How to Lay Out an Angle as a Machinist

A machinist cannot afford to make mistakes when drawling angles on a blueprint. A machinist generally uses a tool that every grade school student knows: a protractor. A protractor gives you the ability to draw a straight line. After centering the line, you can use the numbers on the protractor to draw the remainder of the angle.

Protractor
Pencil

Instructions

- 1
  Position the straight edge located on the bottom of the protractor where you want to draw the portion of the angle that runs from left to right on the page. This is the “parallel” line.
- 2
  Place the tip of a pencil or pen against the straightedge and draw the line.
- 3
  Position the right end of the line over the dot located at the bottom center of the protractor if our angle is less than 90 degrees. If greater than 90 degrees, position the left end of the line over the dot at the bottom center of the protractor.
- 4
  Place the opposite end of the line on 0 degrees or 190 degrees, respectively. This lines the protractor up with the horizontal line.
- 5
  Locate the specific degree in which you need to draw the angle. For example, if you need to draw a 45-degree angle, place a mark on the paper just above 45 degrees.
- 6
  Position the straightedge located on the bottom of the protractor against the end of the line that was placed in the bottom center of the protractor and against the dot. Draw a line against the straightedge to connect the two locations.

How to Make a Barrel Wrench

How to Make a Door-Moving Dolly

Remodeling Tools & Equipment