How to Repair a Dietzgen 4411D Drafting Board

The drafting profession, as with any profession, uses special tools to produce drawings and design prints. One of the most important pieces of equipment is the drafting table or drafting board. One of the oldest producers of drafting tables is Dietzgen Media, manufacturing drawing boards since 1893. The model 4411D, like all drawing boards, may eventually need repair after repeated use. The linkage between the board and the parallel bar can become sloppy and lose its ability to draw parallel lines from the top of the board to the bottom. You can repair this linkage at home and extend the life of your drawing board.

Instructions

1

Remove the old guide wire from the back of the drafting board. Carefully direct the wire around the pulleys located at each corner of the board.

2

Remove the tension spring and eyelets from the old wire for use on the new wire after you have replaced it.

3

Direct the new wire along one side of the back surface and around the pulley at the corner. Run the end of the wire diagonally across the back of the board to the opposite corner and around the pulley. The wire then runs up the side of the board, around the next pulley and back down to the diagonally opposite corner. Ensure the wire passes through the guide on each end of the parallel bar that wraps around to the back of the board.

4

Manipulate the wire around the pulleys until the two ends of the wire meet in the center of the back of the board. Place the parallel bar at the center of the top side of the board. The wire should form an X where the two ends cross.

5

Attach the eyelets to one end of the wire using the needle-nose pliers. Connect the spring to the eyelet and measure the length of the wire required to place the other eyelet and connect the other end of the spring with a small amount of tension on the wire. The amount of tension left on the wire after connecting the spring will be sufficient to keep the wire from falling out of the groove in the pulleys.

6

Attach the other eyelet to the other end of the wire and connect the two ends of the wire with the spring removed from the original wire.