I was just wondering if any of you have any programs you use on a regular basis for your woodworking.

 

I just recently purchased CutList Plus, the Silver Edition. Quite a jump up to the Gold edition in money. I have only started using it so I am not ready to write a review. They do have a free download that will last a short time. I think it had most of the functions working, it just had a limit on the number of parts in a project I think.

 

Check it out here.

 

 

I have also dabbled and that is about the extent of it with SketchUp. I have managed to do a couple of pieces with it, but I think I could do it just as fast with pencil and paper.

 

I guess I find it a little strange that I sit at a computer all day and don't do a lot of my woodworking with a computer.

 

What are you using that you would like to share with us. If you have been using it for a while, give us a much detail as possible. I might be looking to move up with my drafting and would like to know what is out there.

John2..

I find that cut lists and programs are way too idealistic, especially if you are using solid wood and not plywood. Even with good plywood, you sometimes have to alter your cut layout to acommodate a bad spot or due to color variations.

Even with solid wood, you may want to "skew" your cut lines to get parallel grain lines.

I like to lay out all my stock, then choose what is going to be made from each piece, and so on.  Harder?  Probably.

Use more material?  Maybe.  Better results?  Yes in my opinion.

Guess it might depend a lot on what you are making.

Even WOOD asked the question some time ago about eliminating cut lists because of the variables.

Larry

John, I use cutlist ver. 3.4.1 (free version) I use it some, but its been a while. I can't remember what the limitation is of it being free, either it's how many board you can have in stock or printing restrictions? Works great and have a few projects saved.

 

Sketchup...man I struggle with that...big learning curve. I think they have a cutlist plug-in for that too?

 

-Ace-

 

I have tried playing with Sketch Up and never completed it. I can go faster and add details with my pencil and ruller a lot faster. I have used autocad but it is way to much for this type of drawing. Something I found out about cutlists. They don't give you room to adjust your cuts so that you can grain match or eliminate bad spots in ply. If you are making some cabinet doors and build a viewing frame out of cardboard you can move it around the wood and pick what looks best or matches. Mt ay may create a little more waste but the end product seems so much more balanced and better looking.

Wayne

 

Thanks for the responses guys. I certainly know that there is no one program out there that does everything for every project. One thing about cutlist is you don't have to follow it to the tee. It could be a very good tool for rough estimating on how much or how many of something you need.

 

You are exactly correct to say it doesn't allow you to pick grain since there is no way it can do that.

 

But my real question was, What are you using?

 

I know we have some folks on here who use some CAD programs and very proficient with them. I was hoping to get some conversation going about what you are using, why you like it, where you can get it, is it free or is there a cost. What do you like and maybe even a what do you dislike about it.

 

Not looking for a complete review, but just a good basis of what you are using. I am looking at a couple of programs and would love to here what you all are doing. Just think of it is I am asking you about table saws and what you have and why.

 

Thanks guys

I use the free cutlist ver. 3.4.1.  I like it for figuring how much lumber I will need to use (well sorta, we know how that can go, working around knots and grain). Mostly though, I use the print out,  to help me keep organized when I'm laying out my project to the wood. 

 

Also,  I have e-mailed my cutlist to folks when buying wood over the internet, so they can get an Idea of how to cut the wood for shipping and what the wood will be used for. Helps them and it helps me, (I think? )

 

-Ace-

 

 

I have a cabinet job that I am doing with my son. To cut the ply for the carcasses and get an estimate on the number of sheets it did a great job for that. I don't think you need it for every project, but for somethings it will do a nice job. I purchased the version I got because of the limit on the free version and it will pay for it's self on this one job. For drawer fronts and solid cabinet doors, I would be like the other comments here, I would want to match the grain for the best appearance over just a cut list.

 

It will also be a nice help for the reasons you listed to give you a close estimate of the number of pieces you need.

 

Do you use any software to design your own projects or do you do your drawings with pencil and paper?

 

Ace HoleInOne said:

I use the free cutlist ver. 3.4.1.  I like it for figuring how much lumber I will need to use (well sorta, we know how that can go, working around knots and grain). Mostly though, I use the print out,  to help me keep organized when I'm laying out my project to the wood. 

 

Also,  I have e-mailed my cutlist to folks when buying wood over the internet, so they can get an Idea of how to cut the wood for shipping and what the wood will be used for. Helps them and it helps me, (I think? )

 

-Ace-

 

 

No design software...only designed 2 things personally and were straight forward "coffee" table type pieces, not hard.  Mostly worked from free plans on the internet and tinkered here and there to personalize the piece. But now I have learned enough that I "sorta" have things figured out. So its paper and pencil.

 

-Ace-

John, I tried Google Sketchup, and I was pretty amazed out how easy it was. I played with it for awhile, and I starting using the tutorial over on WOOD Mag for awhile, one of the members over there was giving the tutorial and I was learning alot. I really need to get back to the Sketchup, one of our own members Chief Woodworker has a great tutorial going on. I think when I get some time to breath, I am going to head over there and get my Sketchup skills back up to par.

I use and am very religious about Microsoft Visio 2007

Steve that is pretty neat. I haven't thought about Visio. I use it at work for network layouts but have not thought about it for woodworking.

 

 

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John Moody
John Moody Woodworks
http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com

Yes Mr. John, I use Visio for all of my building/electrical/plumbing permits for work, and it does just about everything you want. Very versatile for any type of work.

This is interesting. I have tried sketchup and have not had much luck. I don't draw well, but scribble a lot at times. I don't use anything. Draw on wood and cut it out to see if I like things. I tell my customers I cannot draw, but can see things if they find a picture of something they like. Google images works well for that. Never had a customer have a problem with my way of doing things. Guess I am a lucky builder. If I would be doing kitchens or cabinets a lot, I can see a cutlist program. I have a free one on my computer here somewhere.

http://www.woodbin.com/calcs/index.htm

Lots of stuff on there to use free.

I have run into things where I have to work on proportions on a piece. If it looks right, it is right. Most woodworkers tend to overbuild a piece. It always looks better being lighter and not as heavy. Same with color . Woodworkers tend to love contrast, walnut heartwood and sap in the same piece is a common one. I have not found any customers who like that. Just some things I have run into over the years. bob

 

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Bob Kloes
www.bobkloes.com