How to Become a Drafter

Do you usually hear people saying that you have a talent in visualizing objects and putting them in the right perspective? Well, if you certain that those people are not just pulling your leg, why not make a career out of your remarkable skill? Yes, there is a perfect job with your name on it—a drafter.

Are you familiar with technical drawing? Okay, before I tackle the technicalities of being a drafter, let’s have a quick recap first. Technical drawing is the application of making exact representations of things for architectural, technical, and engineering purposes. To put it simply, it is used by a person to communicate an idea to another person through a drawing or a sketch regardless of the instruments used. Technical drawing can be done either by paper and pencil or with a computer-aided design and drafting software. For example, if a client wants to build a house, an architect will show a drawing that will represent the design of the house, where the living room is, where the doors are, and so on.

So now that we’re clear on the definition of technical drawing, what does that have to do with being a drafter? If you want to be a drafter, then you will have to master the art of technical drawing. The workload of a draftsperson includes creating illustrations of a simple part like a chair armrest to completing representations of a complex object such as a vehicle. Now that computer-aided design and drafting systems are available, the drawing task is relatively easier. However, there are still some clients who prefer pencil sketches. It is best for an aspiring drafter to be knowledgeable on both.

If you think being a drafter only requires the talent in technical drawing, think again. More often than not, a drafter performs calculations in their illustrations. Remember, the drawing must be an accurate representation. You have to sharpen your mathematical skills as well.

Wait. There is more to a drafter’s work than technical drawing and calculations. Once you landed a job as a drafter, you are expected to be handy in the production and manufacture stages in case problems arise and there is a need for some adjustments.

I have nothing against engineers but let’s be honest here. Not all engineers are brilliant in technical drawing. Even if the idea of the engineer is highly innovative and can very well be the start of a new trend, if he cannot fully explain it, it will not impress any client and is likely to be overlooked. That is why drafters are in demand in engineering workshops and in the manufacturing industry since they have the talent to put ideas into drawings to be more tangible to the customers.

The usual work areas of a drafter are air conditioning detail, architectural detail, concrete detail, electrical and electronic detail, engineering manufacture, and steel work fabrication. Taking these into consideration, a drafter have a number of career opportunities. You can choose from the following: contract employment groups, council groups, government sectors, consulting engineers, and small manufacturing industries. With the ongoing developments in the industry, you don’t need to worry about landing a job. The demand for drafters is as steady as a rock.

If you have the skills and you are interested in the work areas, you may be already mulling over the possibility of being a drafter. Before you make the decision, read on about the required qualifications for a drafter. You have to have at least a Certificate III in Detail Drafting and an Advanced Diploma in Mechanical Engineering at best. Detail drafting refers to all sorts of fields under the umbrella of engineering such as hydraulics and pneumatics.

So, did you qualify? If you love technical drawing, have a knack in calculations, and very fluent in communicating ideas, apply as a drafter and earn money. Not everybody is given a chance to do what they want and get paid for it.

If you want to know more about technical drawing like the drafting instruments and its uses as well as the different terms and lines used in technical drawing, visit Technical Drawings and satisfy your curiosity.

The DIY of Muffler Repairs

When you find yourself receiving angry glances from people while you're driving in town, take it as a telltale sign that you are indeed having some muffler trouble. The noise your car is making is not a part of your imagination. Actually, the faster you accept the truth that you need to have a muffler repair, the sooner you could get the problem fixed. If you continue to procrastinate it, you’ll end up in an auto shop with a considerable bill for the muffler repair service.

Before anything else, what are the warnings that you are in need of a muffler repair? Your car may be making a lot of noises but not every squeak, squeal, and screech calls out for a muffler repair. How can you be sure that the sound means muffler trouble?

Once you’ve heard a rumble coming from your sedan, read this as a low-pitched rhythmic sound, then chances are you have a malfunctioning muffler, converter, or exhaust pipe. If what you’re hearing is a clunk, which is a random thumping sound, then what you have is a loose muffler or exhaust pipe. Like what my math teacher told me, identifying the problem is half of the solution. After knowing just what it is that’s making your car so noisy, then we can begin the muffler repair.

