HOME

Log in
Forgot password

Newsletter

  Calendar       

Simple CAD tool for small framing project

  • 20 Sep 2025 9:47 AM
    Quote
    Reply # 13544124 on 13543902
    Greg Olson
    Dexter Payne wrote:

    +1 for learning SketchUp. There's so much you can do with the free version.

    TheSketchUpEssentials is my favorite YouTube channel for learning new techniques. He is a very good instructor.

    https://www.youtube.com/thesketchupessentials

    If you learn some basic keyboard shortcuts (O to orbit, R for rectangle tool, P for push/pull, etc) you will be building scale designs in no time.  Being being able to orbit a design in 3D and visualize it from any angle before any cutting and assembling is incredibly useful.

    This playlist might be a good place to start and get oriented with it.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFVwPnDxNY4&list=PLEQT0qjXe6zgno3Hz0F_nWjEgL7KxsJnI
  • 19 Sep 2025 11:27 AM
    Quote
    Reply # 13543902 on 13531426
    Dexter Payne

    +1 for learning SketchUp. There's so much you can do with the free version.

    TheSketchUpEssentials is my favorite YouTube channel for learning new techniques. He is a very good instructor.

    https://www.youtube.com/thesketchupessentials

    If you learn some basic keyboard shortcuts (O to orbit, R for rectangle tool, P for push/pull, etc) you will be building scale designs in no time.  Being being able to orbit a design in 3D and visualize it from any angle before any cutting and assembling is incredibly useful.

    This playlist might be a good place to start and get oriented with it.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFVwPnDxNY4&list=PLEQT0qjXe6zgno3Hz0F_nWjEgL7KxsJnI
  • 15 Aug 2025 3:05 PM
    Quote
    Reply # 13532353 on 13531426
    Jeff O'Brien

    I would highly encourage you to learn Sketchup. If you learn the keyboard shortcuts it’s much quicker. In Sketchup it’s very easy to create a part, duplicate it and make changes. There is also a cutlist extension that is very helpful in layout of your parts.

    Jeff
  • 14 Aug 2025 8:52 AM
    Quote
    Reply # 13531815 on 13531426
    Jim Meyer

    Pencil & paper works for me in a pinch.  Nothing to scale but labelled with target measurements. If sclae is important I sometimes draw on graph paper, although the graph lines sometimes translate to awkward sizes 1"-3".    In CAD I tried Sketchup but I disliked a few things, so I switched to Autodesk Fusion.  I would advise to stick to paper unless you plan on drawing a lot or sharing the plans
  • 13 Aug 2025 10:45 AM
    Quote
    Message # 13531426
    James Garrison (Administrator)

    I need to design a simple framing project for a garden screen/trellis.  I've looked at several tools including SketchUp, but don't want to spend time defining lumber pieces.

    Is there any simple (preferably free) tool that comes with pre-defined lumber objects (2x4x8, 1x2, etc)?

    More generally, what do Guild members use for design software?  

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software