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Sculpturing a Windsor Seat with Plug-in
For years I've struggled with shaping (in SketchUp) the seat on a Windsor, or for that matter a Maloof, chair. I continue to look for easier ways than my brute force method using shaped "cutters" along with...
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My Strategy with SketchUp
4 commentsThere are a number of ways SketchUp is used in woodworking including:1. The development of a conceptual design2. Creating views and images for client review3. Working out a complex joint4. Estimating...
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Bending a Continuous Bow
2 commentsWhile struggling to steam bend fresh ash lumber in the shop, I'm also striving for better and easier methods of bending on the computer in SketchUp. For "real" bends, I'm learning to appreciate key...
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More on Mirroring with Flip Along
2 commentsLast week I showed how to mirror table legs using the Flip Along feature of SketchUp. As pointed out in comments to the post, there are conditions which will affect the results of Flip Along. In my...
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Joint Push/Pull
5 commentsI'm working on another Windsor - this time a fan back arm chair. This style, as shown below in a rough model, includes a curved crest rail which captures the top of the spindles and turned...
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Making a Bail for a Shaker Chip Box
8 commentsIn starting the design for a Shaker Chip Box, I thought how easy it looked - but soon was surprised by the complexity of the bent handle or Bail. This component is not so simple with its right...
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Making a Tapered Bend
2 commentsFollowing my last post, I felt somewhat uncomfortable about taking a short-cut with the Back Post. Rather than executing a bowed bend for the upper section of the Back Post, I simply rotated the...
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More on Ladder Back Chair Back Slats
7 commentsRecently I have been modeling an 18th C. Ladder Back Arm Chair (Connecticut, Circa 1740). Here is a picture of the modeling status so far. Again I faced the creation of Back Slats - four...
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About Design. Click. Build.
Learn the art and science of designing furniture in SketchUp with Fine Woodworking's official blog. Moderated by a devoted community of woodworkers, we feature step-by-step SketchUp tutorials on designing components, downloads of pre-built 3D models of furniture parts, and news and information about the evolving world of digital furniture design.
Basic SketchUp Tutorials
Learn the basics of building furniture in SketchUp with these classic posts from the Design. Click. Build. blog.
Creating a Project Plan in SketchUp
How I Draw in SketchUp
Axes in SketchUp
The SketchUp Move Tool
The SketchUp Rotate Tool
The SketchUp Scale Tool
Materials, Colors, and Textures
Applying Wood Grain Skins in SketchUp
Easy Dovetail Joints in SketchUp
Digital Project Plans
Download and modify SketchUp files for select projects from Fine Woodworking. View all. Top Sellers: Matt's Monster Workbench New England Pine Cupboard Garden BenchMeet the Authors
DaveRichardsI am a Biomedical Equipment Technician. I maintain anesthesia and respiratory equipment for the largest medical facility in southeast Minnesota. I...
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Tim KillenI am retired from Bechtel Corporation after 36 years in Engineering and IT management. I grew up among woodworking machinery in...
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