Poll - What do you do when you build something?

[clowman]

Just wondering what everyone does when they decide to build something significant...

[yellofins]

Clay,
You need to add an all of the above.
At times I've used all of the methods.....on the same project!

Ron

[Terry]

I like to make a pencil drawing (not to size) to start to get a general idea that this is really what I want. Then make a drawing using the measurements I will be using and make a copy of the project. I usually make it out of pine or popular as the proto type. If this is what I like then I recheck my measurements and start the project. If the porject requires a certain finish I will test a sample finish on a piece of scrap wood I am using on the project. Right now I am making a Fire Department Plaque that I designed years ago using some figures from some bronze plaques. It consisted of a Fire firghter on each end of the State of North Carolina as the background with the Fire Department Patch of that Department between them. I have also done it with the Fire Department Malteese Cross in the middle. All parts are in 3D and very time consuming. I have made several that have been presented at Fort Bragg over the years. My biggest problen is if it doesn't look right I will throw out a peice and start over till I get it right. Can be expensive. PS I am a NUT! Terry

[lwhughes149]

I go looking at pictures of pieces of furniture when I am trying to come up with something new to make.

[Travis Porter]

I'm a hybrid. The LOML and I will decide I am going to build something be it a dresser, bed, cabinet, etc, and then we go picture hunting. If I can find a plan we like, I will buy it, but I have not had a lot of luck with plans. Too many times either the joinery is not as good as it should be, or more likely I suck at that type of joinery.

If we don't find a plan, then I will do drawings laying out how I will make it from the picture. For dimensions, I try to stay pretty standard and rob them from other plans/books/magazines that I have. One that I use a lot for dimensions is Thomas Moser's measured shop drawings for american furniture. Historically, I would get out pencil and paper and do rough drawings, but I would end up forgetting or missing something. Now I pull up sketchup and do it all. One thing I have noticed with me doing sketchup is that I at times make the joinery more complex than I need to..

[DaveO]

Clay, I would have to go for almost all of the above. I mostly draw up my own plans with inspiration from pictures I find on the Web, but they aren't very precise, then I go out to the shop and start sawing and make things fit within the basic parameters of my "sketch" plan, then I screw up and come on-line to y'all to ask for advice on how to fix my error

Dave

[jeff...]

Quick question what do you consider something significant? Just so I can get a perspective on where your coming from.

Thanks

[Monty]

No simple answer for me... I usually go to the web and look for ideas/inspiration, then think about it for a few months.... then buy some wood.... sketch up some plans... realize I don't have enough wood.... buy more wood... start cutting.... (oops)... buy MORE wood.... etc.

[clowman]

Quick question what do you consider something significant?

Not a jig(not that they are not significant). Anything that will take you more than a couple of days to complete.

[gator]

I'm with Ron, I sorta use all of the methods together. In the beginning I look at pictures (web and magazines and catalogs) and make some preliminary sketches. After I get the primary dimensions, I try to make a cutting list of sorts and then start cutting and fitting as I go. I have used plans but it seems that I always modify as I go so the plans basically end up serving the same purpose as my preliminary sketches.

George

[michaelgarner]

I use Google Sketch-up to draw a full plan. That gives me a detailed list of what I need. From there I make a cut list of the wood needed and decide what joinery, style, finish, etc. It has helped me out a lot doing it this way as well. And of course I mill the wood for the entire project at the same time. That way it doesn't feel that I am milling every piece as needed. One thing that I do as well, is figure the 20% for waste. With a detailed plan I don't waste that much but the left over milled stock helps when I make a mistake and I have stock that is milled to the right specifications. Hope I helped.

[NZAPP1]

I am with the rest of the group. You need to add all of the above. I go to the web, stores or books look for design ideas. Then sketch up something and jump right in and design, size and change as I go.

[skeeter]

"All of the above!" I like to start with a picture, if possible, then sketch out changes I may want to make. After getting the style, then I will work on the measurements, jointery, and how much lumber and what finish.

[cpowell]

I look for a picture from the web, print it out and establish an approximate scale for reference, then draw up the plans by hand.

I have built a few pieces with plans but have migrated to generating my own plans. I don't do a lot of detailed sketches at first. I break the project down into steps. When I begin a step, I write down notes, generate detailed sketches (ie, mortise details), and also include "warning" statements (sneak up on final thickness, etc).

I have made fewer mistakes working from my plans...no, I didn't say ZERO mistakes!

Chuck

[rhett]

I think it is a mixture of all suggestions. Really depends on your own style. I usually start cutting and then draw out anything "tricky" full scale on a sheet of 1/4 inch. I try to make sure all piece/sizes are porportional with one another based off the golden mean.