Copyright (c) 2010 CraftStylish.com en-us Fine Woodworking - DaveRichards' posts http://www.finewoodworking.com/profile/DaveRichards Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:17:08 -0500 Fine Woodworking - DaveRichards' posts http://www.finewoodworking.com/assets/images/cs_logo_sm.jpg http://www.finewoodworking.com/profile/DaveRichards Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:02:18 -0500 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/23970/clock-numbers-again http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/23970/clock-numbers-again Posted by DaveRichards
As Chuck Miller over at Fine HomeBuilding is wont to say, "There's a better way."   In SketchUp there's nearly always more than one way to do something and sometimes one way is better than the... ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/23970/clock-numbers-again Sun, 31 Jan 2010 23:33:24 -0500 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/23873/numbers-on-a-clock-face-preparing-3d-text-for-use http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/23873/numbers-on-a-clock-face-preparing-3d-text-for-use Posted by DaveRichards
Recently I've been doodling out a mission style hall clock based on one shown in an old book titled "Mission Furniture: How To Make It. After hunting around for a suitable clock face image, I decided... ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/23873/numbers-on-a-clock-face-preparing-3d-text-for-use Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:35:24 -0500 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/23791/adding-materials-to-your-model http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/23791/adding-materials-to-your-model Posted by DaveRichards
A few weeks ago I demonstrated my process for drawing a piece of furniture using this fern stand based on a drawing in a book called Mission furniture: How To Make It. Now I'd like to show you how I... ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/23791/adding-materials-to-your-model Fri, 08 Jan 2010 22:55:08 -0500 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/23220/modifying-a-model http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/23220/modifying-a-model Posted by DaveRichards
  So after you've drawn up your model and shown it to your client, they come back and ask if you could change the dimensions. "Sure," you say, "I'll just start from scratch and make a new... ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/23220/modifying-a-model Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:38:59 -0500 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/23154/moldings-by-follow-me http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/23154/moldings-by-follow-me Posted by DaveRichards
Recently there have been some questions regarding the use of Follow Me to add a molding around a cabinet. I did a quick little video demo that will hopefully clarify and perhaps even expand your... ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/23154/moldings-by-follow-me Sun, 27 Dec 2009 16:27:37 -0500 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/22911/a-fern-stand-demonstrating-my-drawing-process http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/22911/a-fern-stand-demonstrating-my-drawing-process Posted by DaveRichards
There are a lot of ways to draw things in SketchUp. Some folks like to draw the parts for a project in... ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/22911/a-fern-stand-demonstrating-my-drawing-process Sun, 13 Dec 2009 10:35:09 -0500 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/22170/sketchup-and-the-lathe http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/22170/sketchup-and-the-lathe Posted by DaveRichards
One of our readers asked me about the possibility of using SketchUp to design turned vessels. Tim and I have both shown examples of turned legs for tables and other furniture but there's no reason... ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/22170/sketchup-and-the-lathe Mon, 07 Dec 2009 09:57:17 -0500 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/21991/save-components-for-future-use http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/21991/save-components-for-future-use Posted by DaveRichards
After you've gone to the effort to draw things that you might use again such as molding profiles, hardware, frame and panel doors, save those components to make them easy to retrieve later. Here are... ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/21991/save-components-for-future-use Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:44:25 -0500 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/21456/drawing-curved-slats-for-a-chair http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/21456/drawing-curved-slats-for-a-chair Posted by DaveRichards
A friend of mine asked me about drawing some curved back slats for a chair. The slats I was thinking about are something like you might see on a Maloof-inspired rocking chair. I thought this would... ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/21456/drawing-curved-slats-for-a-chair Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:36:24 -0500 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/20905/wrapping-beadboard-around-a-curved-surface http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/20905/wrapping-beadboard-around-a-curved-surface Posted by DaveRichards
My friend Dermot emailed me today with a little puzzle. He's working on an island design for a kitchen and he'll end up rendering this image to show the client. His client wants to see bead board on... ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/20905/wrapping-beadboard-around-a-curved-surface Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:55:46 -0500 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/20811/creating-orthographic-view-drawings http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/20811/creating-orthographic-view-drawings Posted by DaveRichards
Often it is useful to have the standard orthographic views of your model. There are several ways you can do this in SketchUp. You could create separate scenes using the standard ortho views and... ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/20811/creating-orthographic-view-drawings Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:26:50 -0400 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/20538/adding-a-bullnose http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/20538/adding-a-bullnose Posted by DaveRichards
