Free digital download of LF Herreshoff drafting table

[rbgarr]

http://www.woodenboat.com/wbstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=74&products_id=714

[Dave Gray]

Pretty cool.

[Bill Perkins]

Thanks for the notice .I grabbed that and got a look around the site. My first download from WB.

[boylesboats]

http://www.woodenboat.com/wbstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=74&products_id=714

Here is another source for those don't want the hassle of signing up.
http://www.marquis-kyle.com.au/herreshoff.htm
http://www.marquis-kyle.com.au/images/HerreshoffTableLarge.jpg

[Bill Perkins]

How are others interpreting pc. #6 ; the "Guide piece "? I guess they can't be acting as hinges ,because they're shown on both sides and the lag screws (#15) seem to make tilting out of the question . This is a specialized drawing board for when using splines and weights I think .

[rbgarr]

How are others interpreting pc. #6 ; the "Guide piece "? I guess they can't be acting as hinges ,because they're shown on both sides and the lag screws (#15) seem to make tilting out of the question . This is a specialized drawing board for when using splines and weights I think .

The Guide pieces are either rollers or fixed guides for the large drawer (or 'draw' as noted) for storing plans and drawings underneath the work surface.

[Dave R]

If anyone is interested, I expect I could bang out a digital 3D model of the table. Looks like a fairly straightforward thing.

Does anyone know if there are photographs of this thing somewhere around on the internet?

[Dave R]

BIll, I think those guide pieces, #6, are applied to the cross pieces, #7, as shown in my rough sketch, below. I believe you are correct that the table top does not tilt. I still have a bit of work obviously but it won't take long to finish it up.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v506/weekender410/HerreshoffTablePrelim.jpg

[outofthenorm]

if anyone wants the model.



Dave, can you see my hand waving in the air from there?

- Norm

[Dave R]

Norm, I've completed the model.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v506/weekender410/HerreshoffTable2views-1.jpg

FWIW, full size templates could be created from the model for the parts and I could also do a proper, dimensioned set of plans fairly easily.

[Bob Cleek]

LFH's drafting table did not tilt, IIRC, precisely because he used splines and ducks. Beyond that, while it's a nice table and all, what's the big whoop? It's just a flat table top. I believe LFH discussed it briefly in "Commonsense of Yacht Design" or one of his other books. As I remember, his comment was directed at making sure you had a big enough table top. Common drafting tables of the time were not as long as his table, which allows for the length of lines drawings with space beyond the edges to continue fair spline curves. I expect this is probaby why he designed a custom job for himself.

BTW, if you intend to build one of these for your own use, remember that you will have to also make up a suitably sized T-square for it, with a blade long enough to span the length of the table (or at least a bit more than half the length, if you don't mind flipping the T-square all the time.) You'd probably do better with a double ended T-square that would hold the blade square from both edges of the table, since the slightest wiggle at a singled ended "T" would produce a line significantly off at the far end of the blade. Oh, and, of course, you will have to make sure your table edges are perfectly square when you build it as well.

LFH was an amazing talent, no question about it, but, hey, it's just a long drafting table. Let's not make a cult out of LFH! I'd expect he would strongly object to that. (And secretly enjoy it!) LOL

[Dave R]

Good points Mr. Cleek.

I wonder who here is making a cult of LFH.

[outofthenorm]

... remember that you will have to also make up a suitably sized T-square for it, with a blade long enough to span the length of the table (or at least a bit more than half the length, if you don't mind flipping the T-square all the time.)


No you don't. On a table like this, if you use a t-square at all, you use it vertically from the top of the table and use triangles for horizontal lines. You want a long line, you drop 2 points and connect em with a straitedge.

- Norm

[Dave R]

I don't know if anyone else is interested but I've completed the detailed plans for this table. A cutlist and full size patterns are included. I'd be willing to send them to interested parties.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3557/3601296462_653323c3f5.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3373/3601296262_5297b7d23c.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2472/3600484473_029e549ebb.jpg