Thanks for all the quick responses! I was wondering if those "strange" scales were more standard than I thought. I don't think it's a regional thing since those plans were produced here in Maryland and that is the first time I have seen a "non-standard" scale such as those.
Section breakdowns frequently will look best at 400 or 800 scale. I have used 600, but, rarely.
> (I guess someone could measure decimal-inches and calculate a distance out but why not make it easier for them)
If I got a plat that was at some odd-ball/bastard scale (35, 66, 70, etc) I'd probably use my copier to reduce/enlarge the drawing part (not the text) to a common usage scale that can be found on a tri-scale or flat scale. That is, if I needed to... Maybe if I need to scale off building corners/poles/curbs to find a corner or something... or to scale plot a proposed/field located septic drainfield or whatever.
20,30(under duress),40,50,60,100,200,400(rarely).
We recently adjoined a filed map at 1":150'. *facepalm*
Rick
> That's called a bastard scale.
>
> If it ain't on the tri scale, or a multiple of 10 of what's on the tri scale, I don't use it.
Ditto. We often need to scale off of a map in the field, so odd scales are not my favorite.
It is whatever will fit on the media well.
For instance, I had to do a detail of the inside of a gas station for a murder trial as an exhibit. I think it was 1" = 2' (still the 20 scale).
Most of the time, 1" = 20' for up to about a 1/2 acre. 30 to 60 for lot jobs depending on how bad it is and what I have to show.
1" = 100' for just about every boundary under 100 acres. I try, for boundary work, to stay under 300' but sometimes it can't be avoided for 1000+ acre tracts.
1" = 400' is standard for my oil and gas units for up to 1000 acres.
Texas Railroad Commission requires that all T4 maps be placed on USGS quad sheets at the proper scale. That's 1" = 2000' for GOD knows how many miles of pipe. It's really fun showing multiple lines in one ditch. 🙂 Especially when you have different line weights for different sizes of lines (0.7mm for 10" lines on 1" = 2000', WTF?)
Texas Railroad commission also requires that drilling permit plats be at 1" = 1000' on legal sheets. If it won't fit, they won't budge on the paper size but will on the scale. I have one unit that I work in that all of the location plats are at 1" = 3000'. They overlay the tobin nicely, but I HATE drawing them. Tedious doesn't even come close.
So 1" = 2' to 1" = 3000' should cover everything I need to do in my normal course of business. 🙂 However, I try to just make the paper bigger. I did an asbuilt for a college in my county that was a 1" = 60' but on a 36"x48" paper size and buddy, it was packed. 🙂