In a recent blog entry I used a little bow front cabinet designed by Matt Kenney to show how to create a curved edge by picking off an existing curved edge in the model. Well, Matt's been working on... ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/20538/adding-a-bullnose Sat, 17 Oct 2009 12:42:15 -0400 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/20406/a-look-at-the-rotate-tool http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/20406/a-look-at-the-rotate-tool DaveRichards
Like the Move tool, the Rotate tool is fundamental in SketchUp. Being able to use it easily and correctly will help make your experience with SketchUp more enjoyable. Here's a little video demo I... ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/20406/a-look-at-the-rotate-tool Sat, 10 Oct 2009 12:10:02 -0400 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/19987/make-it-fit http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/19987/make-it-fit Posted by DaveRichards
When you are working in the shop on a project, there comes a point where you need to shift from working off the plans to working off what you've already built. Doing so helps to avoid making parts... ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/19987/make-it-fit Mon, 28 Sep 2009 11:44:12 -0400 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/19303/new-fangled-workbench-an-exercise-in-control http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/19303/new-fangled-workbench-an-exercise-in-control Posted by DaveRichards
I've been thinking it is time to have a real workbench in my shop. Choosing the right bench design seems to be more difficult than picking the right tablesaw or handplane though. In an effort to help... ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/19303/new-fangled-workbench-an-exercise-in-control Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:31:54 -0400 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/19179/new-sketchup-version-released http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/19179/new-sketchup-version-released DaveRichards
Today SketchUp version 7.1 was released to the public. For users of version 7.0, this would be a free upgrade. There are some new capabilities in 7.1 along with a new render engine which should help... ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/19179/new-sketchup-version-released Sun, 20 Sep 2009 23:04:11 -0400 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/19093/rounded-corners-and-edges-manually-automatically http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/19093/rounded-corners-and-edges-manually-automatically Posted by DaveRichards
A demonstration of how to created radiused edges. ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/19093/rounded-corners-and-edges-manually-automatically Thu, 03 Sep 2009 04:44:42 -0400 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/18630/a-look-at-the-move-tool http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/18630/a-look-at-the-move-tool DaveRichards
In SketchUp, the Move tool is fundamental. Knowing how to use it is will make drawing easier and more enjoyable. I've done a bit of video to demonstrate the use of the tool. Hopefully it'll give you... ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/18630/a-look-at-the-move-tool Wed, 12 Aug 2009 09:52:31 -0400 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/17970/upholstering-your-furniture http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/17970/upholstering-your-furniture Posted by DaveRichards
The other day I was asked about how to draw an upholstered surface with buttons. The application was for a headboard but this could be used for a bench seat or any number of other upholstered pieces... ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/17970/upholstering-your-furniture Sun, 02 Aug 2009 09:10:40 -0400 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/17470/adding-details http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/17470/adding-details Posted by DaveRichards
In the previous blog post, Tim shows how he added some amazing detail to a SketchUp model of a cornice for a bookcase he built. Adding these sorts of details in a SketchUp model can be very useful in... ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/17470/adding-details Thu, 30 Jul 2009 19:49:01 -0400 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/17289/placing-components http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/17289/placing-components DaveRichards
Recently I've fielded several questions about how to accurately place components in a model. There's a lot of value in making and saving components of things you'll reuse such as drawer pulls... ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/17289/placing-components Sun, 19 Jul 2009 12:23:49 -0400 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/16914/sectioncutface-v22-another-handy-plugin http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/16914/sectioncutface-v22-another-handy-plugin Posted by DaveRichards
Tim's post about using sections to show details reminded me of another handy plugin called SectionCutFace. This plugin takes sections a step further by quickly creating faces at the location of the... ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/16914/sectioncutface-v22-another-handy-plugin Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:51:49 -0400 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/16794/plugins-an-updated-list http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/16794/plugins-an-updated-list DaveRichards
Another look at some SketchUp plugins that woodworkers might find useful. ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/16794/plugins-an-updated-list Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:18:21 -0400 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/15393/dovetail-joints-in-sketchup-made-easy http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/15393/dovetail-joints-in-sketchup-made-easy Posted by DaveRichards
