Help learning Sketch-Up

[mopowers]

Something to shoot for;

Tom

The Nick Sonder videos are soooo inspirational!

When i was starting out i found these videos series very helpful. I use Sketchup professionally now.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA594D5BA234BC35B
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=sketchup2school

 

[Jerry White]

Wayne,

Like many, I have made several attempts to become proficient at Sketch Up.  I have bought a couple of books, taken an online course (they were helpful) and tried to put all that info to work.  I could use the program, but I was clumsy in it and it took an inordinate amount of time to draw a basic project.  I am now enrolled in the online course represented in the link below and am about half way through the course.  I am very excited about how my ability is growing through this course.  I highly recommend that you look into it.  The author/instructor answers questions and gives guidance promptly.  He also points out issues that may differ between Windows and Apple versions.
https://classes.popularwoodworking.com/courses/sketchup-comprehensive-with-joe-zeh

By the way, I am impressed with your Sketch-up drawing of your shop, though I shouldn't be surprised.  From what I've seen you don't do anything half way!  [laughing]

Jerry

 

[ElCabong]

Wow, I mean, "WOW"!  [eek] After viewing a few of Rob Cameron's tutorials and you did this??? Impressive. I built the cabinet he did on the tutorial and I thought I was impressed but this? Nice Job!

I'm a long ways away from that, but here's what I've accomplished so far on my shop drawing. This was done in about 12 hours compared to earlier aborted attempts  after spending at least a week (40-50 hours) with other tutorials:

[attachimg=1]

I need to send that guy some money - or at least a thank you!

 

[wow]

Wow, I mean, "WOW"!  [eek] After viewing a few of Rob Cameron's tutorials and you did this??? Impressive. I built the cabinet he did on the tutorial and I thought I was impressed but this? Nice Job!

I'm a long ways away from that, but here's what I've accomplished so far on my shop drawing. This was done in about 12 hours compared to earlier aborted attempts  after spending at least a week (40-50 hours) with other tutorials:

[attachimg=1]

I need to send that guy some money - or at least a thank you!

You might be giving me more credit than I am due. I have some experience in a CAD program for the Mac called 'VersaCad'. Over the years it has morphed into a number of different versions; the present 2D version is called Graphite. i wouldn't say I'm proficient at it, but I don't stumble around much.

And I had a small headstart. For instance, I had a 2D drawing of the trusses to start from. BUT I had to import it, scale it (figured that out on my own - not too hard) and rotate it along an axis. All skills I didn't have before yesterday.

And of course I couldn't just highlight it and use the push-pull tool - I tried! I had to create each member individually and THEN use the tool. Even then I wasn't home free. For some reason it worked on one side, but created 'c-channels' on the other side, with only three faces instead of four. But not on all the members either - just some? I ended up making one 'good' side, then copying it, flipping it. and replacing the members on the side that wasn't right. That simple task - turning a 2D truss drawing into a 3D one - took me 4 or 5 hours

Still, like I said, I feel like I can eventually figure out most things now. What I really need is an interactive session with someone so they can show me how to do certain things the 'SketchUp' way.

 

[wow]

At least you have some room in your shop to keep your Hummer in their nice and warm. HA! HA!

Hey, everybody ought to have a goal, right?

[big grin]

 

[wow]

Wayne,

Like many, I have made several attempts to become proficient at Sketch Up.  I have bought a couple of books, taken an online course (they were helpful) and tried to put all that info to work.  I could use the program, but I was clumsy in it and it took an inordinate amount of time to draw a basic project.  I am now enrolled in the online course represented in the link below and am about half way through the course.  I am very excited about how my ability is growing through this course.  I highly recommend that you look into it.  The author/instructor answers questions and gives guidance promptly.  He also points out issues that may differ between Windows and Apple versions.
https://classes.popularwoodworking.com/courses/sketchup-comprehensive-with-joe-zeh

Thanks for the recommendation. I will definitely check it out!

By the way, I am impressed with your Sketch-up drawing of your shop, though I shouldn't be surprised.  From what I've seen you don't do anything half way!  [laughing]

That's probably a fair assessment of me. I've been accused of having the reputation that 'If WOW built it, it's WAY overbuilt'.  I remember my engineering prof in college saying:

"It's easy to build a bridge that won't fall down. The trick is to build a bridge that just BARELY won't fall down."

I've never quite gotten the hang of that last part, or really been comfortable with it. As I build more things through the years I get better at it, though.

And I've never been comfortable with the idea of something being 'good enough'. It's either good or it isn't. For instance, I disassembled one of those interior walls because some of the lumber went squirrelly on me. It made a bow in the wall of about 3/16 of an inch and it bugged me so I re-did it. I would never make any money as a contractor that way, but this is my 'Dream' shop and I want it right.

Same thing with the First Aid Systainers. I can't tell you how many times I packed and re-packed my prototype until I was happy with it. I wanted it to be as close to perfect as it could be, and I think it's pretty darn good.

So yeah - I guess you're right!

 

[Holzhacker]

I needed to do a few layout drawings for 4 apartments this past week. Standard dimensions, partition walls, cabinets, doors, etc. Spent two hours or so trying to figure out sketch-up. Figuring out some of the basics and line drawings wasn't too bad. Unfortunately I couldn't figure out how to type in dimensions along the walls or make door swings. After a couple hours of frustration I said screw it.
Pulled out the trusty pencil, paper and ruler. Each apartment took about 20 minutes. Looked good, scanned them as PDF's and sent to client.
The point? No idea. Just that's the way it went for me.

 

[wow]

I needed to do a few layout drawings for 4 apartments this past week. Standard dimensions, partition walls, cabinets, doors, etc. Spent two hours or so trying to figure out sketch-up. Figuring out some of the basics and line drawings wasn't too bad. Unfortunately I couldn't figure out how to type in dimensions along the walls or make door swings. After a couple hours of frustration I said screw it.
Pulled out the trusty pencil, paper and ruler. Each apartment took about 20 minutes. Looked good, scanned them as PDF's and sent to client.
The point? No idea. Just that's the way it went for me.

Like you, I had several false starts over at least 2 years with SketchUp that all ended in frustration. I don't know why, but the "SketchUp for WoodWorkers" tutorials just clicked with me and I was off and running. If you want to learn SketchUp, I highly recommend watching them at least as a starting point