Sketchup for Woodworkers - Dados, rabbets and grooves

In this tutorial we rebuild our bookshelf with the shelves dadoed into the sides. We also rabbet the back on. I introduce the 'guides' feature of the tape measure as well as several shortcuts for navigating around your model, more fun with groups and different ways to select exactly what you want.

[@MarceloDezem]

I've seen a lot of videos about SketchUp. Yours is by far the most instructive, detailed enough without beeing annoying. Thanks.

[@ruggedwoodworking3337]

This series really was so good. It made understanding the program so easy. I've tried using SU on and off for years, and have even tried to follow along with other videos, but could never grasp how it really worked and always ran into issues because an explanation was left out. The user was so comfortable using the program they forgot the newbs watching might not realize what was needed. Your video didn't do that and made learning the program dead simple. Thanks!

[@OriginalJimmy5star]

Thank You so much! I agree with my friends here, You're teaching approach/style are the best. Even your voice lends a comfortability here. Thanks again Rob!

[@nettiejob]

I know this video is old, but you've taught me so much in such a short amount of time! The tip about push/pull not working if you're not clicked into the group has been haunting my first project for a couple of days. Now I know why!! I've even started keep notes because there's so much good information. Thank you so much!!

[@chrisbrickell3581]

Made more progress in an hour or two with you than ever before with any sketch up tutorial. Thank you Rob

[@666VIKING1]

Got to say that this guy nails it in his presentation of using Sketchup. Just call me Duffus in the past in using this tool. I have struggled with many a tutorial, but Rob keeps everything simple and logical, and whats more enjoyable. He has an easy rolling voice which is perfect and frankly he has set me on the way to using this CAD tool with much greater confidence. Inspired by his project in between videos I went off drawing up other items using the skills taught in the latest lesson. Press on with his training if you are just starting this lesson (I think it is no 3) stick with him cos you will learn a hell of a lot. Thanks Rob Cameron, you have certainly helped me in this subject, and I think it can only improve my woodworking and planning designs.

[@gwbaker1]

FINALLY . . . I'm really starting to get the hang of Sketchup. These are outstanding tutorials. THANK YOU!!!!!!

[@SpartyLinguist]

I agree with many of the positive comments. Clear and well done. I do have a tiny bit of experience with sketchup and I found that I learned quite a bit. Thanks Rob. Great job.

[@zythra]

I realize these videos are several years old now and several versions of Sketchup have been released since, but it is still very relevant and helpful. I haven't had one bit of trouble following along. I'm on a PC with Sketchup Make 2017 and there are a couple of minor differences, but if you pause the video and fiddle around for a second you can figure out what the differences are. Your instructions have been clear and meaningful. For those that have a hard time hearing, turn the volume up, if it's too fast, hit pause or slow down the play speed. Thanks for the excellent series Rob, you've made the first Sketchup tutorials that I've actually enjoyed.

[@boldger13]

I'm following right along, pausing your tutorial occasionally. It it getting easier for some things and learning more. Thank you.

[@timvanmeter2267]

This is a fabulous series. Props to you for taking the time to help all of us along the way. I'm a cabinet maker by trade and this helps me speed up the process without buying expensive software.

[@jriddim]

You're a great teacher, Rob. Thanks so much for putting this series together. This is exactly what I needed to get the basics down and advance my woodworking skills.

[@SkinnyMonkie]

I don't normally like or comment on videos but, I've used Sketchup for years, little tricks you point out make things quite a bit smoother on the work flow. I've always looked at Sketchup through an artist's eyes. Thanks for showing it to me through a Wood worker's eyes.

[@bereantrb]

SketchUp still does some unexpected and quirky things, but this series helps a lot. Thanks.

[@Lalleepd]

This is fantastic. I am going to build shelves this spring. Can't wait to use this.

