Helpful hints for building coops

[DavidReaves]

build your coop on paper, drawings. it will save you time and surprises later on.

This is the one that works the best for me. I can build it on paper, realize changes need to be made, add features, and never cut a board. I'll start cutting after I've been over the design a few times.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

or teach yourself sketch-up

 

[Sally PB]

We're going to visit Pittsburgh, where we grew up

DH is from PGH, and his brother still lives there. DH is a Steelers fan; you? I'm a football fan by marriage.

 

[aart]

This is the one that works the best for me. I can build it on paper, realize changes need to be made, add features, and never cut a board. I'll start cutting after I've been over the design a few times.

YES! Erasers are much cheaper than lumber.

 

[DavidReaves]

or teach yourself sketch-up

I know that Sketch-up would be great once I learned it... and I even spent about 3 hours hours trying to make a start of it. I finally gave up when I was unable to rotate a 2x4 to the proper vector. The problem is that I've been doing orthagonal drawings for at least 45 years. I can take a pencil, a staight edge, and some graph paper and put my thoughts on paper very quickly.

I can easily visualize when I have a side and top view. Occasionally end views are needed if there's something that won't show on the side.

If I had a tool that would let me draw in 2D and convert the orthogonals to 3D I could probably manage. Even drawing in 3D would be okay if I didn't have to jump through hoops to do it. I want to do it like I do with a pencil-- draw some lines, group some of them into objects, and be done.

 

[aart]

I know that Sketch-up would be great once I learned it... and I even spent about 3 hours hours trying to make a start of it. I finally gave up when I was unable to rotate a 2x4 to the proper vector. The problem is that I've been doing orthagonal drawings for at least 45 years. I can take a pencil, a staight edge, and some graph paper and put my thoughts on paper very quickly.

I can easily visualize when I have a side and top view. Occasionally end views are needed if there's something that won't show on the side.

If I had a tool that would let me draw in 2D and convert the orthogonals to 3D I could probably manage. Even drawing in 3D would be okay if I didn't have to jump through hoops to do it. I want to do it like I do with a pencil-- draw some lines, group some of them into objects, and be done.

There ya go then!
I learned to draft on the board, but used cadd for a couple decades, it's like breathing(or was).
Even with using several cadd programs all that time, I found sketch-up frustrating.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

What program?

I'd rather not say - but it no longer exists. Honestly, I regret making the comment, as I prefer my privacy at this age.

 

[jvls1942]

I learned drawing on the board, too. I went to work for a window factory that had CAD. I never had the training in CAD. I never got the hang of it. I don't know what the system was, but it had about 50 layers.
Once I draw a plan, I seldom have to go look at it to build the structure.

 

[DavidReaves]

I learned drawing on the board, too. I went to work for a window factory that had CAD. I never had the training in CAD. I never got the hang of it. I don't know what the system was, but it had about 50 layers.
Once I draw a plan, I seldom have to go look at it to build the structure.

I did learn one system. which was VERY basic back in the MS-DOS days of computing. I think it was called EasyCAD. It was really the same as drawing, but it had snap to grid, automatic dimensions, and would do spline curves, chamfers, and a few other features. It was really just about perfect for me!

PS-- just checked, and there is a Windows 10 version of EasyCAD, but probably nothing like the software I learned in the early 80s. It's $300 retail, to boot.

 

[aart]

It's $300 retail, to boot.

That's cheap!