Replies

1. 
   MBerger | Apr 09, 2007 10:14pm | #1

   Hi Abner,

   This topic gets a lot of discussion in the free Knots forum so you may want to poke around there for advice.

   That said, I've been seeing some huge traction in the use of Google's free Sketchup 3D design software. It seems to be a very intuitive program for woodworkers and is easy to learn because there are a ton of free resources and tutorials available. The downside is that it doesn't produce cut lists.

   Fine Woodworking also published a review of CAD applications a few years back, but as far as I know they don't include a cut list generator either.

   An independent Web site called Woodbin.com has a free calculator that helps you develop materials lists, but I'm not sure how useful it is when used in conjunction with a CAD application.

   Finally, I did a quick Google search and found a few cut list applications that might be worth looking into:

   http://www.delphiforfun.com/Programs/CutList.htm

   http://cutlistplus.com/

   Regards,
   Matt Berger
   Fine Woodworking

    

2. 
   cowtown | Apr 11, 2007 11:28am | #2

   I've got a perspective on this that is anatheme to the IT folks who dabble in WWing.

   There are lots of WWing cad stuff out there, and indeed software packages tht 10 years ago used to be priced in the 10k$ range are now free.(ecabinets)

   That being said, if you wanna sit on yer deck and design, well you gotta pull out a computer whereas you could just use a pen and pencil.

   Give a client a computer-generated sketch and that's what they expect to see, even if you lable it with caveats.

   Give thm a hand sketched drawing, and yer versatility is built-in, and neither are yer perfromance requirements. Cop-out? methinks not, cause most reno folks appreciate that you got no idea what you'll find in the walls, but them software reliant folks think they do. Duh?

   I've got the ecabinet system, and it just aint even compatable with the simple carcase construction I use, ain't compatable with the drilling jigs I use,and the cut lists ain't much more than I can accomplish in 30 sec of sketching.Cheap, but it requires lotsa time to alter my economic construction techniques to suit someone elses real expensive machinery (which I'd have to pay for) and accept gables just drilled full of holes. Sorry, ain't goin there.

   Sheet-Borg-chop at 32.25" provides 90% of my rough cuts for my current kitchen stuff. Waste is minimal.

   Tried multiple software "solutions" over the years. Without success.

   Eric