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Jaicobb t1_j20q6yq wrote

I'm reminded of my father in laws practices. Measure twice, cut three times and then just shove it in place.

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Metal_Monkey42 t1_j20w7bv wrote

His mistake was that you're meant to cut it LONGER on the 3rd cut.

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[deleted] t1_j20pyi0 wrote

[deleted]

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El_Lorenzo OP t1_j20qwhr wrote

I'm 24, i mostly work with wood and when i start on the pc i just get measurements that seem to fit. When i'm done, i go to my nrighbour who owns a sawmill and ask what kind of wood he has in stock. I'l change the size of my created pieces on the pc and then i'm pretty much ready to start. Now i know how much wood i need, where to cut it and drill holes and how to connect them. I taught it to myself, so it's not perfect, neither the computer work, nor the wood working but i learn a lot when i'm going at it!

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Ludo_IE t1_j20qloc wrote

I modeled my house on SketchUp. So I can check the measurements when I'm at the DIY store with my phone .

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El_Lorenzo OP t1_j20rh4k wrote

Is sketchUp easy to use? I'm thinking about to switch programms to be honest. Looking up measurements with your phones sounds quite good to me! Can you also simulate things in it? For example, push/pull on a drawer and check if it's stuck somewhere?

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Ludo_IE t1_j20s0y0 wrote

It's extremely easy to use but very limited. It's good for mesurent. Forget about moving parts. It's very basic. Only advantage is you can move around and check mesure on your phone. Maybe Fusion 360 can do that since there's a phone version too .

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El_Lorenzo OP t1_j20sebo wrote

I see but still handy when it comes to selecting part sizes

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nah-meh-stay t1_j20szbk wrote

Watch a YouTube video on keyboard shortcuts.

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El_Lorenzo OP t1_j20xs0f wrote

On blender or sketchUp you mean?

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nah-meh-stay t1_j210j83 wrote

SketchUp. It doesn't take many test drawings to get down the ones you'll use most.

Last time I looked, there was still a free desktop install from 2017. It's all online now.

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wisym t1_j20sldd wrote

  1. Figure out what I want this thing to be.
  2. Measure the space
  3. adjust plans to fit into space
  4. calculate needed material for project
  5. start project
  6. Run into limits of laws of physics that won't let me do the idea as planned.
  7. Adjust
  8. Go to Menards for missing materials in Step 4.
  9. GOTO 6
  10. END
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El_Lorenzo OP t1_j20sxlo wrote

It's always great to run into people who are also short on material, during the running project. Not very uplifting but at least you are not alone

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wisym t1_j20tja1 wrote

Or sometimes you're over on supplies and have no idea why. "I have this entire case left, but all of my calculations say that I should have nothing left. Whyyyyyyy?"

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El_Lorenzo OP t1_j20xplo wrote

Yeah, i recently had this situation with multiple packs of screws... In the store i was like "yeah i'm gonna take those for that, then those and this size too for there" a week later when i was putting the stuff together i was wondering why i bought so many different screws...

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Amazingawesomator t1_j20thdk wrote

I usually make a drawing a second grader would scoff at with measurements written next to the sides, then start cutting.

It doesnt work very well, but i do it anyways. I have fun, at least : D

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El_Lorenzo OP t1_j20wgia wrote

That's the right mindset! A DIY is about having a good time anyway ^^

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BluegrassDingus t1_j20z6pm wrote

Same! I start with a blank piece of paper, a pencil, and maybe a straight edge. Make my sketch, write in lengths, buy supplies and get to it. I’m 40 btw

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Amazingawesomator t1_j21aatg wrote

Right there in that same boat @ 38, heh.

I can usually get an estimate of what i am looking for in my head, and im able to keep it/remember it with the paper, hahahahah

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-K_a_r_m_a- t1_j20uac2 wrote

As soon as the idea jumps in my mind i draw the thing i want to build. Like the hanging book case idea i had

Took a mesuring tape. Marked the areas i want it to hang. Wrote down the lenght, width and depth of the case ect.

When it comes to easy diy projects that does not need power tools and heavy lifting i pretty much just jump on it and get creative and see if my happy little mistakes work out or not

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El_Lorenzo OP t1_j20ws0g wrote

That's a creative and also quite useful attempt to get started! You mostly make easy things or complicated/big stuff too?

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BruceNY1 t1_j20vl74 wrote

I used to wing Arduino and ESP-based projects - just pull out the breadboard and start plugging. As my projects got more complex, well I found myself simply giving up on a lot of them because I would lose myself.