[@vanessaveilleur949]

je vous remercie infiniment. En 21.30 min j'ai appris énormément je continue à regarder le reste ;) thanks Rob

[@themusicaddict2094]

Hey there, LOVE this channel. I have wondered how hard or easy sketchup for woodworkers is. Now I can't wait to get it and start using it instead of hours at waffle house with graph paper. And for those that complain about the sound ? Check your computer or your ears, I have headphones plugged in and the sound is perfect. You explain so well, makes perfect sense to me and I can't thank you enough for taking the time to upload these. Changes everything in the garage for me. Everything. Thanks again and hope your doing well these days.

[@planelander]

MAN! these are awesome! I hope you start doing these again!

[@ThomasBui02721]

Thank you for your help! I was able to make a basic chinchilla cage. Your video was the easiest for me to follow.

[@coburnlowman]

Thank you for going to the basics. It was in the early to mid 90's when I last cursed the monitor using the original AutoCAD. That was soooooo aggravating and not user friendly. I just downloaded ScetchUp but haven't started yet. I'm thinking if I watch your videos several times I'll understand the tool functions much better than just jumping in. I can already tell this program is much more user friendly.

[@willloving6014]

THIS IS RLLY INFURMASHONAL TY BRUHSKY

[@anonymousreally9022]

I like your set of videos here. Make more! :)

[@jlcfinishcarpentry]

Thank you!

[@mikedoseck3910]

This is the type of tutorial I have been looking for. I am just getting started and I like the way you introduce a few items at a time. Great job. I do however have a hard time understanding the audio. I believe, with your deep voice, when you speek quickly, the audio come across as a mumbling sound. I think just slowing down would help. Thanks for what you have done!

[@cannikinn]

Sorry about that! If you click the little gear icon at the lower right of the video player you'll see an option for Playback Speed. You can slow the video and audio down, that might help!

[@jakehudson4431]

Thanks for the hard work!

[@SylvainCDenis]

HI Rob, new to Sketchup and your videos have been a life savers. Thanks for this. A question for you, or anyone one else reading this, I am making trays for a jewelry box and i am strugglin with making the side with dado on a miter joint. Can't seem to figure it out and i havent found anything online. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[@CodeSe77en]

At about the 9:30ish mark, I cannot for the LIFE of me get the "/4" trick to work no matter what I do (to even divide the guides like for the shelf placement). I've tried inside the group box, outside the group box, from the top edge to the edge of the rabbet, from the edge of the rabbet to the top edge, inside the face, in the web version, in the desktop version. I'm getting very frustrated. What is the trick? Can you or anyone please explain exactly how to do this?? Thank you.

[@StringCheeseINC]

nice tutorials.. thanks for the help

[@donrobertson4940]

Hi - just wondering if that flip tool rotates the piece of reflects it? If you a left and right and a front and back, will it keep the front at the front? Just watching in my phone at the moment. Will try when I get home :-)

[@damonhearne6936]

Rob, this is a great video series for me as a newcomer to Sketchup. After watching you put the dado in the sides of this bookcase, I designed one following your steps that only has one horizontal shelf. I'm not TRYING to add and position two vertical separator walls inside each shelf. What's the trick to lining them up vertically above one another?

[@jackfinnerty7891]

at about 10.30 mins he divides the gable for the dadoes .i cannot figure out how to do this at all?? really appreciate any info.

[@terryjones8360]

Once you draw all the dados and set the first one back 1/4", you can just double click on the rest of them and they'll retract for you.

[@privateuploads-geo2625]

Rob... are you still monitoring this? I really appreciate your tutorial. about 2 min in on this one, you select a shelf within the Group bookcase, and then are able to adjust position or size of the shelf independent of the other shelves. When I try it and follow the steps you outline, I am able to increase the thickness of ALL the shelves, but not just one. Is it something I am not doing, or has the program changed? I can see that one shelf has been selected and has the dotted outline around just the one shelf.

[@cannikinn]

Did you make the shelf a component and then make copies of that? When make changes to a component all of the copies change as well. If so, and you only want to change the size of one shelf, you can right click on it and select Make Unique. Now it will be separate from the component copies.

