Sketchup for Woodworkers.com

Thanks!!

I need all the help I can get!!!

Rob,

I haven’t finished watching your videos yet but I am wondering about some things I see in your Part 2 video.

First, why don’t you use Shift+ the center mouse button for Pan?

Second, why don’t you make components instead of groups? Component have many advantages over groups.

When you first showed selecting the bottom shelf, before making it a group, you used a right to left selection box which should also select the sides. Had you used a left to right selection box of same size, you would have only selected the entities that make up the shelf. Of course triple clicking on the shelf selects all of it, too but I think your demonstration and comments about selecting are misleading.

-- Until you spread your wings, you'll have no idea how far you can walk.

Hi Dave,

Everything you brought up (except for components) are covered in the new video going up today. :)

I didn’t want to just drop all of those techniques on people in the getting started tutorial, I thought it would be too much info all at once. I don’t worry about the nitty gritty details of selecting and shortcuts just yet so people can get used to building first and how the basic tools work. The simpler techniques (triple-click to select) do work, they’re just not the most efficient way to do things. I think it’s much easier for a beginner to have something fool-proof to fall back on—“I click the icon that looks like a hand to move my view”—rather than try to remember “hold the mouse wheel and press shift” every time you want to move. And if you never show them the long way then they don’t have that fool-proof fall back and frustration sets in when they can’t remember they mouse/keyboard combo.

I see it as teaching someone to drive automatic versus a manual transmission. If you teach them automatic first then they can focus on the fundamentals of driving (staying in your lane, steering and braking, using your blinkers). Once that becomes second nature then learning how to drive stick is no big deal – your brain automatically handles all of the other stuff for you and you can focus on how to work the clutch. If you do it the other way around then your brain has what feels like 10 times as much information to absorb all at once.

Components will probably be in the next tutorial. I don’t always find them AS useful as everyone wants to believe they are, but they do have their place. Have you used the new dynamic components in 7? Now those are hot. Too bad you can only create your own with Pro. :(

-- Sketchup for Woodworkers.com : Simple tutorials and resources to help build your next project with Google Sketchup

I’d be interested to know what problems you have with components.

I have been making and using dynamic components for moths. Very handy for some things.

-- Until you spread your wings, you'll have no idea how far you can walk.

Thanks for the tutorials, Cannikin. Your contribution is appreciated. I like the /4 trick in the second tutorial. Keep em coming.

May I request a tutorial on making a cutting diagram from a model?

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a plugin that does that? Something that automatically generates a cutting diagram from a model/project. It would also be nice to extend the “Cost” plugin to compute bdft :D

There already is a plug-in for this! And it was announced on this very site! :)

http://lumberjocks.com/jocks/daltxguy/blog/5143

It’s amazing!

-- Sketchup for Woodworkers.com : Simple tutorials and resources to help build your next project with Google Sketchup

Wow thanks. There is one reason to use components ;)

Cannikin, I for one appreciate the time and trouble you went through to help us beginners in sketchup. I’m not sure I would have tried working with groups, I used groups in cad programs and was not impressed but I can see how useful they can be. The /4 and x4 were sweet :) Keep up the good work and know you have a fan here.
Later,
Doug in AZ.

-- If you need craft books - please visit our small business at http://www.wittywife.com

Great tutorial Cannikin, I just watched all 3 and they really help explain how to get started.
Keep’em coming.

-- Seldom wrong, but never in doubt

Hey Cannikin, Are you going to do a tutorial on miters and dovetails? Now that would be cool.
Later,
Doug in AZ.

-- If you need craft books - please visit our small business at http://www.wittywife.com

Rob,

I have enjoyed working with your tutorials. Question: You use Alt to make copies. I do not get the ”+” when I have selected the move/copy tool. However, pressing the “Ctrl” button accomplishes that. I am running windows Vista HP and Skecthup version 7.0.8657.

Dick

-- It isn't as easy as the demos make it seem.

Doug – Yep, I’ve got a tutorial planned just for different joints. I have to introduce one or two more tools first, then that one’s next!

Dick – That’s the first I’ve heard of that! Usually pressing ctrl on Windows is supposed to enable “auto-folding” which I haven’t talked about yet…you get a little icon next to the move tool that looks like two tiny pieces of paper. Does either alt or shift bring up that mode?

