Trying Sketchup to redesign my garage

[carhunter]

So you guys got me hooked on Sketchup
I used to hand draw all my ideas on graph paper...a lot of work if you can't make up your mind and end up doing 5 different designs

We have 2-2 car garages, 24 and 22' x 30. One was attached to the other after the fact by the previous owner, so they share a common wall.

For 3 years now they've been used as a mini-warehouse for all my ebay stuff, a few cars, etc. Every now and then I park a car inside and work on it

So, after about 14 hours of work, starting from scratch and learning the program, here's what I came up with. Its certainly not perfect, lots of stray lines, etc, but the dimensions are accurate.

None of the 3d models matched my existing shelving exactly, so I build them from scratch, saved as components, and cut/paste into the template.
For fun I built copies of my 26" craftsman tool boxes, the Mig welder, the old Lincoln arc welder, my Panelspotter, and a stainless topped rolling workbench that will act as a mobile packing cart.

the shelf layout is to maximize space for all the storage totes we use for inventory, plus room for larger parts and whatever comes off a car as I'm working

The chevelle came from the 3D warehouse, and somehow lost its wheels when I imported it

Now I'm working on making it look like the pictures.

 

[carhunter]

BTW here are the shelves that my models are based on - scotch rack light duty pallet rack/warehouse shelving, and these reinforced-OSB backroom shelves
(identical to what you'd see behind the counter at Oreilly or AutoZone)

 

[carhunter]

does it **** that bad?
135 views and no opinions?

 

[Jimmy_B]

I like what you've done. Especially if you've never used modeling software before. I've never used Sketchup, but hopefully you got to spend more time playing with the models and layout than learning the tool. I like all the shelving. Sounds like you're done warehousing things and are going to make a shop of it?

Don't take it too hard if people just lurk without commenting. I wasn't going to comment either but I love looking at these kinds of things and ideas others might have for me to steal. Once you're done, put up an actual picture from one of your model viewpoints and we can compare the two.

I use Inventor and did a little of what you did, just not nearly to that detail. I mostly wanted to fit a MH, truck and trailer into a garage and lay out some doors. This was done very quickly and crudely.....

 

[JCQuick]

I like what you did with it. I can find all these cool shop things you guys find to put in these scketchups. What am I doing wrong?

 

[Nowater]

No comment becasue I have just started with Sketchup, but your drawings look good enough to get a feel for the space. Isn't that your goal?

 

[dare23]

Great work! If you need that much shelving, you have too much stuff ;o)
Nice Chevelle

 

[clarkebd]

That does seem like a crazy amount of shelves for that space. If you really do need that, consider closing it off to keep it cleaner when you are sanding, cutting, etc. in the garage.

I know my shelves get really messy sometimes after a project and I'm glad I don't have that many.

I'm in the very beginning stages of learning SketchUp.

Is it best to just go through the video tutorials they include in the HELP section?

I'm trying to design a greenhouse for my brother-in-law. He's got 46 windows - all different shapes (all were scrap) that he wants to incorporate. Only way I can think is to draw them all out, fit them like a puzzle and build the frame around when I have them in the basic shape of a building.

 

[carhunter]

That does seem like a crazy amount of shelves for that space. If you really do need that, consider closing it off to keep it cleaner when you are sanding, cutting, etc. in the garage.

I know my shelves get really messy sometimes after a project and I'm glad I don't have that many.

I'm in the very beginning stages of learning SketchUp.

Is it best to just go through the video tutorials they include in the HELP section?

I'm trying to design a greenhouse for my brother-in-law. He's got 46 windows - all different shapes (all were scrap) that he wants to incorporate. Only way I can think is to draw them all out, fit them like a puzzle and build the frame around when I have them in the basic shape of a building.

Thanks Guys, I'll follow up with some in progress shots, the clutter is a bit embarrassing at the moment. Just so easy to get a little out of sorts, then its a downhilll slide from there.


I don't plan on doing any bodywork there at the moment, its mainly warehouse/packing space plus a work area if I'm parting out a car or something. In the meantime my Cosworth Vega will probably sit where the Chevelle is in the pics, and pushed in/out when necessary.


The turorials were very helpful...I watched the first 3 and it was enough to learn the basics. One of the best hints I could give would be to create your item - shelf, bench, whatever - on a blank sheet. Then highlight it and save as a component. Then you can copy and paste it into another drawing and move it around without altering dimensions.

Also, try to move things by dragging from an endpoint, and put it directly on another endpoint or guide point. It keeps the component in the proper perspective.

 

[carhunter]

I like what you did with it. I can find all these cool shop things you guys find to put in these scketchups. What am I doing wrong?

Are you using the 3d warehouse? If you're having trouble post here and I'll try to guide you.

 

[carhunter]

I like what you've done. Especially if you've never used modeling software before. I've never used Sketchup, but hopefully you got to spend more time playing with the models and layout than learning the tool. I like all the shelving. Sounds like you're done warehousing things and are going to make a shop of it?

