The Best Drafting Table

Finding a drafting table that suits your needs, whether you're an artist, architect, or hobbyist, depends to a large extent on personal preference. Narrowing down your choices depending on these preferences requires that you consider all the possibilities and what you have enjoyed and resented about different drafting tables you have used in the past. Combine all these expectations when looking for the best drafting table for your home or office. Does this Spark an idea?

Size Preferences

The size of the best drafting table for your needs depends largely on what size paper or medium of choice you use most often. Choose a drafting table with an area larger than the largest paper size you use for the greatest ease of use and comfort. Keep in mind that larger drafting tables are also better suited to long-term installations in a room that has sufficient area to accommodate the table as well as seating for the person at work.

Portability

Do you seek a drafting table that can be collapsed and taken with you from place to place, or are you looking for a drafting table to keep in your home or office for many years? The former are generally more lightweight and convenient for people on the go, but they are also less sturdy and durable than tables designed for long-term use. Reputable collapsible drafting tables include the Alvin Onyx, the Martin Berkeley and the Alvin Professional; their more permanent equivalents include the Alvin Design Master and Workmaster tables, the SMI Oak and the Mayline Ranger.

Quality of Construction

Drafting tables that are made of solid wood are of better quality than tables made of particleboard, plywood or composite materials. They are also more expensive, but will last much longer and are less susceptible to damage. Keep in mind that solid, and especially untreated, wood is sensitive to changes in humidity and temperature, so make sure your workspace is climate controlled for the least damage to your drafting table.

Height

There are two height possibilities when looking for a drafting table: desk height and drafting height. Finding the best drafting table according to height is a matter of preference. Desk height is 30 inches from the floor, whereas drafting height is 36 inches. Drafting height is most common among drafting tables. This height allows the user to sit on an elevated swivel chair and rest her feet on a rest, which allows for greater ease of movement.