cabinet design /kitchen layout

bob kater · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 17

Looking for a reasonably priced short learning curve software. Past
retirement and have built some cabinets as I go, but I am a terrible artist
trying to lay them out freehand. Any thoughts? Sketchup is free but have not
had a bit of luck learning how to use it for cabinets etc.

Archived from group: rec>woodworking

Robert Allison · Joined: 13 Jan 2008 Posts: 141

bob kater wrote:
> Looking for a reasonably priced short learning curve software. Past
> retirement and have built some cabinets as I go, but I am a terrible artist
> trying to lay them out freehand. Any thoughts? Sketchup is free but have not
> had a bit of luck learning how to use it for cabinets etc.
>
>

I like and use this one:

www.cabinetplanner.com

I have used it for about a year now, it is customizable to your
method of building cabinets (for the most part) and is not
difficult at all. Cheap, too.

I just wish that you could copy and paste a customized cabinet.
There might be a way to do that, but I have not found it yet.

It also contains a cut sheet function that lays out your sheet
goods for optimal usage of sheets. That is very handy.

The material list tells you exactly how many board feet of lumber
you need for everything.

--
Robert Allison
Rimshot, Inc.
Georgetown, TX

bob kater · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 17

"Robert Allison" wrote in message $T8.12190@trnddc03...
> bob kater wrote:
>> Looking for a reasonably priced short learning curve software. Past
>> retirement and have built some cabinets as I go, but I am a terrible
>> artist trying to lay them out freehand. Any thoughts? Sketchup is free
>> but have not had a bit of luck learning how to use it for cabinets etc.
>
> I like and use this one:
>
> www.cabinetplanner.com
>
> I have used it for about a year now, it is customizable to your method of
> building cabinets (for the most part) and is not difficult at all. Cheap,
> too.
>
> I just wish that you could copy and paste a customized cabinet. There
> might be a way to do that, but I have not found it yet.
>
> It also contains a cut sheet function that lays out your sheet goods for
> optimal usage of sheets. That is very handy.
>
> The material list tells you exactly how many board feet of lumber you need
> for everything.
>
> --
> Robert Allison
> Rimshot, Inc.

> Georgetown, TX
I downloaded the thing and will try the free trial but it does look simple
enough.
thanks

Robert Allison · Joined: 13 Jan 2008 Posts: 141

bob kater wrote:

> "Robert Allison" wrote in message
> $T8.12190@trnddc03...
>
>>bob kater wrote:
>>
>>>Looking for a reasonably priced short learning curve software. Past
>>>retirement and have built some cabinets as I go, but I am a terrible
>>>artist trying to lay them out freehand. Any thoughts? Sketchup is free
>>>but have not had a bit of luck learning how to use it for cabinets etc.
>>
>>I like and use this one:
>>
>>www.cabinetplanner.com
>>
>>I have used it for about a year now, it is customizable to your method of
>>building cabinets (for the most part) and is not difficult at all. Cheap,
>>too.
>>
>>I just wish that you could copy and paste a customized cabinet. There
>>might be a way to do that, but I have not found it yet.
>>
>>It also contains a cut sheet function that lays out your sheet goods for
>>optimal usage of sheets. That is very handy.
>>
>>The material list tells you exactly how many board feet of lumber you need
>>for everything.
>>
>>--
>>Robert Allison
>>Rimshot, Inc.
>
>
>>Georgetown, TX
>
> I downloaded the thing and will try the free trial but it does look simple
> enough.
> thanks

Spend a bit of time reading the help files and pay particular
attention to the General Standards that you can set. You can
change anything in the individual cabinet shop detail, but if you
put in things like how deep you do your dados, door overlay, box
materials and things like that, when you select a cabinet, all
that is already done and you don't have to do each cab
individually. Saves a ton of time.

Just start by building a simple wall and add some cabinets to it.
Then look at all the options. That seemed to be the easiest
way to get started.

--
Robert Allison
Rimshot, Inc.
Georgetown, TX

bob kater · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 17

"Robert Allison" wrote in message $T8.2734@trnddc03...
> bob kater wrote:
>
>> "Robert Allison" wrote in message
>> $T8.12190@trnddc03...
>>
>>>bob kater wrote:
>>>
>>>>Looking for a reasonably priced short learning curve software. Past
>>>>retirement and have built some cabinets as I go, but I am a terrible
>>>>artist trying to lay them out freehand. Any thoughts? Sketchup is free
>>>>but have not had a bit of luck learning how to use it for cabinets etc.
>>>
>>>I like and use this one:
>>>
>>>www.cabinetplanner.com
>>>
>>>I have used it for about a year now, it is customizable to your method of
>>>building cabinets (for the most part) and is not difficult at all.
>>>Cheap, too.
>>>
>>>I just wish that you could copy and paste a customized cabinet. There
>>>might be a way to do that, but I have not found it yet.
>>>
>>>It also contains a cut sheet function that lays out your sheet goods for
>>>optimal usage of sheets. That is very handy.
>>>
>>>The material list tells you exactly how many board feet of lumber you
>>>need for everything.
>>>
>>>--
>>>Robert Allison
>>>Rimshot, Inc.
>>
>>
>>>Georgetown, TX
>>
>> I downloaded the thing and will try the free trial but it does look
>> simple enough.
>> thanks
>
> Spend a bit of time reading the help files and pay particular attention to
> the General Standards that you can set. You can change anything in the
> individual cabinet shop detail, but if you put in things like how deep you
> do your dados, door overlay, box materials and things like that, when you
> select a cabinet, all that is already done and you don't have to do each
> cab individually. Saves a ton of time.
>
> Just start by building a simple wall and add some cabinets to it. Then
> look at all the options. That seemed to be the easiest way to get
> started.
>
> --
> Robert Allison
> Rimshot, Inc.
> Georgetown, TX
Great feedback! Thanks

