Woodworking Software

[georgenoeth1]

Tutorial 4,   Section 1

In this tutorial we are going to build a screen door.  It will use mortise and tenon joinery.

We will start by drawing the left stile 3.5 inches wide and 68 inches long.  Use the rectangle tool and remember you can enter the values in the dims box in the lower right corner.  Now use the tape measure and make a guide mark 32 inches to the right of the lower left corner. This is the width of the door.

Now select the left stile, then right click and select make component, make the stile into a component.

Now with the component selected, use the move tool and click on the lower right corner of the stile.  Press and release the control key. A plus sign should appear.  You will now be moving a copy of the stile. Move the lower right corner of the copy to the guide mark that you just placed. You now have both stiles.

Now use the rectangle tool and draw the bottom rail between the two stiles it is 11.5 inches wide. And make it into a component.

The mid rail is 3.5 inches wide with the bottom corner 32 inches up from the bottom of the style.  Create it and make it into a component.  Now using the move plus control key move a copy to the top and the picture should look like the one below.

 

Now use the push pull tool pull all the components to .75 inches in thickness.  Remember you must be in edit component when you do this.  This is done by selecting the component, right clicking and selecting edit component.

We will now create a tenon on the ends of each of the rails.  Hide the right stile.  Select the top rail, edit component and place a guide mark ½ inch down from the top along the front edge.  Now draw a line across at this point.  Place another guide mark at ¼ inch along this line.  You can now use the rectangle tool and draw a rectangle 2 ½ inches down and ¼ inch wide.

Now use push pull and pull the tenon out 1 inch.  Now delete the guide marks and guide line and follow the same procedure on the opposite end of the rail.

Note since you are using components the mid rail now has tenons as well

Because of the width of the bottom rail I decided to put two three inch tenons on each end 1//2 inch from the edges.

Remember to be in edit component and do both ends.

We have now completed all the tenons, you can now unhide everything.

That is it for section 1, but stay with me, we will try a few wrinkles tomorrow.

If you are just starting with Sketchup and have trouble  following these instructions please ask questions, I will be happy to get into more detail for those who want it.

As usual any and all feedback is appreciated.  That incuudes any of you who feel that they know a better or faster way to do it. 

[krumy205747]

Okay, I just did the storm door but I didn't follow your directions. It looked pretty straightforward and I knew I could get help from you or from your tutorial if needed. I had to start over a few times because I got frustrated with myself. I did do something a little differently than you. After all the components were drawn, before I expanded any of them I put horizontal guide lines 1/2" from the edges on the rails. That way, whether I was making mortises or tenons I had a reference point to do what was needed. Does that make sense to you?

Steve K

[georgenoeth1]

Steve, the important thing is the result.  Did you get something that works for you.  Could you use it to create shop drawings that you can take to the shop and start cutting.  When you start going off and doing it your way that usually means that you are gaining confidence and have an understanding of what you are doing.  I would recommend reading through all the tutorial even if you are not following it to the letter.  For instance in this one there is an intentional mistake in the door height and instructions on correcting it.

[skunnmann.ee74]

George, I redid this tutorial the other day and used the intersect tool once the tenons were complete.  That made creating the mortises easier. 

Steve