Google Sketchup - Come Along for the Ride #1: The Beginning

I’d have to say a mouse with a wheel is almost essential. I’ve used Sketchup on the laptop occasionally and it is very frustrating without the wheel to move the drawing around.

-- You're a unique and special person, just like everyone else.

Betsy-
You are my hero!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can’t wait to get started learning!!

Lew

Great start. On some trackpads you can duplicate the mouse wheel zoom features by “pinching”. Works on macs for sure.

Pinching means two fingers on the pads with one held down and one moving in a pinching movement.

-- -John "Do I have to keep typing a smiley? Just assume it's a joke." www.flickr.com/photos/gizmodyne

Ya, a mouse with a scroll wheel is pretty essential. I use a Space Navigator with my mouse. The navigator is handy for making big moves in large drawings and if you want to do multiple things like click and drag with the mouse and pan the drawing at the same time. They are relatively cheap, and easy to use once you get used to them.

-- David, South Windsor, CT "I love the smell of sawdust in the morning"

I am also new to sketch up, maybe I could learn somthing :)

Thanks for the post

Callum

-- For wood working podcasts with a twist check out http://thetimberkid.com/

I’ve been using Sketchup for about 2 or so years now… designed a 36×16 foot deck for my sister that we ended up building almost exactly to the drawing, and I am using it now to design several projects I’m currently working on. I’ve learned along the way, and know there are things that it can do that I’m not even aware of… I find that one of the greatest benefits of using Sketchup is that it forces you to make decisions about HOW things go together that are almost impossible to understand if, like me, you need to visualize something before you get it.

I’m looking forward to following this!

-- Ryno

I have finally got a little bit of a handle on SketchUp. Enough to design a couple of things I am going to build. I am sure I will learn more from this exercise. Thanks Betsy. Good luck with the surgery.

Good choice Betsy. I’m counting on you to teach me how to use Sketchup. But, don’t worry, no pressure.

;-)

-- Working at Woodworking http://www.VillageLaneFurniture.com

Betsy,

This is exactly what I’ve been wanting. I’m hoping your tutorial will be written and not video since my dial-up is too slow to download video (and still have time left to get anything done).

I have a couple questions already. I haven’t been able to figure out how to cut a rosette with SketchUp. (I’m talking about a rosette drill-pressed into a corner block (about 3” square) used on miterless moldings around windows and doors.) I’ve tried several approaches but just can’t seem to execute it successfully. Can you shed some light? Another application I haven’t been able to duplicate exactly is a stopped flute that actually has the curved shape that the router leaves at the stop. I know they aren’t all that important to the overall design sketch, but there must be a way to achieve them, and it’s driving me crazy trying to figure it out. If you, or another LumberJock, can give me some pointers, I’d be grateful.

I wish you success with your blog. I’ll be following it. Thanks.

-- "But godliness with contentment is great gain." 1 Timothy 6:6

Xcellent topic B.

-- The significant problems we face cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them