[@privateuploads-geo2625]

Rob Cameron yes I did make it a component rather than a group. Thanks for the clarification on how to adjust a component

[@daddywoofdawg]

how did you divide the guide lines? a tip for future videos,can you say what keyboard buttons you are clicking off screen each time,don't forget you are teaching people that don't know.

[@mattjennings4493]

Hi Rob, Im slightly new to this and need some help. When drawing something similar to you i produce shelves, then hide all the groups then annoyingly i am left with loads of bits. Shelf ends and10mm thicknesses of the back panel. What am i doing wrong?

[@edstraub7965]

I'm new to this stuff and looking for all the help I can get. I build outdoor items for people, like picnic tables, animal cages, shelves etc. I really like the instructions and it's helping me to understand how I might use it. I do wish one thing, that you would put your head in one corner, so we could read your lips. It seems that your talk then fade out where I can't understand what your saying, and some times your just too fast for me. It took me a couple hours listening to your instruction on copy before I found out you said hit the ctrl button. ha ha I have bad hearing to complex the problem. I do find the instructions better than most on the Sketchup program. thank you

[@schwinn434]

I'm a newbie to Sketch Up; I wish my rendering of my drawing looked like Rob's. My drawings are all "see through" and I don't seem to be able to make them have a solid appearance to them. (Sorry< I don't know the correct terminology to ask this question properly.)

[@cannikinn]

Try going up to View > Face Style... you might have "X-Ray" or "Wireframe" checked on? On mine I only have "Shaded" selected.

[@schwinn434]

@@cannikinn Thanks for the feedback Mr. Cameron; I really like these videos (I think you're the best instructor for Sketch Up I've found on KZbin, for sure.)

[@EstBest69]

How can I make my 3D sketch into a plan to print it out and start building?

[@juansanchez-fg1nf]

how di you select all the components of the frame to make it one group.

[@BenjaminBustard]

These videos are great and very helpful! I was successful with this on another computer, but now at home when I attempt to create the 2nd guidline and divide by for "/4" immediately after, I lose one of the guidelines and get no extras! It's driving me crazy! Has anyone here experienced that? I have no idea what I could be doing wrong...

[@michaeldolson2397]

thank you so much!!

[@dlwatcher]

Missed one good time saver. on the push pull for all your dados. after you make the first push or pull every corresponding push or pull all need to do is double click with the tool it remembers and repeats the3 same dimension. As far as flip simple select the flip based on the color axes you drag along

[@charleswirth5359]

why in your tutorial are the icons in color and at the top of page yet when you open the free trial they are in black and white and run down the right and left side

[@cannikinn]

You are probably using the version of Sketchup that you use in your web browser, rather than the download and install version. Go here and create an account, then loadload the last version for your system: www.sketchup.com/download/all

[@Axxic3]

If you could separate the basics into another video (grouping, hotkeys) and concentrate on the techniques described in the video title that would be very helpful and time saving. Thanks for the vid!

[@JoshDoubleM]

The "/4" business is not working at all. I copy the guide to the top of the panel, press /4, and the guide I just copied disappears. I can get "*4" to work just fine

[@lhoffman_3]

JoshDoubleM I was having the same problem. You can't use the "/" on the number pad, you have to use the one next to the Shift key. They map differently. You could also use Shift + (numpad) /, to give you the same character.

[@gooeytarballs]

Very nice. Learning a few things. One suggestion - speak slowly when drawing a big stick. For some strange reason, you seem to be able to do things faster than I can follow - maybe you have more experience with SketchUp. After finishing the video lesson, take time to create an Introduction that recites the goal of the presentation, the tasks or features to be used and highlights the tools and key clicks employed - maybe close-ups of the tool icons, drop down menu selections to be used in each lesson. Remember, we are watching everything you do.

[@garrydye2394]

This is youtube...these are videos....there is a pause button...you can also go back to the part that you felt was to fast as many times as you like. Also...if you don't like the way he finished the video lesson...you are free to take the time to make your own free video of sketch up and post it to youtube just the way you like it.

[@joe1871]

Hey Rob - you gotta do something with the sound. I can't understand a word you are saying. It makes it rough to follow. Looks like a great video, but cant follow it.

