Author Topic: Software for planning wood bookcases/cabinets/tables etc? (Read 439,652 times)

mahesh2k · « **Reply #125 on:** December 22, 2011, 03:07 AM »

Mouser, open the cabinet and give me teh cookies

or else....

this guy is coming to ruin your Christmas ....

mouser · « **Reply #126 on:** September 19, 2014, 11:59 PM »

That reminds me.. next project for this year is to build a custom king sized bed.
Anyone done that before? Any suggestions?

Deozaan · « **Reply #127 on:** September 20, 2014, 12:39 AM »

You're going to build the entire bed? Including the mattress? Or just the frame?

mouser · « **Reply #128 on:** September 20, 2014, 04:57 AM »

just frame not building my mattress.
who builds a mattress.

KynloStephen66515 · « **Reply #129 on:** September 20, 2014, 05:04 AM »

Why would you use Software?
Why not blueprint it, or use general woodworking plans to do it?

Deozaan · « **Reply #130 on:** September 20, 2014, 05:11 AM »

Quote from: Stephen66515 on September 20, 2014, 05:04 AM

Why would you use Software? Why not blueprint it, or use general woodworking plans to do it?

People use software to make blueprints (drafting) these days. It's called AutoCAD.

Quote from: mouser on September 20, 2014, 04:57 AM

just frame not building my mattress.
who builds a mattress.

I've heard of people making their own mattress before. Just curious how DIY you were going with this project. (c:

mouser · « **Reply #131 on:** September 20, 2014, 06:19 AM »

Quote

Why would you use Software? Why not blueprint it, or use general woodworking plans to do it?

um.. this is DonationCoder.com.. that's not the question we ask here, as you very well know.
the question we ask here is, given ANY activity, how can i maximize my use of software to assist with this activity.

KynloStephen66515 · « **Reply #132 on:** September 20, 2014, 07:13 AM »

Quote from: mouser on September 20, 2014, 06:19 AM

Quote
Why would you use Software? Why not blueprint it, or use general woodworking plans to do it?

um.. this is DonationCoder.com.. that's not the question we ask here, as you very well know.
the question we ask here is, given ANY activity, how can i maximize my use of software to assist with this activity.

Haha, of all the perfect answers, this one is the most perfect

KynloStephen66515 · « **Reply #133 on:** September 21, 2014, 09:20 AM »

One for you to try with the bed mouser.

mouser · « **Reply #134 on:** September 26, 2014, 05:25 AM »

Ok i've got my basic structural plan worked out:

I used SketchUp, which can be pretty darn painful to use.. I wish there was something better. The dimensions are only rough estimates since they are difficult to tweak, but the basic idea comes through.

Main issue I was trying to solve with my plan was to provide rock solid stability and support for a large king size bed (76" x 80") and have the sides look reasonably nice (in my bedroom you can really only see one side of the bed).

Notes: Headboard and footboard will not look like exactly like that, I plan to use reclaimed wood for the inset part; slats will cover entire surface; dimensions are off a little because i couldn't get them perfect.

Inspiration came from the farmhouse bed plans on the Anna White site.

My main concern with the plan is the use of the 4x4s.. I am concerned that they are going to turn out ugly when stained and finished.

ewemoa · « **Reply #135 on:** September 30, 2014, 02:07 AM »

If you want to maximize the use of software, perhaps consideration towards 3D-printing various portions will get you closer to that ideal

bob99 · « **Reply #136 on:** September 30, 2014, 02:46 AM »

Quote from: mouser on September 26, 2014, 05:25 AM

Ok i've got my basic structural plan worked out: (see attachment in previous post) (see attachment in previous post)
I used SketchUp, which can be pretty darn painful to use.. I wish there was something better. The dimensions are only rough estimates since they are difficult to tweak, but the basic idea comes through.

Main issue I was trying to solve with my plan was to provide rock solid stability and support for a large king size bed (76" x 80") and have the sides look reasonably nice (in my bedroom you can really only see one side of the bed).

Notes: Headboard and footboard will not look like exactly like that, I plan to use reclaimed wood for the inset part; slats will cover entire surface; dimensions are off a little because i couldn't get them perfect.

Inspiration came from the farmhouse bed plans on the Anna White site.

My main concern with the plan is the use of the 4x4s.. I am concerned that they are going to turn out ugly when stained and finished.

Consider using glued up 1x boards.

bob99 · « **Reply #137 on:** September 30, 2014, 03:07 PM »

^

Or glued up 2x4's like this. It's not sanded and finished yet.

Here's a picture I found of a bed using recycled wood.

Found this site in the UK with some pictures of beds using reclaimed wood.
http://www.eatsleeplive.co.uk/products/bedroom-furniture/beds/
Click on each of the bed types and you can see more close-up details. These have more of a distressed look.

