Thread: I’m a convert!

Originally Posted by fletty

I have always designed my own furniture and I’m lucky that I can visualise what I am going to make BUT, that simply doesn’t work when the piece is for someone else. I have survived making commission pieces in the past with lots of shaded pencil sketches and, only once, a little model. Several pieces have been for people who show me their colour palette and the style of other favourite pieces and ask me “to surprise them”!
Well, that all came to a grinding halt when I entered a limited competition to make a lectern for a listed chapel so I have entered the world of computer-aided-design in my wood work. For many years CAD and CAM were highlights of my professional career and I was even heavily involved nearly 40 years ago, in an early fully robotic machinery centre ...... but not in my woodwork. In fact I think that my pencil sketch furniture design regime was a deliberate contrast against my working day automation.
I know that I WILL have to learn SketchUp or similar but so far I have taken the easy way out and sent the aforementioned pencil sketches to my daughter, my human GUI (Graphic User Interface), who converts them to computer generated images for submission to the client. BTW, my human GUI startled me by telling me that she could send her 2D computer renders to India and, in a few hours and for $30, she would receive a complete 3D computer model!
This week the competition begins, the presentation of designs, the sizing up of competitors and the smooth-talking.
I’ll let you know how I go.

Fletty,
I’m confused ,mind you that is easily done,
Will this lectern be a Cristian model,A Hindu model
or the more trendy Buddhist Model.?

Having spent some time in India in the past, did you barter with the daughter, or just excepted you would be ripped off.?
Also ,they have quite a few other gods if the two above don’t suit, Buddhist is really just nice talking apparently.

Cheers Matt.

Originally Posted by Simplicity

Fletty,
I’m confused ,mind you that is easily done,
Will this lectern be a Cristian model,A Hindu model
or the more trendy Buddhist Model.?

Having spent some time in India in the past, did you barter with the daughter, or just excepted you would be ripped off.?
Also ,they have quite a few other gods if the two above don’t suit, Buddhist is really just nice talking apparently.

Cheers Matt.

Matt

Buddhism does not have a God and is more akin to a philosophy: So I am told. The Dali Lama is possibly the closest (living) persona they have, but I fully expect he would utterly devastated at the association.



Regards
Paul

You sound like me until about 15 years ago, Fletty. Then I wanted to rebuild a kitchen and my drawing skills were not up to it - they lead to utter confusion, and a complete mess. So I learned Sketchup and my design work improved drastically.

Then I learned the benefits of maquettes - a fancy word fro scale models - and beside reviewing the aesthetics it also gave insights to the engineering. If the model broke what about the full size whatever? If the model took massive loads, maybe I can use less material.

Then I learned a couple of more advanced drawing packages - Rhino and Autocad. Many CNC machines require standardised inputs, often in Autocad.

My only regret in the process is in learning Sketchup. It was a major effort to "unlearn" it when I moved onto the other far more sophisticated programs. The other packages are relatively expensive, but you get what you pay for. Sketchcup is free, and there endeth its virtues.

In your case, I suggest that you go with whatever program your daughter is most comfortable with.

Designing furniture on paper properly is pretty easy? Is there a need for this to be shown ? I think there is . Or has everyone gone the way of computer design except me ?


Its simple but it cant be done without the right tools .

A2 paper.
A flat board slightly larger than the A2 with one true straight edge.
A Scale ruler with 1:5 and 1:10 Scale on it.
A T Square
A Set Square
A pencil . Fine push lead is good but a sharp hard normal pencil works too.
A rubber. After a bit of practice you hardly use it every time you draw.
Some tracing paper. Sheet of A2 is the good size to get

It is possible to make the board from chipboard Ply or MDF . The T square and the set square can also be made . Masonite or MDF would be good .

The two types of paper, a pencil, a rubber and the wood is all that's needed.

Rob

Got the order!

The competitor had a catalogue of ready-made lecterns, hadn’t bothered to see the chapel but was half my price!

The computer renders were the clincher PLUS ......... I don’t think they liked him!


