Replies

1. 
   jascotx | Jan 09, 2009 07:40pm | #1

   I don't know if this is the most elegant or quickest way of drawing tapered legs, but here's how I do it. 

   1.  Draw your leg cross section, and stretch it to the desired finished length.

   2. On one end, draw your tapered cross section (offset or centered) according to your design.

   3.  Then, on your leg section where you want your taper to start, draw a line on each outside face.  These lines will create circumferential line around your leg.  

   4.  Next, connect the corners of your tapered cross section with these circumferential lines.  You won't see the lines after they are drawn since they exist inside of the straight legs at the moment. 

   5.  Carefully select just one of  the exterior straight leg sections between the circumferenctial line and the tapered cross section, and delete it.  You should now see the underlying tapered section you created.  Do the same for the remaining 3 faces of the straight leg.

   Man, I hope that makes sense.  If not, let me know where you get hung up.  I've attached a copy of quick example that steps through the above descriptions. 

   Best of luck.

       

2. 
   daverichards | Jan 09, 2009 08:01pm | #2

   There are a number of ways to create the taper. Here's a quick and easy way. In my example I'm only applying the taper to two adjacent sides of the leg.

    

   View Image

   First draw a line around the leg to delinieate where the taper begins. If the leg is tapered over its entire length, you can skip this step.

    

   View Image

   Shift your view to the bottom of the leg. Place a couple of intersecting guidelines at the appropriate distance from the sides of the leg. Think of these as layout lines you might use on the real leg. If you want to take a 1/2" off in the taper, set the guidelines in 1/2" from the edges that will get tapered.

   With the Select tool, double click on the bottom face to select it and its bounding edges.

    

   View Image

   Get the Scale tool and grab the corner green handle that is nearest the intersection of the two guidelines. Move that handle to the intersection. Done.

   If you are tapering the leg on all four sides, hold Ctrl while scaling to invoke Scale About Center.

1. 
   frankv | Jan 10, 2009 10:44am | #3

   Now that is why I love this forum!
   Thanks alot guys, you have both helped me out greatly.
   The more I use Sketchup the more I wonder how I ever managed without it.
   Frank

2. 
   RVH | Jan 10, 2009 06:31pm | #4

   Thanks Dave. You make it so easy!RVH