How best to learn Sketchup?


chrisphr

Recommended Posts

For me, the best way to start using SketchUp for woodworking, quickly, is to get a DVD. Two are very good and one is down right cheap.

 

From Bob Lang: http://readwatchdo.com/2011/08/woodworkers-guide-to-sketchup-video-preview/

 

From Dave Richards: http://www.tauntonstore.com/fw-google-sketchup-basics-fwg0001.html

 

I have both and use both when I run into a problem. Dave's DVD is excellent and at $12.95, it is well worth the money.

 

Jeff

http://jeffbranch.wordpress.com/my-sketchup-models/

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sketchup is not a particularly intuitive program.  I'm pretty savvy with software, but sketchup was a head scratcher. 

 

As such, my initial attempts at diving in didn't work.

 

I mention this just in case you get frustrated at a first go round. 

 

Marc (Aaron?) has a couple of sketchup vids on the WW site worth checking out. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

I say dive in but start by working in 2D.  (i.e. turn on Parallel projection and pick any standard camera view so that you remove one of the axes from view.)  You can do a lot, from concept sketches to shop drawings, in 2D and you'll pick up important SU habits such as grouping things into components and using guide points/lines.

 

I've been using SketchUp for eight years and I still start a lot of projects in 2D, working out as much as I can before I start pulling/pushing things in 3D.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 8 months later...

My "Ah hah!" moment was in a live Demo class at The Woodworking Show.

 

The key was establishing the first 2 dimension, length and width  (using the godsend, the type in box), then pulling up the height.

 

That might sound stupid, but you'd be suprised how many people don't "get" that.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Diving in is great to a certain point, but with SketchUp there are many best practices that you need to know to use it most efficiently. I find the actual basic drawing actions quite intuitive, but without tutorials I just wasn't able to make any progress.

 

Joe Zeh has a series of video tutorials that I really like. They are available on PWW.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I used a seven part Youtube video series by Rob Cameron called Sketchup for Woodworkers.

I thought it was pretty good for learning the basics.

 

I wasn't really finding SketchUp at all intuitive.  I was an AutoCAD designer/draftsman for a number of years and later an AutoCad programmer for quite a while as well, but SketchUp wasn't clicking for me.  This video series seems to be exactly what I needed to get started.  Thanks for posting the link.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

A good way to learn cad is use elementary software. 

 

Play around with this, it really gives you a basis of whats going on. May seem silly, but it gets you the basics down very quickly. You can extrapolate it to a higher end CAD program, albeit they are much more in depth and difficult. Practice practice practice! 

 

https://www.tinkercad.com/

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've created some pretty large models in sketchup, talking 30K sq. foot+ buildings.  I learned via youtube and trial and error.  There is a pretty good series produced by sketchup themselves that takes you through the commands.   I would recommend starting there.  Also get used to the keyboard shortcuts as much as possible. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...
  • 4 weeks later...

Just to make things clear, Fine Woodworking does not sell any of my work. It gets confusing because after I published "Woodworker's Guide to  SketchUp" they came out with several products titled "SketchUp: Woodworker's Guide". It's different enough to not be a direct rip-off, but close enough to show up in an internet search.

You can purchase most of my work directly from me, there is a link in Jeff Branch's post above. It might cost you a little more than buying on Amazon, but you will be directly supporting the guy who did the work.

Bob

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

You can purchase most of my work directly from me, there is a link in Jeff Branch's post above. It might cost you a little more than buying on Amazon, but you will be directly supporting the guy who did the work.

Bob

Bob,

I would be happy to pop 40 bucks for help with SketchUp and especially happy if that money went to the guy who was giving me the help.

Can you tell me what version of SketchUp is used for the instruction in your ebook?

Is this the correct link?

 http://readwatchdo.com/2011/08/woodworkers-guide-to-sketchup-video-preview/

...or is this a better link...

http://readwatchdo.com/2015/05/new-woodworkers-guide-to-sketchup-revised-and-updated/

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks Mark,

The revised version uses screen captures from SketchUp 2015 (the latest version as of now). There isn't a huge difference from version to version in SketchUp, so the instruction should be good for a while, and it still applies going back a few versions.

The second link gets you where you want to go. Scroll down and you can buy it for $5 less as a download.

This link http://readwatchdo.com/2015/05/look-inside-the-new-woodworkers-guide-to-sketchup/

takes you to a preview of the revised version.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...
  • 1 month later...

Sketchucation and their plugin store is a wealth of knowledge

http://sketchucation.com/

Sketchup Texture is the to go site for when you have gone deeper into Sketchup and feel secure enough to play with colors and customizing textures.

http://www.sketchuptexture.com/

I started Sketchup 2 years ago and it's really a program that you have to use to really learn it well. Sure you can watch youtube video's and buy books

http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/0596155115?keywords=google%20sketchup%20cookbook&qid=1451437074&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1

The link is to Bonnie Roskes Google Sketchup Cookbook a 2009 book but it still teaches valuable basics. Currently they have a version used for sale for $1.75

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.