D62C8A11-8464-4A98-B2C2-5DEA90E05077.png

Now I’ve got to make it in addition to the new business and helping to illustrate 2 aircraft books for next year’s centenary of the RAAF. Ain’t life grand?

If only you had a lathe to turn those....pillars.

Originally Posted by NCArcher

If only you had a lathe to turn those....pillars.

Funny you should say that BUT a damned fine looking lathe has just turned up in my shed?
Suddenly there it was!
I suspect the wood fairies have been at work again?

I think the fairies forgot to connect the VFD. It's hard to get hold of a competent fairy these days.
What timber are you thinking of for the lectern? And will it involve steam bending? And can we please have a comprehensive WIP?
If anybody else would like to see a Fletty WIP please respond to this thread with "I'm In"

Originally Posted by NCArcher

I think the fairies forgot to connect the VFD. It's hard to get hold of a competent fairy these days.
What timber are you thinking of for the lectern? And will it involve steam bending? And can we please have a comprehensive WIP?
If anybody else would like to see a Fletty WIP please respond to this thread with "I'm In"

Actually, they’re not curved surfaces. The ‘graphic artist’ used cylindrical shading to represent timber grain?
The bulk of the timber will be some more of the forest red gum stash left over from the table and chairs.....

DCAB7A83-F03F-4428-BDFB-579F39BC61D6.jpeg

........and a half sheet of sapele veneered ply left over from a table project dome by Mr P.

Originally Posted by auscab

Designing furniture on paper properly is pretty easy? Is there a need for this to be shown ? I think there is . Or has everyone gone the way of computer design except me ?
...

No its not, Rob. I think that you might be grossly underestimating your own skill base with this suggestion.

I can and have designed on paper. If I am working on something simple, a stool or a small cabinet then fine. But if I am working on something more complex - an elaborate cabinet, a kitchen layour or a curvilinear piece of furniture - then the computer is far easier. Even more idiot proof.

It is just so much easier to move, delete, or change a line on a computer drawing that to erase it and redraw it on paper. In fact, on paper, I tend to stop the design process before I have really optimised the design. Near enough is not usually good enough.

But it really is horses for courses. I have a friend who cannot visualise in 2D - he just cannot draw on paper or on a computer in spite of very extenive efforts. But he is a very talented designer and competent maker. He designs everything in 3D using (mainly) balsa and 1mm acrylic sheet cut-outs and hot glue. It works for him.

Yeah Graeme I see the amazing possibilities with computer design . Incredibly detailed, 3d if you want , being able to rotate and look inside or where ever . Being able to quickly edit out changes. Id like to be able to do it . I don't have a clue how to use it . It looks like a long hard learning process to me . Its probably like the pencil drawing I do in that you can start of simple and go from there . I know its the future or has been for years . There is a simple pencil way though that has its charm and still can be done .


I wonder if hobby builders have seen how pencil design is done the right easy way. Ive never seen anybody showing it here and searching Youtube I don't see good easy demos . What I've found is just about the image to show someone and not about following through to calculations and cutting list. Simple stuff which should get things right done properly if double checked the right way.

Edit.
Not right to do such a long reply here on Flettys thread so Ive removed the lengthy reply before it gets stuck here.
I copied it and Ill re post in its own thread if its of interest.

Rob

I’m in. Let’s get this WIP happening.

ajw

Wot, you have a lathe?

When can I wander up to watch you turn?

Originally Posted by auscab

.
Not right to do such a long reply here on Flettys thread so Ive removed the lengthy reply before it gets stuck here.
I copied it and Ill re post in its own thread if its of interest.

Yes please.

Rob, I take Graham’s point with respect to refining a design in a computer more easily as my experience. I do wonder if the likes of you with your experience and practiced design skills is able to visualise/create the design in your mind, and are simply using the pencil to put what is in your head on paper?

I come up with a vague concept in my mind, but then have to go through multiple iterations of seeing the stages before I end up with something I’m happy with.

Perhaps that is where learning to better sketch would be beneficial. Regardless, I am keen so understand more of your process.