A new plugin for SketchUp makes it dead simple to add dovetails to your model ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/15393/dovetail-joints-in-sketchup-made-easy Sat, 06 Jun 2009 13:41:32 -0400 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/15159/another-look-at-creating-plans-from-a-sketchup-model http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/15159/another-look-at-creating-plans-from-a-sketchup-model Posted by DaveRichards
I just finished up a new set of plans and thought it would be nice to use it as another example of how I create plans from a SketchUp model. This plan is my interpretation of L. Francis... ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/15159/another-look-at-creating-plans-from-a-sketchup-model Sun, 31 May 2009 15:33:16 -0400 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/14702/modifying-a-component-adding-details http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/14702/modifying-a-component-adding-details Posted by DaveRichards
The other day I got an e-mail from a reader about the pull I wrote about in my previous blog entry. He asked me how I would go about adding steps to the top surface of the pull to give it a sort of... ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/14702/modifying-a-component-adding-details Thu, 21 May 2009 10:59:52 -0400 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/14255/compound-curves-a-contemporary-drawer-pull http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/14255/compound-curves-a-contemporary-drawer-pull Posted by DaveRichards
SketchUp models with complex shapes and compound curves can be daunting to draw but by breaking them down into smaller parts. the process can be greatly simplified. Recently I was asked for some... ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/14255/compound-curves-a-contemporary-drawer-pull Sun, 03 May 2009 14:53:14 -0400 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/13265/layers-scenes-dimensions-and-construction-drawings http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/13265/layers-scenes-dimensions-and-construction-drawings Posted by DaveRichards
My approach to utilizing layers for with dimensions and scenes when making construction drawings. ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/13265/layers-scenes-dimensions-and-construction-drawings Fri, 24 Apr 2009 23:14:09 -0400 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/12558/using-the-shape-bender-plugin http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/12558/using-the-shape-bender-plugin Posted by DaveRichards
Here's an example of a table leg component drawn using the new Shape Bender plugin. ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/12558/using-the-shape-bender-plugin Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:03:13 -0400 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/11847/another-new-plugin-with-great-potential-for-woodworkers http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/11847/another-new-plugin-with-great-potential-for-woodworkers Posted by DaveRichards
A quick look at a new SketchUp plugin that allows you to bend the geometry of a flat line to correspond to a curve. Read about one example of how it could be used for furniture design. ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/11847/another-new-plugin-with-great-potential-for-woodworkers Sun, 05 Apr 2009 12:05:02 -0400 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/11569/axes-in-sketchup http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/11569/axes-in-sketchup Posted by DaveRichards
A look at global and component axes in SketchUp ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/11569/axes-in-sketchup Tue, 31 Mar 2009 20:33:15 -0400 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/11367/freescale-20a-beta http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/11367/freescale-20a-beta DaveRichards
A new and amazing plugin for SketchUp ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/11367/freescale-20a-beta Mon, 23 Mar 2009 20:22:41 -0400 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/10429/drawing-a-turning-gouge http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/10429/drawing-a-turning-gouge DaveRichards
A demonstration of the Follow Me tool and Intersect with Model ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/10429/drawing-a-turning-gouge Sat, 14 Mar 2009 23:13:24 -0400 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/9804/creating-an-animation-in-sketchup http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/9804/creating-an-animation-in-sketchup Posted by DaveRichards
A quick demo showing how to create an animation in SketchUp ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/9804/creating-an-animation-in-sketchup Tue, 10 Mar 2009 20:34:07 -0400 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/9475/turning-a-2d-sketch-into-a-3d-component http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/9475/turning-a-2d-sketch-into-a-3d-component Posted by DaveRichards
A repost of a blog post from the old blog format. ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/9475/turning-a-2d-sketch-into-a-3d-component Fri, 06 Mar 2009 22:48:28 -0500 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/9186/how-much-wood-will-it-take http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/9186/how-much-wood-will-it-take Posted by DaveRichards
A look at the CutList and Layout plugin for SketchUp ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/9186/how-much-wood-will-it-take Fri, 06 Mar 2009 12:26:11 -0500 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/9160/components-make-quick-work http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/9160/components-make-quick-work Posted by DaveRichards
An example of using components in multiple models ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/9160/components-make-quick-work Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:38:39 -0500 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/7679/a-pad-foot-leg-in-sketchup http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/7679/a-pad-foot-leg-in-sketchup Posted by DaveRichards
Turning a complex table leg in SketchUp ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/7679/a-pad-foot-leg-in-sketchup Fri, 20 Feb 2009 16:17:55 -0500 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/7428/more-quick-dimensioning-tips http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/7428/more-quick-dimensioning-tips DaveRichards