-- Sketchup for Woodworkers.com : Simple tutorials and resources to help build your next project with Google Sketchup

Nice tutorials Cannikin. Looking forward to the next one. I’ve added a link to your site from the Sketchup resource area of my webpage … Thanks for sharing.

The Kraftsman – www.kyserikekraftsman.com

-- Chris, The Kyserike Kraftsman - www.kyserikekraftsman.com

“Usually pressing ctrl on Windows is supposed to enable “auto-folding””

That is incorrect. On a PC Alt with the Move tool invokes Autofold. Ctrl+Move invokes Copy. And Shift with Move locks the move direction.

Dick, Cannikin is using a Mac, not a PC. Some of the modifier keys for the tools are different.

-- Until you spread your wings, you'll have no idea how far you can walk.

This is going to be interesting anyway.

-- Dan, Sterling Alaska, http://sullcon.homestead.com/ Before you criticise some one, walk a mile in their shoes...then you will be a mile away and you have their shoes!

Rob,

I would venture to say that most of us are not as well versed in the use of Sketchup as others may tend to be. I’ve worked through your videos a couple of times and have those moves down pretty well. I understand that you are on a Mac, so an occasional issue is no issue with me. I want to tell you that you are doing an awesome, and appreciated job on getting non users hooked on the program. I’ve had the program downloaded for a long time, but would give up on it too easily. Once again, thanks for bringing it down to a very understandable level and keep up the good work!!

-- Don, San Antonio, TX

I watched the video tutorials and had one the great “Ahh Ah” moments when Cannikin explained how to use the dimension tool. I had been working through the tutorial located on Wood.com and was struggling. However, after watching these videos I had a break out event. Below is the results and my current project in process. It is a storage cabinet for the Stanley organizer trays. I have 7 of the shallow ones 6 of the deep ones.

-- Seldom wrong, but never in doubt

Thanks Don, it means a lot that you say that. Those are my favorite comments from people—they gave up on Sketchup but are going back to it after seeing my tutorials!

Harley – looking good! Now, did you mean the actual Dimension tool (which I haven’t covered yet!) or the Tape Measure tool? I think my next tutorial will cover the dimension tool, views and printing.

-- Sketchup for Woodworkers.com : Simple tutorials and resources to help build your next project with Google Sketchup

DaveR – thanks for the correction, I made a note on the site right above the video: http://sketchupforwoodworkers.com/tutorials/2009/01/29/getting-started-part-2/

-- Sketchup for Woodworkers.com : Simple tutorials and resources to help build your next project with Google Sketchup

Newest tutorial is up! http://sketchupforwoodworkers.com/tutorials/2009/02/02/curves-moulding-and-the-outliner/

-- Sketchup for Woodworkers.com : Simple tutorials and resources to help build your next project with Google Sketchup

Well Cannikan I can appreciate your ambitions and efforts to provide tutorials concerning the use of sketchup as it might benifit woodworkers. Obviously you are spending substantial amounts of time producing the video presentations. I have a couple of comments. You may gleen from them what you will. First the assertion that there is a lack of tutorials on the web that are benificial to woodworking. There are many sources of tutorials applicable to using sketchup for designing woodworking projects. In fact some of the best ones on the web are presented right here on LumberJocks. There is also Design.Click.Build. and Aiden Chopras Sketchup for Dummies and Sketchucation etc. Aside from the initial setup of working templates the tools, functions and navigation on sketchup remains the same whether building a house or a chair. Secondly, if you intend to really help woodworkers learn sketchup on any continuing basis, I suggest that you make a weekly proclamation of the existance of your tutorials in big red letters so that everyone can see where your site is and what it’s for. I mention this because obviously working daily towards this end isnt enough in lieu of the numerous comments about the long awaited needs from a few people here. DaveR has had tutorials available for months and has spent countless hours voluntarily helping anyone with the program.
To those people I would have to say ..You have not because you ask not.
Good luck!

-- Dan, Sterling Alaska, http://sullcon.homestead.com/ Before you criticise some one, walk a mile in their shoes...then you will be a mile away and you have their shoes!

Cannikin, yes I meant the tape tool, instead of the dimension tool.

-- Seldom wrong, but never in doubt

I, for one, am very appreciative of your tutorials. Thank you. They are helping me to get a handle of the tools in Sketch-Up by taking me through them slowly while working on an actual project. Yes, there are other tutorials, but I have found yours to be the most helpful that I’ve tried.