Robatoy · Joined: 17 Nov 2007 Posts: 339

On Feb 24, 6:35 pm, Robert Allison wrote:
> bob kater wrote:
> > Looking for a reasonably priced short learning curve software. Past
> > retirement and have built some cabinets as I go, but I am a terrible artist
> > trying to lay them out freehand. Any thoughts? Sketchup is free but have not
> > had a bit of luck learning how to use it for cabinets etc.
>
> I like and use this one:
>
> www.cabinetplanner.com
>
> I have used it for about a year now, it is customizable to your
> method of building cabinets (for the most part) and is not
> difficult at all. Cheap, too.
>
> I just wish that you could copy and paste a customized cabinet.
> There might be a way to do that, but I have not found it yet.
>
> It also contains a cut sheet function that lays out your sheet
> goods for optimal usage of sheets. That is very handy.
>
> The material list tells you exactly how many board feet of lumber
> you need for everything.
>

I downloaded that little nugget. Played with it several times and I'm
amazed. What a bargain. Easy to learn and very useful.
I was very surprised at its capability.
It is not glossy and doesn't do photo-reaslistic rendering, or even
shadows (afaik), but it will do a great job laying out a kitchen and
give the builder a clue about what he's about to undertake.

That is why I keep coming back here.. to find things like this. Thanks
for the tip, Robert.

r

Robert Allison · Joined: 13 Jan 2008 Posts: 141

Robatoy wrote:

> On Feb 24, 6:35 pm, Robert Allison wrote:
>
>>bob kater wrote:
>>
>>>Looking for a reasonably priced short learning curve software. Past
>>>retirement and have built some cabinets as I go, but I am a terrible artist
>>>trying to lay them out freehand. Any thoughts? Sketchup is free but have not
>>>had a bit of luck learning how to use it for cabinets etc.
>>
>>I like and use this one:
>>
>>www.cabinetplanner.com
>>
>>I have used it for about a year now, it is customizable to your
>>method of building cabinets (for the most part) and is not
>>difficult at all. Cheap, too.
>>
>>I just wish that you could copy and paste a customized cabinet.
>>There might be a way to do that, but I have not found it yet.
>>
>>It also contains a cut sheet function that lays out your sheet
>>goods for optimal usage of sheets. That is very handy.
>>
>>The material list tells you exactly how many board feet of lumber
>>you need for everything.
>>
>
>
> I downloaded that little nugget. Played with it several times and I'm
> amazed. What a bargain. Easy to learn and very useful.
> I was very surprised at its capability.
> It is not glossy and doesn't do photo-reaslistic rendering, or even
> shadows (afaik), but it will do a great job laying out a kitchen and
> give the builder a clue about what he's about to undertake.
>
> That is why I keep coming back here.. to find things like this. Thanks
> for the tip, Robert.
>
> r
>

To me, the sheet layout and board layout is worth the price. One
thing that I hate is trying to figure out how to get the most out
of a sheet of plywood. How can I configure these 18 pieces on
this sheet? This program does it for you. If you have a certain
length of lumber, it does that for you, too.

If you haven't looked at that part of the program, check it out.

When you have a few cabinets done, click on the calculate button.
Click on one of the panel layout buttons, click on the method
button, and watch what it gives you. Very cool.

--
Robert Allison
Rimshot, Inc.
Georgetown, TX

"Bonehenge · Joined: 21 Nov 2007 Posts: 244

On Sun, 24 Feb 2008 23:35:45 GMT, Robert Allison
wrote:

>bob kater wrote:
>> Looking for a reasonably priced short learning curve software. Past
>> retirement and have built some cabinets as I go, but I am a terrible artist
>> trying to lay them out freehand. Any thoughts? Sketchup is free but have not
>> had a bit of luck learning how to use it for cabinets etc.
>>
>>
>
>I like and use this one:
>
>www.cabinetplanner.com
>

This looks REALLY interesting.

I use Cutlist now, but I'm going to give your suggestion a shot based
on the extra features.

Thanks for sharing!

Swingman · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 497

"Bonehenge (B A R R Y)" wrote

> I use Cutlist now, but I'm going to give your suggestion a shot based
> on the extra features.

> Thanks for sharing!

Ditto. I downloaded it this morning ... wish I'd known about it three or
four months ago, before starting this recent job because it would have been
an acid test.

It looks like it fits in with both my current planning/design methods using
a combination of CutList Plus, Excel, and AutoSketch ... and the 3D is
certainly a boost to the design side, especially without climbing an Everest
sized learning curve.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 12/14/07
KarlC@ (the obvious)

Lew Hodgett · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 399

"Robert Allison" wrote:

> To me, the sheet layout and board layout is worth the price. One
> thing that I hate is trying to figure out how to get the most out
> of a sheet of plywood. How can I configure these 18 pieces on
> this sheet? This program does it for you. If you have a certain
> length of lumber, it does that for you, too.

As the old time plant engineer, faced with a new plant layout job
would say, "...It's paper doll time."

A 4x4 grid of graph paper, a pair of shears, a drafting pencil, and
you are in business.

If it is a one shot project, my bet is I'm done before you can load
(type) the data into the program.

Lew

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