More ways to improve the appearance of dimensions in your SketchUp models. ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/7428/more-quick-dimensioning-tips Sat, 14 Feb 2009 13:23:37 -0500 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/7087/pattern-making-unfolding-a-3d-shape-to-make-a-template http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/7087/pattern-making-unfolding-a-3d-shape-to-make-a-template Posted by DaveRichards
A short demonstration of the Unfold plugin ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/7087/pattern-making-unfolding-a-3d-shape-to-make-a-template Thu, 12 Feb 2009 18:05:57 -0500 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/7039/dimensioning-your-drawings-a-couple-quick-tips http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/7039/dimensioning-your-drawings-a-couple-quick-tips DaveRichards
A couple of methods for improving the appearance of dimensions in your SketchUp model. ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/7039/dimensioning-your-drawings-a-couple-quick-tips Sat, 24 Jan 2009 12:21:53 -0500 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/6095/doin-the-twist http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/6095/doin-the-twist Posted by DaveRichards
Here's a method to create a twist in a spindle. ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/6095/doin-the-twist Mon, 19 Jan 2009 09:20:36 -0500 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/5741/making-and-inserting-wood-plugs-the-boat-builders-way http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/5741/making-and-inserting-wood-plugs-the-boat-builders-way Posted by DaveRichards
Hi Matt and Asa, I've been following along with the video series that you have been doing. I am enjoying it very much. Thanks for doing it. Whenever I see a woodworker working with plugs I... ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/5741/making-and-inserting-wood-plugs-the-boat-builders-way Tue, 13 Jan 2009 19:43:00 -0500 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/5238/creating-templates-for-a-complex-shape http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/5238/creating-templates-for-a-complex-shape Posted by DaveRichards
Generate templates for sections along the length of the piece to make profile gauges in the shop. ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/5238/creating-templates-for-a-complex-shape Sat, 03 Jan 2009 11:11:03 -0500 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/4835/jig-design-in-sketchup-a-little-reverse-engineering http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/4835/jig-design-in-sketchup-a-little-reverse-engineering Posted by DaveRichards
Use your model to determine the jigs or templates you need to build it in the shop. ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/4835/jig-design-in-sketchup-a-little-reverse-engineering Sun, 21 Dec 2008 22:24:25 -0500 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/3988/plywood-edge-creating-a-new-material-in-sketchup http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/3988/plywood-edge-creating-a-new-material-in-sketchup Posted by DaveRichards
Putting a new feature of SketchUp 7 to work. ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/3988/plywood-edge-creating-a-new-material-in-sketchup Thu, 11 Dec 2008 11:42:45 -0500 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/2542/a-quick-dovetailed-box http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/2542/a-quick-dovetailed-box Posted by DaveRichards
A demonstration showing how to quickly layout and "cut" dovetails. ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/2542/a-quick-dovetailed-box Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:00:05 -0500 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/2538/modifying-a-dovetailed-drawer http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/2538/modifying-a-dovetailed-drawer DaveRichards
Adding a bit of depth to a drawer. ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/2538/modifying-a-dovetailed-drawer Sun, 23 Nov 2008 11:50:51 -0500 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/2364/creating-a-project-plan-in-sketchup http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/2364/creating-a-project-plan-in-sketchup Posted by DaveRichards
An overview of how I created shop drawings for Tim Rousseau's Frame and Pannel Cabinet Video Workshop. ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/2364/creating-a-project-plan-in-sketchup Mon, 17 Nov 2008 06:30:00 -0500 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/2093/sketchup-7-released http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/2093/sketchup-7-released DaveRichards
A few of the new features in SketchUp 7 ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/2093/sketchup-7-released Sat, 15 Nov 2008 13:17:47 -0500 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/2078/converting-a-follow-me-molding-to-separate-components http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/2078/converting-a-follow-me-molding-to-separate-components Posted by DaveRichards
A demonstration showing how to convert moldings drawn with Follow Me into separate components. ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/2078/converting-a-follow-me-molding-to-separate-components Tue, 11 Nov 2008 20:27:57 -0500 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/1934/video-quick-and-easy-angled-chair-rail http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/1934/video-quick-and-easy-angled-chair-rail Posted by DaveRichards
How to draw a quick and easy angled chair rail in SketchUp ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/1934/video-quick-and-easy-angled-chair-rail Fri, 07 Nov 2008 14:10:53 -0500 http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/1780/drawing-pieces-with-complex-curves http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/1780/drawing-pieces-with-complex-curves Posted by DaveRichards
One of our readers suggested that I demonstrate how to draw a component that has some complex curves. His example was a slat for the back of a shaker ladder back chair. Take a look at my solution for this challenge. ]]> http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/1780/drawing-pieces-with-complex-curves