Harley130—- I love the Stanley organizer tray cabinet from and wonder if it’s posted somewhere so that it can be downloaded.

-- Don aka Basset Hound, www.woebgonbassets.com

basset, are you telling me that you tried the tutorials I mentioned and found them less helpful or in someway less informative then cannikans? Somehow I find that doubtful. If one of you can tell me how to even find the archive to design.click.build. I’ll eat a bug.

-- Dan, Sterling Alaska, http://sullcon.homestead.com/ Before you criticise some one, walk a mile in their shoes...then you will be a mile away and you have their shoes!

I Second DaveR about component usage… it should be (and is for many people) a very basic tool/method as it simplifies the rest of the design/building process. I’ll usually make a plane (rectangle/circle/other), make that plane into a component, and the rest would be working inside the component. that way, I never have a problem with interlocking sides/lines with other ‘should have been a component’ objects. plus, duplicating parts, and modifying them all at the same time by modifying a single component could just not be any easier.

I haven’t had a chance to check your videos yet, but I think it’s a great idea to help educate people about using sketchup – it’s one of my fav. tools in my shop (doesnt make noise, doesnt make dust, and I can use it anywhere anytime).

keep up the good work, and keep an open mind for suggestions/corrections (DaveR has been working with sketchup for a while and knows his ways around it)

-- When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.

This is the list of lessons and help files by date in the archive for design. click. build. NOT inculding the last 2 months which are viewable on the current page. It’s so easy a cave man could do it…but you actually have to VIEW the lessons for them to benifit you.

