I need to build a nice box for a piece of electronics equipment. It probably took me longer to design/draw this than it will to actually build it. I wanted to learn how to draw dovetails, in Sketchup, using only the native tools rather than one of the plugins.

 

The dovetails are purposely not symmetrical. The box will be about 16"w x 13"d x 10"h. Hinges and latch TBD.

 

Sketchup.  Is that the little red toy that kids used to play with back in the 1950's?  I could never do that.  

 

Or, is that an app?  I can't do that either.  

 

Your project looks really nice and I hope to see pictures as WIP.

 

 

11 minutes ago, FlGatorwood said:

Sketchup.  Is that the little red toy that kids used to play with back in the 1950's?  I could never do that.  

Maybe that’s where the name came from!

 

Actually it is a software program 

Lew, I envy your abilities with SU. Is there an easily followed online tutorial? 

Lew, what you have looks good.  Danl

25 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

Lew, I envy your abilities with SU. Is there an easily followed online tutorial? 

I have not found a "single" tutorial for the software. It seems to be broken down into "this is how you do this particular thing" types of instruction. 

 

There is a guy on YouTube that does a lot of short videos covering the basic tools. His videos are quite helpful in understanding what each thing does and how to use it. This link takes has all the "Square One" videos- 

 

 

Hope this helps

 

Mucho gracias, Lew!

Bob Lang did a video (2 DVDs) on using it specifically tailored to woodworkers. Gene, if you want to borrow them I'd be happy to send them your way. Just send them back once done. Our own Dave Richards also did one, I have that as well and can send it to you.

1 hour ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

Bob Lang did a video (2 DVDs) on using it specifically tailored to woodworkers. Gene, if you want to borrow them I'd be happy to send them your way. Just send them back once done. Our own Dave Richards also did one, I have that as well and can send it to you.

I have both of Dave's CD's and refer to them often. I just recently used Bob Lang's information to help make the dovetails.

 

Is Dave a member here??

Yes he is, but I haven't seen him post in some time.

Wow, I didn't know that! He is a Sketchup Guru!

I haven't had the patience or gumption to give it a try but have watched some of Steve Ramsay's WWMM Basic Tutorial. I enjoy his YouTube channel and find his presenting style as one I can relate. Almost all of his projects begin with Sketchup plans.

 

 

@Grandpadave52 thanks for the Steve Ramsay link.

tried it once, got frustrated, gave up.

 

i'm better with a pencil and pad of paper, or maybe sometimes with my scale to draw things to check proportions.

 

i'd rather spend time thinking it thru in the shop, than fussing on my computer.

 

guess some can use it efficiently, but not me.

 

"it'll be 11" wide, 5" tall, 8" deep"....

4 minutes ago, DAB said:

tried it once, got frustrated, gave up.

 

i'm better with a pencil and pad of paper, or maybe sometimes with my scale to draw things to check proportions.

 

i'd rather spend time thinking it thru in the shop, than fussing on my computer.

 

guess some can use it efficiently, but not me.

 

"it'll be 11" wide, 5" tall, 8" deep"....

There is definitely a learning curve and it takes a while to get it. I really like it because of its ability to display 3-D drawings. Some folks have difficulty visualizing what something looks like from typical 3 view drawings. It also has the ability to generate a cutlist for materials. 

Years ago, I purchased the ebook "Sketchup Guide for Woodworkers" by Timothy S. Killen.  I make reference to this book frequently.  I was a big help in learning the software for me.  Using the software is a big help with making full-size templates.   Danl

1 hour ago, Danl said:

Using the software is a big help with making full-size templates

Have you solved the problem of accurately printing full sized images without having to cut and tape pieces together?

Cutting and taping is a part of the process if your object is bigger than the sheet you are printing on, but yes I solved the puzzle.

 

Using the Tape measure tool, draw vertical and horizontal lines every one or two inches apart.  You will use these lines to help you align the sheets when it is required to tape multiple sheets.  Also use a measure rule to  help you have the sheets the correct distance at the splice lines before taping.

 

In Sketchup

Change your camera to parallel projections and select the appropriate standard view to show the object in 2D.

 

In the upper right-hand corner of Windows computer are three buttons to minimize, restore down, and close active screen.  Click on the middle button, for restore down, then adjust the size of the window to eliminate as much white space as possible.

 

From menu bar, select Print set-up.  Selecting landscape orientation is usually what you want, but there are instances where selecting portrait will reduce the number of printed sheets. 

 

From menu bar, select Print Preview.  Unselect “fit-to-page” and under “Scale” change values to “1” in the printout and “1” in Sketchup.   Select OK.  While previewing, if you believe the print-out will use too many sheets, you may have to reduce the window size around your object, change your print orientation, or both.

 

Danl

 

@Danl That's what I do, except for drawing the grid to help with alignment. Neat idea. I was hoping someone had found a "one button" method.

Tried it once and got frustrated so went back to old reliable pencil and paper. I can learn lots of stuff on the PC but this seems to take way too much time to tell me what I already know.