? Thanks in advance for the advice.
I'm starting my very first drafting class this fall and I just bought a used portable drafting table. The problem is that I moved right after purchasing it and somehow during the move, the tension cable that holds the parallel bar in place came unraveled. I can get it to wrap around the four pegs on each corner and make an X across the back of the board but there is still alot of slack and the bar just falls off whenever I move the table. I've never used a drafting table with a parallel bar and have no idea where to start. I feel lost since I'm usually pretty good at fixing things. Can I fix this myself? Where would I find someone else to fix this? Should I give up and use the board without the bar (I don't like this option at all)? Thanks in advance for the advice.
Best answer: You can get some parts here; more parts and links to instructions are here. Even if yours is a different brand, the diagrams should give you an idea of how everything fits together.
posted by TedW at 11:46 AM on June 24, 2008
posted by TedW at 11:46 AM on June 24, 2008
Response by poster: The wire is still connected to both ends of the bar so, from what I can tell, I think that odinsdream has the right idea and its just a matter of tightening up the tension. I actually think I'm going to try one of the kits from the links that TedW suggested. My board (sorry, but I don't recall the brand) has a spring just like those kits and hopefully replacing that will solve the problem. Thanks so much for the info. and the links!
posted by jmchrist at 1:42 PM on June 24, 2008
posted by jmchrist at 1:42 PM on June 24, 2008
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Does it seem like the cable has come undone inside the rule (this happens, and can usually be fixed)?
posted by vers at 10:08 AM on June 24, 2008