[@Sherlock100n]

The sound is pretty low for this tutorial.

[@mackdamerc8885]

It sounds like his mic is at the keyboard. The key punches and mouse clicks are LOUD, and his voice is low.

[@JimBeshears]

Well John Hubert I think that since Rob is doing this for free, for our benefit, so that he can teach others how to better themselves you need to lighten up on him. I feel bad for you that the educational system failed you and you can't understand English or follow simple instructions. I think if your parents didn't raise you better, or you just blew them off when they tried to teach you basic respect for others you should just f off and crawl back into whatever hole you exist in. Rob I love your videos, I think they teach Sketchup better than anything that is on KZbin I've seen.

[@tonyraven540]

I'm having a real hard time following what you are saying -- loud then soft - slow then fast -- maybe too much time around power tools for these old ears. Just thought you should know. I'll shop for someone who can sketch and talk at the same rate - thanks

[@godmode3359]

Agreed, the audio is useless and the instructions don't make any sense/ don't work in RL. this is about as much of a waste of bandwidth as there has ever been. I have found the entire program to be garbage. I have wasted at least 100+ hours sitting n front of a pc trying to learn this program and it still takes over 30 min. to draw a box. There is nothing helpful or productive about it at all. I have just decided it's a game for kids who want to play art project in their bedrooms. I can sit down with a piece of paper or hell even ms paint and draw out plans for an entertainment center in 5 minutes. If I try to use sketchup it will be two weeks before I can cut my first piece of wood. It's just not worth it in any way. Useful idea of a program turned into trash by over complication and poor navigation.

[@moomoodoctor]

I REALLY like your videos, but I wish you'd speak a bit more clearly. Maybe it's just my aging ears ...

[@dutch971]

Good Sketchup guide video but the fluctuating volume level of your voice is HORRIBLE!!!!!! Work on it!!!!! You go from extremely quiet to extremely loud in the same sentence. Completely Horrible. I know this was made years ago, but I'm just now watching this. Hopefully you don't make videos any longer or you let someone else do the narrating. I hope it's one of those two because I doubt you even noticed the extreme fluctuation of your voice. I'm three videos in, and so far you haven't noticed it. I have my volume all the way up, and still struggle to hear most of the video, other parts I find I am disturbing the neighbors with the noise violation. I don't know how you make videos without noticing this and correcting it. You don't seem to be retarded, so that leads me to believe it's deliberate. You are also speaking fast in some areas, usually the quiet areas. So you're trying to make an instructional for Sketch Up but you are making a conscience effort to speak fast, extremely quiet, and very loud throughout the video. That seems borderline satanic or certainly evil. Are you sitting back laughing when you are editing this "they will never be able to hear or understand me" hahahahahaha.... seems that way to me. Let someone else narrate or work on it. You want someone to watch these videos....right.

[@Axeyard]

+dutch971 Yeah, but he records the banging and pounding on the table with the mouse/trackball so well!!

[@daveengstrom9250]

I am new at this and trying to learn. You make mistakes, but you don't say you made a mistake, you just back up and mumble. How is one to learn like this? You should have practiced first, then recorded a flawless video. This is confusing.

[@jameshaines1853]

Rod, Could you possibly speak any faster? I seriously doubt it. You have so very much to share, but your commentary comes out like bursts of machine gun fire. Your words are often times run together and mumbled in a most unintelligible blur. Sorry to sounds so critical, but what you are sharing would be so much better if you would simply slow down and speak more precisely and in an even cadence. Imagine sitting next to someone else showing you a computer program that you have never used before who moves his cursor at 100 mph and speaks at 200 mph. Thanks for putting this together, but please think about the many comments about having a hard time following you. When I stop to think about it, I am convinced that you are actually talking to yourself and not to an audience.

[@cannikinn]

Hi James, sorry about that, I'm a fast talker! You could try going to the little gear icon (Settings) at the lower right of the KZbin player. Click that and then click on "Speed." Now pick 0.75 or 0.5 to slow down both the video and audio and see if that helps.