May give you some more ideas.

mouser · « **Reply #138 on:** September 30, 2014, 03:28 PM »

Yes, I'm looking at altering the plans to use glued up 1x lumber. It takes away a little from the chunky feel of 4x4 but it would also let me use nice hardwood 1x3 and 1x4 lumber..

superboyac · « **Reply #139 on:** September 30, 2014, 04:57 PM »

good choice, sketchup is the best for this sort of thing.

jpfx · « **Reply #140 on:** October 03, 2014, 08:25 PM »

(mouser), I was looking at that homedesignersoftware suite because I'm thinking about remodeling the kitchen (small). but I read somewhere that counter tops couldn't be 'designed' with the suite version. not that it needs to emulate a granite counter top but a kitchen model with that bit missing isn't much good.
kitchen is squarish but 3 doors take up a lot of wall estate. I would like to 'open up' one wall (a bit more dramatically than you did) and get an idea of what it might look like. (worried about reinforcing what studs remain on that wall to' take the weight).
sketchup looks far too 'bitsy' (model every bit) and HDS suite maybe can't handle it.
any other software suggestions?
thanks

mouser · « **Reply #141 on:** October 03, 2014, 08:38 PM »

As for visualizing a room or multiple rooms, i would *highly* recommend HomeDesigner; i didn't see anything about counter tops not being in suite version -- that would surprise me. i suggest you look into that.

Using SketchUp was painful, but was the best tool i could find for sketching a single item with unique details (like a bed).

mouser · « **Reply #142 on:** June 12, 2015, 12:57 PM »

I ended up buying a bed on craigslist that was much nicer than i could have built for a fraction of the cost. That's the rule I realize now when it comes to furniture, you have to be insane to try to make it yourself and think you're going to get something half as good for 10x the price of buying a nice used piece.

So having absorbed that lesson, a few weeks ago i set out to build an 8ft media center cabinet for my living room, in an attempt to learn how to properly stain and finish a big item (it's 8ft long, 33 inches tall, 16 inches deep) and how to make drawers. Please do not ask me why i didn't start on something smaller.

Half way done photo:

Still to do:

Add face frame.
Add fancy inset/flush drawers (in center area).
Add base trim.
Stain.
Finish and rub out (Lacquer, shellac, or polyeurethane). <-- this is the part i'm most nervous about and have been reading so much about and testing on scrap.. It's hard to do properly when you dont have a place to use a sprayer..

I already regret taking on the project, but nothing left to do now but push forward bitching and moaning the whole way.. I'll post more photos when it's done.

KynloStephen66515 · « **Reply #143 on:** June 12, 2015, 01:25 PM »

Quote from: mouser on June 12, 2015, 12:57 PM

nothing left to do now but push forward bitching and moaning the whole way..

*sighs* If I had a pound/dollar for every time my mrs said this to me...

superboyac · « **Reply #144 on:** June 12, 2015, 02:07 PM »

lol...i like how you regret it in the beginning of the project, but you're going to do it anyway.

ayryq · « **Reply #145 on:** June 12, 2015, 06:30 PM »

In the approximate scope of the original topic, I wanted to suggest "Cutlist"

There are similar, expensive programs, but this one is free and does the job pretty well. Basically you enter a list of parts, and a list of supplies, and it figures out the optimal way to cut your lumber. I've mainly used it for plywood, but it works with (and includes example files) for normal lumber as well. Many options to help it decide on what is the optimum use of wood. Looking back at it today, I found it also has an option "cross cuts first" which could be handy for me in the future as I have a fairly small jointer.

mouser · « **Reply #146 on:** June 12, 2015, 07:06 PM »

that could be verrrry useful, thanks aryq

cranioscopical · « **Reply #147 on:** June 12, 2015, 09:05 PM »

Quote from: mouser on June 12, 2015, 12:57 PM

nothing left to do now but push forward bitching and moaning the whole way

FWIW I find cursing to be more satisfying.

mouser · « **Reply #148 on:** June 12, 2015, 11:09 PM »

Today's progress: face frame cut (but not glued up), and drawer slides attached (very precisely):

ayryq · « **Reply #149 on:** June 13, 2015, 01:18 PM »

Quote from: mouser on June 12, 2015, 11:09 PM

drawer slides attached (very precisely)

I think this might be the hardest part of most projects (for me). Not the most annoying - that goes to all the steps between "built" and "finished" - but there's so many ways to go wrong fitting drawers, lining up the slides, getting them at the right height and projection, and if there's more than one, lining them up with each other. And I can never seem to remember how I did it last time...

Looks good; can't wait to see it finished and installed.