Don't take it too hard if people just lurk without commenting. I wasn't going to comment either but I love looking at these kinds of things and ideas others might have for me to steal. Once you're done, put up an actual picture from one of your model viewpoints and we can compare the two.

I use Inventor and did a little of what you did, just not nearly to that detail. I mostly wanted to fit a MH, truck and trailer into a garage and lay out some doors. This was done very quickly and crudely.....

Thanks! Guess i was eager to share my work LOL.
Great barn, its close to mine in color and design but I don't have the windows or cool wainscot.

The problem I have with layouts is once I'm standing in the space, things seem different, or there's always some little dimension that throws everything else off.
Already I'm moving the toolboxes to the other side of the room, deleting one shelf and adding another...

 

[AHotRod]

I think what you have done looks real good

So you guys got me hooked on Sketchup
I used to hand draw all my ideas on graph paper...a lot of work if you can't make up your mind and end up doing 5 different designs

We have 2-2 car garages, 24 and 22' x 30. One was attached to the other after the fact by the previous owner, so they share a common wall.

For 3 years now they've been used as a mini-warehouse for all my ebay stuff, a few cars, etc. Every now and then I park a car inside and work on it

So, after about 14 hours of work, starting from scratch and learning the program, here's what I came up with. Its certainly not perfect, lots of stray lines, etc, but the dimensions are accurate.

None of the 3d models matched my existing shelving exactly, so I build them from scratch, saved as components, and cut/paste into the template.
For fun I built copies of my 26" craftsman tool boxes, the Mig welder, the old Lincoln arc welder, my Panelspotter, and a stainless topped rolling workbench that will act as a mobile packing cart.

the shelf layout is to maximize space for all the storage totes we use for inventory, plus room for larger parts and whatever comes off a car as I'm working

The chevelle came from the 3D warehouse, and somehow lost its wheels when I imported it

Now I'm working on making it look like the pictures.

 

[m_hatcher]

I like the idea of all those shelves especially since you are just using the space more or less as a warehouse. Sketchup can be finicky sometimes, but you seem to have the hang of it. My first model most certainly did not look that good.

 

[JCQuick]

Are you using the 3d warehouse? If you're having trouble post here and I'll try to guide you.

Thanks carhunter I'll be getting back to it here soon and when I do i'll hit you up. yes I was using 3 d warehouse

 

[jarhead]

I started learning it yesterday.

Trying to figure out my shop layout with the Fairline in the shop, and all the equipment surrounding it.

Made it this far, lol

 

[Fastowl]

First of all I commend your start at using the program. I'm an engineer by background; program in many languages; used to teach programming back in college back in the days of punch cards. I typically just start learning a new program by diving in and coding (or in this case drawing). Tried it a few years ago on sketchup and failed. Last year I bit the bullet and went through the tutorials. Piece of cake now.

Now I assume you have found that there is a library of pre done sketches you can use. Also do a search and there is lots of stuff already out there on the net that you use and avoid having to recreate the world. So far I can tell you that u are making great progress, the more you use it the faster and easier it will be. Best of luck!

 

[BIG-BRO]

Here's my first pass at using Sketchup for my soon-to-be garage. Pulling in specific cars and shop equipment, etc is really neat

 

[Screwdriver]

I do everything in Sketchup.

Built the shed using it. Designed and built most of the benches and storages with it, I even reorganise the shed using it. Amazingly useful bit of software.

Here's the whole thing.

I used Sketchup to build a little outside cabin for the compressor and to layout the plumbing. It helped me organise and partition off the grinder/belt sanding area. Indispensable tool imho.

S.

 

[bczygan]

I do everything in Sketchup.

Built the shed using it. Designed and built most of the benches and storages with it, I even reorganise the shed using it. Amazingly useful bit of software.

Here's the whole thing.

I used Sketchup to build a little outside cabin for the compressor and to layout the plumbing. It helped me organise and partition off the grinder/belt sanding area. Indispensable tool imho.

S.

That's a really good example of using it to visualize things. It shows how the visualization and the reality closely match.

I don't use CAD anymore. I don't even hand draw things. After years of designing, I can sit here and visualize everything in my mind. I go directly to making a material list in Excel.

For the OP. If you cover the front of all those shelves with curtains, it will keep the dust off stuff better, and cut the visual clutter.

Bill

 

[jarhead]

I have learned a little more over the last two days. Yes my shop has cattle in it, lol. I married a dairy farmers daughter.

 

[Chris705]

Post up a photo of the cows!!!

 

[jarhead]

Post up a photo of the cows!!!

I still can't get them to work on the cars

This is when they were little, about 750 pounds now.

 

[bottom feeder]

As has been mentioned, one great thing about Sketchup is the free 3D library of items you can download to add to your design. The bad thing is sometimes "you get what you pay for" with the free downloads. Some items look good but are drawn way out of scale, or are just poorly created. One of the best tools to learn how to use is the tape measure so you can sanity check items that you didn't create yourself. Another good thing is to learn how to modify the models you download to fix their flaws or to customize them.