I put a bit more project management into it now, I'll start with a Google Slide kind of explaining the problem I'm trying to solve and the abstract solutions, then I prototype electronics, then model an enclosure based on the prototype's form factor, print it, test-fit, and look for corrections to make, documenting everything along the way on photo/video.

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El_Lorenzo OP t1_j20xa4i wrote

I hate it but documenting circuits is the most useful and valuable thing you can have, with a breadboard and about 30 wires connected to idk how many components. Google slide is the alternayive to powerpoint right? I liked to work with powerpoint and also draw.io, very useful!

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Twitchunlimited t1_j20rtdv wrote

I start with whatever paper I have handy. Most of the time inspiration strikes when I only have napkins. So its napkins, graph paper, add measurements, then pray my math is right.

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El_Lorenzo OP t1_j20s279 wrote

Did you learn it that way or have you taught it yourself that way?

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Twitchunlimited t1_j20u9o1 wrote

Little bit of both

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El_Lorenzo OP t1_j20w77n wrote

Nice, i like that way but i never get myself to draw and size parts freehand. I'm too scared to draw something wrong and build some bizzarre van gogh like creations

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iObeyTheHivemind t1_j20rvyv wrote

Woodworker here. I go off the seat of my pants mostly.

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Wildweed t1_j20si6b wrote

I just use regular paper.

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604_heatzcore t1_j20sua7 wrote

I built a square drop trailer completely off the top of my head. While it went well there's a few things I had to fix, however The time I would of taken to sketch it all up and do all the math for it still would of gone well over the time it took to fix That being said I'm very construction inclined with a good memory. For something small it's not a big deal but when there's alot of money being invested definitely plan it out.

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El_Lorenzo OP t1_j20tdxf wrote

I get that, often there are just tiny things that cost you so much time, while just "go ahead and try" could have fixed it in a fraction of that time. You are blessed with such a memory!

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RoofedSnail t1_j20uu66 wrote

I'm a paper and pencil guy. 30

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Metal_Monkey42 t1_j20vzoc wrote

Rough line drawings with measurements is probably the easiest way to start IMO. Be it by paper, whiteboard or MS paint.

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mtntrail t1_j20w258 wrote

I am a very much older potter and sometimes woodworker. I sketch with pencil and paper for the ceramics, line drawing multiple perspectives and measured layout for wood. I have used a floorplan designer online for our house, but that was a one off. Have messed about with sketch up a bit for fun but not really to design anything.

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ManuBender t1_j20wyuc wrote

im also doing it mostly the blender way. first i figure out the needed functions and size constraints the thing needs to be and adhere to that while modeling around that in blender. then i either print or get a prototype going to see if i missed something. and to make sure ergonomics and whatnot are good if thats needed.

sketching on paper is a good way for me to brainstorm ideas when im not 100% sure about some given components(pcbs, hardware..), sizes, functions, looks.

my downfall happens when i pretty much locked in the design and it works, and then for some reason try to cram even more functions/extras into the thing. m, 33

edit: like this AirQuality monitor i‘m designing

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UD_Lover t1_j20y7yz wrote

I am 37 and have a background in engineering/drafting. I’m proficient with most design software one would use for DIY projects, but my favorite is a good ol’ graph paper notebook, mechanical pencil, and small quilting ruler. I’m very tactile and just enjoy putting a pen/pencil to paper, plus it’s way easier to make quick tweaks with an eraser than it is to fire up the laptop, wait for Windows to update (because it always fucking does), make the changes, print a new copy to work from, etc, etc.

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t0m0hawk t1_j20yadx wrote

I use AutoCAD for most stuff. I just find it super easy to get started in either 2D or 3D. Been getting into Fusion 360 for work, which is easy to get into considering it's in the Autodesk family so there's some familiarity there.

Only time I sketch anything by hand on paper is if I'm taking down measurements.

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Guygan t1_j20z7tz wrote

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Calan_adan t1_j20zp0s wrote

I’m an architect, so I’m all about the planning. At least in the beginning. Once I get to a certain point I have it in my head what I want/need to do.

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digitaldigdug t1_j211xmc wrote

You 100% have to plan. If you don't you can either wind up with a machine that bottlenecks itself or mismatched parts. Everything should be complementary and more than capable of what you plan use it for. I also like to leave plenty of room for expansion and good ventilation.

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