Archive
November 2008
12-Nov — Visit the New Design. Click. Build. Comments (1)
08-Nov — Create Back Slats
October 2008
29-Oct — Proportions for Drawers—an Addendum
26-Oct — Proportions for Drawers—One Method Comments (7)
14-Oct — Windsor Stool Exercise – Part 2 Comments (2)
08-Oct — Windsor Stool Exercise – Part 1 (Oct10)
04-Oct — A Curved Rail Comments (2)
04-Oct — Scale, Re-size, Re-use Components
September 2008
27-Sep — Another Use For Layers and Scenes
27-Sep — Flatten a Curved Component
20-Sep — Templates and Windsor Chairs Comments (7)
13-Sep — From 2D CAD to 3D SketchUp Comments (2)
13-Sep — Make a Left-handed Workbench Comments (1)
07-Sep — Adding Details to Your Model
06-Sep — A Complex Top Rail on a Fan-back Windsor Comments (1)
August 2008
28-Aug — A Shaker Step Stool
22-Aug — Sculpturing a Windsor Seat Comments (6)
15-Aug — Lessons on Windsor Chairs Comments (3)
07-Aug — Sun, Shade, and SketchUp Comments (4)
07-Aug — Components—Changing Axis Alignment
05-Aug — The Cricket Table: Ready for a Cutlist Comments (4)
July 2008
31-Jul — The Basics of Using LayOut
23-Jul — A Windsor Bowback Chair Comments (5)
20-Jul — Presenting Your Sketches To Your Client
16-Jul — Rustic and Turned Chairs in SketchUp Comments (2)
16-Jul — Toolbars and Plugins Comments (3)
15-Jul — Adirondack Chair—Placing the Back Slats Comments (2)
09-Jul — Deck/Garden Tables of 1×4’s Comments (2)
03-Jul — CutList Version 4.0 Comments (6)
02-Jul — Splayed Legs in SketchUp Comments (9)
June 2008
30-Jun — Watermarking Your Drawings Comments (2)
26-Jun — Miter Joints in SketchUp Comments (1)
26-Jun — Working With Materials in SketchUp
19-Jun — More on Creating Styles Comments (5)
18-Jun — A Serpentine Chest in SketchUp Comments (4)
17-Jun — CutList Revision Comments (8)
14-Jun — 3D Basecamp – Google SketchUp 2008 Comments (3)
12-Jun — A Quick Way to Draw a Chamfer Comments (2)
07-Jun — Materials and Cut Lists from your Model Comments (24)
07-Jun — Building from a Photo Comments (2)
01-Jun — Creating a Style in SketchUp Comments (2)
May 2008
31-May — Making, Placing, Centering a Component Comments (1)
25-May — Drawing a Pie Crust Table Top Comments (2)
21-May — A Towel Rack by SketchUp Comments (10)
16-May — Tenon Pegs and Miter Splines
10-May — Another Exercise, Making a Model Comments (14)
07-May — A Turned Leg in SketchUp
02-May — Adjusting a Publication’s Design to Fit
April 2008
23-Apr — Lessons Learned III Comments (5)
19-Apr — An Orthographic Drawing from 3D Model
17-Apr — Drawing a Spiral in SketchUp
09-Apr — Make a Back Panel Comments (2)
02-Apr — Placing Slats on an Adirondack Chair Comments (4)
02-Apr — A Mortise and Tenon Exercise Comments (13)
March 2008
25-Mar — Design a Chest of Drawers Comments (2)
18-Mar — Convert and Resize a Chest of Drawers Comments (3)
13-Mar — Branding a Cabriole Leg
12-Mar — More Complex Geometry in SketchUp Comments (3)
06-Mar — Complex Geometry—Another Approach Comments (11)
06-Mar — Lessons Learned – Second SketchUp Series Comments (2)
February 2008
28-Feb — Printing from SketchUp Comments (13)
26-Feb — Designing an Arts and Crafts Clock
21-Feb — The Second Eight Steps in SketchUp Comments (7)
14-Feb — Tea Table Skirt Fix Comments (8)
08-Feb — Layers and Scenes
07-Feb — Making Chamfers
January 2008
31-Jan — Thinking About Tomorrow
26-Jan — An Exercise in Control Comments (5)
25-Jan — Cabriole Legs and Skirt Tenons
18-Jan — Adding a Knee Block to Cabriole Leg
10-Jan — Applying Carvings to a Tea Table Comments (4)
04-Jan — Conceptual Design of Bookcase (in situ)
December 2007
30-Dec — Extending SketchUp’s Abilities Comments (16)
27-Dec — Will Your Tools Fit in that Tool Case? Comments (3)
21-Dec — A Complex Armrest for a Modern Bench
13-Dec — Make a Gumby Leg Comments (2)
11-Dec — Joinery At an Angle Comments (5)
08-Dec — Personalized Settings in SketchUp—Again Comments (2)
06-Dec — Making a Cross-section View Comments (2)
November 2007
30-Nov — Personalizing Your SketchUp Settings Comments (13)
22-Nov — SketchUp’s Companion “Layout” Comments (9)
20-Nov — Components. Components. Components. Comments (4)
15-Nov — Re-using/sizing Complex Assemblies
14-Nov — Cabinet Hardware in SketchUp
11-Nov — Concept to Construction Comments (15)
09-Nov — The Start of a Huntboard Comments (2)
03-Nov — Accurate Spacing of Slats, Pales, Rungs
October 2007
31-Oct — Turning a 2D Sketch Into a 3D Component Comments (4)
26-Oct — Build Your Model from a Picture Comments (2)
23-Oct — Putting a Radius on the Edges of a Piece Comments (3)
19-Oct — Make a Hepplewhite Tapered Leg
12-Oct — Barrel Staves from “Intersecting”
04-Oct — Adding Finish to Your Model
September 2007
30-Sep — Drawing the Doors on a Bow Front Cabinet Comments (2)
28-Sep — Things I Learned Teaching SketchUp Comments (6)
21-Sep — From Design Model to Shop Drawings Comments (3)
14-Sep — Six Beginning Steps in SketchUp Comments (2)
08-Sep — A Shaker Bed Post Comments (1)
07-Sep — Animating Your SketchUp Models
August 2007
31-Aug — Hinge Layout
24-Aug — Sorting Out a Difficult Joint Comments (3)
17-Aug — Lumber Estimating and Cutting Strategy
11-Aug — Blanket Chest Plinth – Part 2
04-Aug — The Blacker House Brackets Comments (6)
04-Aug — Making a Dovetailed Plinth – Part 1 Comments (2)
July 2007
31-Jul — Drawing a Coped Joint Comments (6)
29-Jul — Gary’s Round Table Again Comments (7)
28-Jul — A Challenging Group Project Comments (2)
26-Jul — Gary Rogowski’s Round Table
21-Jul — Mahogany Bookcase 3 Comments (2)
14-Jul — Mahogany Bookcase 2 Comments (2)
06-Jul — Tips on Solving Problems
June 2007
30-Jun — My Emphasis on Design Comments (8)
23-Jun — Resources for SketchUp Components Comments (2)
23-Jun — What Angle to Saw?
16-Jun — Designing in SketchUp Comments (9)
09-Jun — Workbench by SketchUp Comments (4)
04-Jun — Cutting Planes in SketchUp Comments (1)
03-Jun — Crown Molding from a CAD File and Weld
02-Jun — Precise Positioning
May 2007
27-May — The Follow Me Panel
18-May — How do you make an Exploded View Comments (6)
11-May — Components Comments (2)
11-May — Groups and Components Comments (2)
11-May — By-products of a Model
09-May — How to Resize Your Model…
09-May — Detailing a Pieced Cornice
08-May — Box Joints, Cabriole Legs, and More Comments (2)
02-May — Follow Me and Molding Tutorial Comments (4)
02-May — Sketchup Learning Resources Comments (1)
01-May — SketchUp Sytem Requirements
April 2007
25-Apr — SketchUp as a Teaching Tool
25-Apr — Personalize Your SketchUp Settings
24-Apr — Drawing Dovetails Comments (5)
24-Apr — Meet Bob Babcock Comments (2)
20-Apr — Meet Tim Killen Comments (22)
19-Apr — Meet Dave Richards Comments (36)
09-Apr — Design. Click. Build. Comments (2)