The problem is a loose muffler or exhaust pipe.

Don’t even think about muffler repair on a still hot muffler. When you just finish driving the car, leave it for around an hour. That will be enough time for the engine and all the other auto parts to cool down. After drinking a glass of iced tea and enjoying a little conversation with your friend over the phone, you and your car are ready for some muffler repair.

Lift up the car and carefully secure it on jackstands so that you can go underneath and start some damage control. The exhaust pipe is likely to be found about two feet behind the engine pointing toward the rear of the car. If you are looking at the right place, then you will be able to see a thin metal shield right in the middle of the exhaust pipe and the car floor. If you still can’t find it, it is approximately under the car seats. With all those clues, I’m sure you already have an idea where it is.

Now that you have the metal shield in your line of vision, do everything possible to make it rattle. Poke, prod, push, pull, by all means, do what you can so that you will be able to hear the same thumping sound your car is making when you drive. You may be asking yourself why you have to make it rattle. Well, you want to be 100% sure that all you have is a loose muffler or exhaust pipe. Otherwise, the solution I have here will not do you any good.

If there is no rattling sound even after you did your best to produce the same sound, don’t smile yet. Cover all your bases. Start the car engine. I want to make the next statement as clear as possible. Do not go back underneath the car while the engine is running unless you like the idea of pain inflicted in your own skin. Rather than going under the car, simply lean your head down and listen attentively to distinguish where the clunking sound is coming from.

If the source of the noise is the heat shield, all you have to do now is to tighten it up. Turn off the engine first then go underneath the car. With your good old screwdriver, tighten all the bolts connected to the heat shield and I mean, every single bolt. While you are already down there, check if the heat shield has been twisted or curved. You can fix a bent heat shield through a pair of pliers or a screwdriver. Pull the heat shield away from the spot where it makes contact with the exhaust pipe.

That’s it. Just by tightening the bolts, you can avoid the hassle and the cost of going to a car care center for a muffler repair. You can now drive in style and in silence.

If you want to know more about muffler repairs like the shops offering this service as well some basic information about mufflers, visit Muffler Repairs and say goodbye to your muffler troubles.

How to Get My Own PO Box

It is worrisome to miss out on a mail especially if it is totally important or if you paid for it. Unfortunately, most mail services do not guarantee a secure and fast mail delivery if the mail is posted in a physical address. It is a good thing that another option is available for us to receive our mails. This is where a post office box comes in.

Once you have a post office box, you will be entitled to a lot of advantages that are so favorable you will never go back to having your mail delivered in your street address again. Gone will be the days where you have to wait for your mail man in the front porch and the times when you are left wondering where your October issue of Time Magazine is.

Before you think of these possibilities, learn first how you could get your own post office box. Don’t worry. It is really simple and sooner than you know it, you can have your mails sent to your post office box.

The normal practice is that post office boxes are for rent. So the first step in getting your own PO Box is to look for the most convenient place to rent one. There is an alternative to the UPS post office box. Aside from the United States Postal Service, there are other places where you can rent a post office box such as shipping establishments and grocery stores. Take into consideration that these places have waiting lists. For you to land on your ideal location, plan ahead. If you are one of those people who switch residence thrice or more times a year, settle down on a location that is accessible to the freeway.

To avoid the hassle of running from the rental place to your home and back again, don’t forget to bring valid identification cards. The reasonable number is three IDs. You can use your driver’s license, passport, any of your bank cards, birth certificate, your social security number, even a mail with your current address. If you are renting a post office box which is not in the area of your current address, the verification process may take a longer time.

Go to the counter person upon entering the rental place for post office boxes. He or she will give you an application form. Fill out the form accurately. If you encounter a question that needs clarification, better ask for assistance so that it will not lead to future inconveniences.

