How I Got Started in Drafting
My journey into drafting started young—sixth grade, to be exact. I met an architect who let me sweep his office and run errands just so I could get a glimpse of the trade. That early exposure sparked my interest, and later on, I took extension courses offered by the Navy to refine my skills. Eventually, I landed one of my first professional drafting jobs in a land survey office, where I learned the precision and patience required for the field.
Manual Drafting in a Land Survey Office
Before computers took over, everything was done by hand. My workflow was often slow because my employer demanded a high level of accuracy—something that’s absolutely critical in surveying. The most commonly used tool at my drafting station? The protractor. Sure, we had other tools, but that one saw the most action when plotting out points from the surveyor’s field notes.
Of course, not every day went smoothly. One particularly memorable (and painful) mistake happened when my boss accidentally handed me the wrong field notes. I spent an entire day meticulously plotting out a boundary and topographic survey—only to find out it was for the wrong project. My boss wasn’t thrilled, but at least he owned up to the mistake.
The Transition to AutoCAD
When AutoCAD first arrived at our office, it wasn’t actually meant for me—it was for the office manager. But I was curious, so I started coming in at night, teaching myself how to use it. I don’t remember the exact version, but it was somewhere in the 2.x range. What finally made AutoCAD click for me was the moment I realized that, at its core, it was just an electronic drafting board. Once I saw it that way, everything fell into place.
One of the features that changed everything for me was manual point-to-point entry. Instead of manually measuring and drawing, I could start a line, type in the polar coordinates, and watch the property take shape right before my eyes. It felt like magic compared to the old way of doing things.
Projects and Experience
Over the years, I worked on everything from bank loan surveys to large-scale site plans, including expansion projects for institutions like Life Chiropractic College in Marietta, GA. Each project had its own challenges, but they all reinforced the importance of precision in drafting.
Lessons Learned & Advice for New Drafters
If I had to give one piece of advice to someone starting in drafting—especially in land surveying—it would be this: accuracy is everything. A tiny mistake in your work can lead to major real-world problems, from legal disputes to costly construction errors. Whether you’re working with a drafting board or AutoCAD, take your time and double-check everything.
As for me, I never got into 3D modeling, though maybe I should have. Still, I don’t regret the years I spent mastering 2D drafting. Whether you’re drawing lines on paper or typing coordinates into a CAD system, the principles remain the same—precision, patience, and a keen eye for detail will always be the keys to success in drafting.