Comments on: SketchUp Advantage: 3D Cutlists for Woodworking Projects

By: John Hutchinson

John Hutchinson — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 19:50:44 +0000

Full-blown AutoCAD is a strange animal. I’m running AutoCAD 2007 on a 7-year-old computer with an XP operating system. Works like a champ! Not much of a learning curve when you’re an architect and “practicing” eight hours a day for fifteen years. I noticed that there are a number of “free downloads” for AutoCAD 2007 on the Internet today. Probably not a good place to go. The AutoCAD police are constantly on patrol. And I guess they should be. When I was in Brazil a few years, they were selling it on street corners at $5 a pop.

By: rossm

rossm — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:50:18 +0000

Actually, AutoCAD is new, expensive & difficult to learn and requires an extremely powerful late model PC, unless you happen to have bought a copy a long time ago. AutoCAD licenses are non-transferable, so you can’t buy an old version. The usual retal version, AutoCAD LT does not do 3D modelling – for that you need AutoCAD WS edition – about $6,000 or so. For that you could buy a very fancy & powerful new computer system with a large screen to run SketchUp & have $5,000 change to spend on wood & tools!

By: John Hutchinson

John Hutchinson — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:09:42 +0000

Bravo!!!

By: John Hutchinson

John Hutchinson — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 23:44:28 +0000

Hi Bob,
I went back to read your earlier post, and your “Sometimes dragging your feet can be a good thing” comment is in itself worth the price of admission. Besides being a great piece of writing, it perfectly expresses the concept that 3D models of components are exponentially better than their 2D counterparts. Getting into CAD for its 2D features alone might be a questionable because it’s only a baby step beyond traditional pencil/t-square/triangle. It’s only when your parts begin to live in your computer as distinct entities that “never look back” kicks in.
The only upgrade to your 2009 post that I’d like to suggest is your selection of spray adhesive. They could have fixed the Titanic if they had a can of 3M Super 77 on board. Krylon Easy-Tack Repositionable Adhesive has been my go-to buddy for the past few years.

By: tsstahl

tsstahl — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 20:19:05 +0000

Any hope of seeing the improved diagrams in the magazine?

If so, ditch the default coloring in favor of more appealing schemes.

By: rnease

rnease — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 11:43:20 +0000

I used to use Autocad, then downloaded the free version of Sketchup, and then watched a few of Mr. Lang’s video tips. Took his quickie seminar at WIA, bought the pro version of S.U., bought his digital book, and haven’t looked back since. I have designed many virtual projects, including cabinets, tool stands, workbench, kitchen remodel, new workshop, barn, tractor shed, and many small shop projects. I totally agree with Bob that it does not cut into my shop time, but makes my time in the shop way more productive, and helps my goofy brain avoid costly mistakes with expense hardwood. In addition to all that, there is a plugin called product connect, that has many free dynamic, accurately scaled components – from windows to kitchen appliances – that you can download directly into your drawing. My current project, the kitchen remodel mentioned above, is using all new appliances, and it makes it very easy to find the best relationship in a 3D virtual environment that is very easy to create. A few hours spent learning the program will save you many days of wasted time. Kudo’s to Mr. Lang, he and his book have completely changed my woodworking life. And no, I am no relation to him.

By: shannonlove

shannonlove — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 16:42:48 +0000

Another advantage of sketch up, at least for hobbyist, is that it lets you do “virtual” woodworking in times and places when you can’t get to the shop. It’s almost like “Woodworking – The Video Game!”

There used to be a program for the Mac called “Design Intuition” that was a dedicated drawing/cad application for woodworking. You could input your existing board dimensions, the size of your saw kerf etc and actually replicate the production process. That really did feel like a woodworking sim.

Sketchup is pretty close to that and besides the basic is free.

By: Robert W. Lang

Robert W. Lang — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 18:40:04 +0000

I don’t think the shop is a safe environment for a computer, but sometimes it is worth the hike to check on something that I neglected to print.

I do have the pro version, but prints like I am talking about can be done with the free version of SketchUp. Here is a previous plog post that tells you how.

Bob

By: DaveC3R

DaveC3R — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 17:32:35 +0000

Hi Robert… I have taken up woodworking as a hobby and have built a number of projects, several fairly complex. I also have been using SketchUp for the last few projects and think it’s a great tool. It does help with all the issues you addressed, but in addition I have found it useful to minimize waste in projects. I built a bathroom cabinet using some fairly expensive cherry faced plywood. I ‘built’ the cabinet in SketchUp then copied the individual large sheetgood parts onto a SketchUp 4×8 sheet of digital plywood. By moving the pieces around I could arrange them to make the best use of the sheet, and minimize waste.

By: Tom8021

Tom8021 — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 17:11:08 +0000

Have you ever used the plugin Cutlist 4.1? I like using it not only to get a cutlist and overall board feet measurements, but it points out mistakes.

Your way does give you the exact shape, but I just refer to the drawing. I have the free version.