-- Dan, Sterling Alaska, http://sullcon.homestead.com/ Before you criticise some one, walk a mile in their shoes...then you will be a mile away and you have their shoes!

OK I guess I sounded harsh and killed the thread. Sorry for that. I merely wanted to point out that there is substantial aid to those new to sketchup here on LJ and all you have to do is ask and then act on the advice. Proficiency with sketchup like any thing is going to only come with practice and a persons ability varies directly with his desire.

-- Dan, Sterling Alaska, http://sullcon.homestead.com/ Before you criticise some one, walk a mile in their shoes...then you will be a mile away and you have their shoes!

Thank you for taking the time to do this. It has been very helpful.

-- Ron, Kutztown, PA "The reward is in the journey."

I’m finding your tutorial very helpful once I downloaded SketchUp 7 instead of trying to use #6 that I had. I’m able to work right along with your lessons with Firefox and SketchUp opened at the same time. Great work … Thank You !

-- Odie, Confucius say, "He who laughs at one's self is BUTT of joke". http://woodstermangotwood.blogspot.com/ (my funny blog)

Rob,

I just finished your third tutorial and have increased my knowledge of Sketchup 10 fold. I still have my times when I get different results due to the gotchas, but with practice should get out in front of those. DaveRs tutorials are also a great big help. I think the video approach works the best for me as a startup process. The only thing I would wish for would be to be able to download the whole video so I could startup in the middle during repeat viewings, but what you have provided is quite useful already.

Dick

-- It isn't as easy as the demos make it seem.

All the videos are available for download now! You’ll see a “download” link in each post under the video player. More info in this post: http://sketchupforwoodworkers.com/tutorials/2009/02/16/all-tutorials-now-available-for-download/

-- Sketchup for Woodworkers.com : Simple tutorials and resources to help build your next project with Google Sketchup

Rob,

Thanks for putting all the work in on your site. I’m a visual learner, so videos are always a bonus and I’ve been wanting to get into sketchup. I didn’t realize how quickly you can do things in sketchup until I started watching your videos. I’ve downloaded all of the videos and they do run much smoother on my local machine rather than streaming, so thanks for that option. I’ve been checking in for updates often, so keep up the good work and thanks again.

-- Cody Crisp - http://www.ruggedcrosswoodworks.com

Don’t know if this has been posted before, didn’t see it above.
For those of you who have purchased the Sketchup for Dummies book, here is the website for all of the tutorial videos for each chapter. Another good source of knowledge: Sketchup For Dummies

-- Seldom wrong, but never in doubt

Thank you very much for putting the site up. I have NEVER used Sketch-Up to be honest I never even heard of it till I joined this board.
Anyhow I’ve watched a couple of yout tutorials so far and I must say you’ve went to a lot of trouble and time to do those and they are MUCH appreciated.
I’ll be an expert in no time..:)
Thanks again
David Bethune