Skip to content
Fine Woodworking
Main Menu
Subscribe
GET THE MAGAZINE & MORE
Magazine Cover
  • Save 69% off the cover price
  • Or, get everything with UNLIMITED, including 40+ years of the online archive.
Subscribe Now!
Subscribe
  • Projects & Plans
  • How-To
  • Shop Tips
  • Tools & Materials
  • Videos
  • Magazine
  • Video Workshops
  • Members
  • Forum
  • Gallery
  • Blogs
  • More
    • Log In
    • Join
    Fine Woodworking Main Menu Subscribe
    Design. Click. Build

    Leveraging the power of SketchUp components

    Dave Richards demonstrates how he not only uses components to create his models more efficiently, but how they inform his order of operations in the shop as well.

    Author Headshot By David Richards Jul 15, 2020

    A friend of mine owns a large boat. It sits high enough in the water that some sort of steps are required to get on it from the dock. He called me up a week or so back and told me it’s time to replace the old plastic one and he wants to make some from wood. He sent me a couple of pictures of one he had seen and wanted to replicate and he asked if I could help him out. This is a sketch of what I worked out so far.

    Here they are halfway into being folded for storage.

    As I was going through the process of creating the model it occurred to me there are a number of places where SketchUp’s component feature can be leveraged to save some time and effort. In the video I’ll show you a few of those.

    I also want to briefly talk about a sort of philosophy I try to apply when I’m creating models of furniture or other pieces that are to be built. As I work through creating the elements of the model I think about how I would make them in the shop. Often this informs how I’ll model the components. Which tools do I use? What is the order of operations? Can I batch operations to streamline the production? By keeping the process in the shop in mind as I’m modeling, I find it easier to prevent designing something that can’t be built either because of the design or the tools that are available. Of course sometimes I use that to justify the purchase of a new tool, too!

    Anyway, I hope you find something you can use in this video.

    Cheers,

    –Dave 


    Make Components Work for You in SketchUp

    Dave Richards demonstrates another way to use components to improve your SketchUp work flow.

    Using “Flip Along” for mirroring in SketchUp

    For models created in SketchUp, symmetry is easily achieved in an efficient way when using components and the Flip Along commands.

    Components Make Quick Work

    An example of using components in multiple models

    Sign up for eletters today and get the latest techniques and how-to from Fine Woodworking, plus special offers.

    Sign Up

    Get woodworking tips, expert advice and special offers in your inbox

    Sign Up
    ×
    X
    X

    New Feature

    Fine Woodworking Forums

    Ask questions, offer advice, and share your work

    Get It All!

    UNLIMITED Membership is like taking a master class in woodworking for less than $10 a month.

    Start Your Free Trial

    Subscribe to Fine Woodworking

    Save up to 56%

    Subscribe

    Comments

    1. User avater
      JeffB | Jul 26, 2020 12:50pm | #1

      Pretty cool. I tend to use groups for sub-assemblies. Going to have to start using components for that.

    2. DaveRichards | Jul 26, 2020 02:05pm | #2

      Thanks Jeff. Many people use groups for nesting but I find it more useful in many ways to use components. It also helps with work flow consistency.

    3. User avater
      Blue_Rocco | Sep 07, 2020 07:14pm | #3

      Wow, Excellent use of components! One of the best examples I have seen! I also like the menu layout he used. I do believe I will be changing mine to work more like his. I usually use two monitors, but with a laptop it is difficult, to say the least, as your menus will not rearrange themselves when you switch from two to one monitor. The ones on the other monitor simply disappear, and you cannot get them back without plugging in the other monitor. Thanks to Fine Woodworking AND Dave Richards for an enlightening demonstration.

    Log in or create an account to post a comment.

    Sign up Log in

    More Design. Click. Build

    View All
    • SketchUp to shop: Coopered container

    • Working with nested SketchUp components

    • An inside-out turning

    • Riffing on a design in SketchUp

    View All

    Up Next

    Featured Workshop

    Shaker candle stand with Christian Beckvoort

    He’s built dozens of round Shaker stands over four decades, so there is no one more qualified than Christian Becksvoort to demonstrate making this classic. In this seven-part video series,…

    Featured Projects & Plans

    Build a Contemporary Sideboard

    Chris Gochnour's sideboard combines usefulness, strength, and beauty in a contemporary case piece

    Related Stories

    • From the Bench: A long loose end

    • Continous grain, mitered door and drawer pulls

    • SketchUp to shop: Coopered container

    • Working with nested SketchUp components

    Discussion Forum

    Recent Posts and Replies

    • |
    • |
    • |
    • |
    • |
    • |
    View More Create Post

    Member Exclusives

    More Member Exclusives
    • door and drawer pulls

      Continous grain, mitered door and drawer pulls

      Larissa Huff and Robert Spiece's smart construction techniques make fashioning their small parts safe and repeatable.