You have key decisions to make before you rent a post office box. Decide on how long you are going to rent one. Your choices vary from a month up to a year. However, your selection may be limited depending on the availability of the boxes. Here’s a tip for you: longer rentals are eligible for discounts.

Another factor that affects the rental fee is the size of the post office box. Sizes range from small size, which is 3” x 5.5”, to large size, which is 22.5” x 12”. Be wise in choosing a box size. If you are going to use your post office box mainly for mails, better stock with the small size. If you are expecting regular large packages, then, by all means, rent the large size. Just remember, the smaller the box is the cheaper is the rent. A case in point is the rent of a small post office box is about $40 a year.

The accepted payment method differs from one establishment to another. It is safe to say that it will be any of the three Cs: cash, check, or credit card. Pay for your box and get your key. The counter person will give you your post office box key and your box number. If you are getting another key, you are going to be charged for it. It is advisable, though, to get at least two keys for emergencies. When you already have your key and number, you’re good to go.

If you want to know more about post office boxes like the numbering schemes and its advantages, visit Post Office Box and satisfy your curiosity.

Fast Food and Fat Food

There are two sides of the same coin. You may have heard arguments on both sides regarding healthy foods and fast foods. You may have asked yourself one time or another, are all fast food fat foods? Can you binge on fast food without worrying about your health? How can you eat fast food and still stay healthy?

The United States is the leading country when it comes to obesity. The country is top three in the world in terms of existing fast food chains. When you put two and two together, you get to the conclusion that the popularity of fast food restaurants is affecting the health of the consumers.

McDonalds’, one of the famous fast food chains in the world, faced a lawsuit in 2003 when parents of a teenage girl claimed that the fast food restaurant is responsible for their daughter’s health problems. Although the case was dismissed, it started the battle of fast food restaurants against health experts.

Obesity is not something to laugh about. It can lead to all sorts of complications such as diabetes mellitus type 2, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, and, of course, cardiovascular diseases. Aside from that, being on the heavy side can make a person the butt of jokes which ultimately results to social outcasts and suicidal attempts. Sedentary lifestyle and overeating are the main reasons why there are people who are considered obese.

You should be familiar with the daily calorie intake. Your calorie intake highly depends on your weight and lifestyle. On average, health specialists stated that the daily calorie intake for women is 1200 calories while it is 1800 for men. Generally, one fast food meal has around 1000 calories.

Most of the food offered by fast food restaurants are deep-fried or heated up in the microwave. These processes of food preparation take minimum time unlike home cooked meals. As a result, most fast food products have high calories and are practically swimming in trans-fat.

If you take all of these into consideration, then yes, fast food is fat food. Health experts have grounds why they are against eating fast food products. On the other hand, it does not mean that you have to forego fast food altogether to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Fast food restaurants were a hit because they serve food in minimum time, in good taste, and in lesser price. So how are you going to make the two ends meet?

When health issues were raised, fast food restaurants come up with possible solutions to make their menu appealing to health buffs. They added salads, fresh fruit, and white meat to widen the selection of their consumers. Also, nutritional facts are made available so that people would have an idea how many calories are in their orders. These restaurants are doing their part but why is it that they are still being blamed?

It all boils down to you as a consumer. If you want to live a long life, you should know when to stop eating fast food. Moderation is the key. You cannot have burgers and fries all the time. If you can’t stay away from fast food, check out the other side of the menu. Instead of a Big Mac, why don’t you order a regular burger? If a regular burger is not good enough for you, just avoid add-ons like cheese, bacon, or mayonnaise sauce. Other add-ons can be tasty without the fat like onions, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and mustard. Skip additional toppings in your pizza. Even though a slice of chocolate cake makes your mouth water, better order a low-fat yogurt or ice cream for dessert. Lastly, forget about the upsize promo. It will save you from calories and save a few pennies too.

Balanced diet is pretty elementary. As long as you know how to balance your intake, you’re good to go. The next time you crave for some fast food, indulge yourself. Just make it a point not to have the urge every day of the week.

Check out Fast Food Restaurants for more tidbits on fast food restaurants.