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The Popular Woodworking Magazine collection of 3D SketchUp models has grown to include 168 models. We’ve been using SketchUp to plan our work for a couple years now, and it has made us all better and more accurate woodworkers. Shop time is precious and it’s nice to head to the shop with the wealth of information and problem solving tools available with SketchUp.
Because we have these models, and we haven’t figured out how to put active three-dimensional images in the pages of the magazine (at least not yet) we populate the 3D Warehouse collection with projects from the magazine whenever a new issue is released. Our February issue featured some great projects, and if you’d like to explore them further, visit our collection and click on “sort by date”.
That will bring up the latest models we have online. When the April issue arrives in a few weeks, we will add some more. Even if you never draw a line with SketchUp, it’s a fabulous tool for taking an in depth look at a project before you decide to build. If you’re interested in learning to use SketchUp, there are a lot of tutorials available online. Many of these are geared to larger scale architectural projects, but they can shorten the learning curve. If you want to learn SketchUp from a woodworker’s perspective, I will be teaching a week long class next summer at the Marc Adams School of Woodworking.
We’re also working on a special project to teach SketchUp to woodworkers online. We’re working out the details and will have an announcement to make soon.
And if you’re accomplished at SketchUp, we are still looking for models of projects from back issues of Popular Woodworking and Woodworking Magazine. If you submit a model of a project we’ve published, that isn’t already a part of the collection, we’ll give you a one-year back issue CD for your efforts. Send me an e-mail or leave a comment if you have any questions.
Click Here to visit the Popular Woodworking Magazine SketchUp Collection
Click Here to learn more about SketchUp on our web site
Click Here to download SketchUp for free and get started with 3D modelling
Here are some supplies and tools we find essential in our everyday work around the shop. We may receive a commission from sales referred by our links; however, we have carefully selected these products for their usefulness and quality.
Back issues-if you don’t have printed copies on hand, check your local library, or you can get printed and digital copies of back issues from our store:
http://www.woodworkersbookshop.com/category/popular-woodworking-magazine
I have just recently taught myself how to use SketchUp, and I have been using it exclusively to plan and design woodworking projects. Specifically, I am building model monster trucks. I’d be up for modeling some of your older projects. Where can I find them to work on?
I, for one, would be extremely interested in an online course to teach SketchUp. Thanks.