    • Webinar: Evolution of a chair with Brian Boggs

      Replay Join Brian Boggs for a fascinating discussion on Brian's evolving chair designs.

    • Webinar: Models and Mockups Make the Design with Michael Fortune

      Replay Join FWW contributing editor Michael Fortune for our webinar on designing with mockups.

    • Webinar: How to Build Stronger Furniture with Mike Korsak

      Replay Join Mike Korsak, for a webinar on how to think about structure and how to add strength to your own designs.

    Highlights

    • Shape Your Skills

      when you sign up for our emails

      Plus tips, advice, and special offers from Fine Woodworking.

      Sign Up
    • Shop Talk Live Podcast

      Shop Talk Live Podcast

      Our biweekly podcast allows editors, authors, and special guests to answer your woodworking questions and connect with the online woodworking community.

    • Woodpecker Sweepstakes

      Woodpeckers Shop Upgrade Giveaway

      Enter now for your chance to win more than $2,000 worth of woodworking equipment from Woodpeckers. Click for full details.

    • Staff Picks Blog

      Our favorite articles and videos

      We have created these special content collections organized to give you a deep dive into a range of topics that matter.

    Design

    View All
    • unfinished projects

      From the Bench: A long loose end

    • SketchUp to shop: Coopered container

    • Working with nested SketchUp components

    • An inside-out turning

    View All

    From the Store

    View More
    • The Why & How of Woodworking

      Buy Now
    • Complete Illustrated Guide to Woodworking USB

      Buy Now
    • 52 Boxes in 52 Weeks

      Buy Now
    • 2020 Fine Woodworking Archive

      Buy Now
    View More

    Get the latest from Fine Woodworking Magazine

    • #289-May/June 2021

      • Arts and Crafts coffee table with story-book charm
      • Links from Fine Woodworking issue #289
      • Seven tasks for a block plane
    • #288-Mar/Apr 2021

      • Phil Lowe: A craftsman and gentleman
      • Online Extras from FWW Issue #288
      • Phil Lowe: craftsman, teacher, friend
    • #287-Jan/Feb 2021

      • Simple, handsome 17th-century box
      • Online extras from FWW issue #287
      • Editor's letter: Finding sanctuary in the shop
    • #286-Tools & Shops 2021

      • Shoulder plane setup and use
      • Online extras from FWW issue #286
      • From the editor: A shop to call home
    • #285-Nov/Dec 2020

      • Make a dovetailed desktop organizer
      • Online Extras from FWW Issue #285
      • Announcing FWW ambassadors

    UNLIMITED membership - Get access to it all

    Start Free Trial Upgrade Membership

    Fine WoodWorking

    Follow

    Newsletter

    Get woodworking tips, expert advice and special offers in your inbox

    Sign Up

    Membership & Magazine

    • Members
    • Digital Libraries
    • Join Unlimited
    • Magazine Subscription
    • Magazine Renewal
    • Gift a Subscription
    • Customer Support
    • Manage Preferences

    Taunton Network

    • Fine Homebuilding
    • Green Building Advisor
    • Fine Gardening
    • Threads
    • About
    • Contact
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Policy
    • Careers
    • Copyright
    • Terms of Use
    • Accessibility
    • California Privacy Rights

    © 2021 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

    Get instant access to over 100 digital plans available only to UNLIMITED members. Start your 14-day FREE trial - and get building!

      Main Menu

    • Projects and Plans
    • How-To
    • Shop Tips
    • Tools & Materials
    • Videos
    • Gallery
    • Magazine
    • Video Workshops
    • Members
    • Forum

      Popular Topics

    • Design
    • Small Projects
    • Beds
    • Chairs, Benches And Stools
    • Built-ins
    • Storage And Shelves
    • Cabinets
    • Carving
    • Casework
    • Desks
    • Tables
    • Shop Storage And Furniture
    • Woodturning Projects
    • Workbenches
    • Surface Prep

      More

    • TV
    • Forum
    • Blogs
    • Webinars
    • Podcasts
    • Customer Support

      Account

    • Log In
    • Join

      Magazine

    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
    • Digital Libraries
    • Magazine Index
    • Subscribe

      Membership

    • Member Home
    • Start Free Trial
    • Gift Unlimited
    • Log In

      Shop the Store

    • Books
    • DVDs
    • Taunton Workshops

      Events

    • Fine Woodworking Live
    • Fine Woodworking HANDS ON

      Account

    • Log In
    • Sign Up

    Newsletter

    Get woodworking tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

    Sign Up

    Follow

    UNLIMITED

    Become an UNLIMITED member and get it all: searchable online archive of every issue, how-to videos, Complete Illustrated Guide to Woodworking digital series, print magazine, e-newsletter, and more.

    Start Your Free Trial

    Upgrade Membership