Program for drawing pit projects

J.R.'s Butt Hutt · Post by **J.R.'s Butt Hutt** » January 17th, 2014, 11:57 am

From time to time I see you guys posting some really cool drawings of pit projects. Do you have any recommendations that are inexpensive that a novice like myself could use to do some drawing of my own?

Gizmo · Post by **Gizmo** » January 17th, 2014, 6:45 pm

I too would like to hear some suggestions for basic "Draw" software (Mac please) if anyone knows of any.

jaybird302 · Post by **jaybird302** » January 17th, 2014, 8:14 pm

Me too!

Post by **Big T** » January 17th, 2014, 9:59 pm

I found this link on another thread on this site. I haven't used it but it was still available and free.
http://sketchup.google.com/intl/en/index.html I'm not a computer guru but some of the guys had used it and seemed to like.

Clover Ridge Smokers · Post by **Clover Ridge Smokers** » January 20th, 2014, 8:56 am

I use Microsoft Visio.

Post by **Rodcrafter** » January 20th, 2014, 10:22 am

This is a nice free option, for mac and pc

http://www.openoffice.org/porting/mac/

Gizmo · Post by **Gizmo** » January 20th, 2014, 1:07 pm

Thanks RC. I'll check that one out.
Have you used this one?

Puff · Post by **Puff** » January 20th, 2014, 4:32 pm

I will try to remember where I'd seen it but I was looking at a furniture design woodworking software that gave you the dimensions of the pieces you draw and then can prepare a cut list of materials...since steel seems to follow wood dimensions closely, this could prove to be a good use., it was about 2 yrs ago

noXcuse · Post by **noXcuse** » January 20th, 2014, 4:47 pm

Big T wrote:I found this link on another thread on this site. I haven't used it but it was still available and free.
http://sketchup.google.com/intl/en/index.html I'm not a computer guru but some of the guys had used it and seemed to like.

I downloaded this after seeing your post. Pretty easy to use. I drew up the plans for my next build in about 30 minutes.

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Post by **Big T** » January 20th, 2014, 8:19 pm

noXcuse ,I'm glad to hear that it worked out for you.

The Czar · Post by **The Czar** » January 20th, 2014, 8:29 pm

I just call OB1

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Post by **Pete Mazz** » January 21st, 2014, 7:42 am

What ever happened to a cocktail napkin and a pencil???

Gizmo · Post by **Gizmo** » January 21st, 2014, 8:08 am

Pete that's how I first drew Edgar …. old habits ….

Post by **Rodcrafter** » January 21st, 2014, 9:09 am

I use open office for some non-profit people we do things with. It will do anything MS Office programs will and it will open any of their docs for free. As for drawing smokers, I use paper and pencil.

J.R.'s Butt Hutt · Post by **J.R.'s Butt Hutt** » January 22nd, 2014, 10:21 am

Thanks guys!

vizion · Post by **vizion** » January 24th, 2014, 10:29 pm

I have been using google sketchup for a few years now... you would be amazed at what it will do once you get used to it. For a free program its pretty powerful..

noXcuse · Post by **noXcuse** » January 25th, 2014, 6:16 pm

I just spent hours on Sketchup, and made a pretty amazing looking setup. Now lets hope I can make the real thing look like this drawing.

Gizmo · Post by **Gizmo** » January 26th, 2014, 5:57 am

I would like to try sketchup but I need a little older version of it to work with my MAC 10.6.8.

Vision since you said "several years now" I'm thinking there might be an older version out there somewhere that I could try …. if someone knows where I might find it online?

noXcuse · Post by **noXcuse** » January 26th, 2014, 9:34 am

I have a windows 7 machine. When I clicked to download, it found my windows version and processor automatically, and downloaded the correct version for me. I would assume it does the same for Mac.

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Gizmo · Post by **Gizmo** » January 26th, 2014, 9:48 am

It doesn't. Just says I need a more current MAC.

noXcuse · Post by **noXcuse** » January 26th, 2014, 10:52 am

Ahh, that sucks. You can usually find old downloads for most anything on file sharing websites.

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noXcuse · Post by **noXcuse** » January 26th, 2014, 10:55 am

Here ya go. http://help.sketchup.com/en/article/60107

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vizion · Post by **vizion** » January 26th, 2014, 11:24 am

Gizmo I think they are up to version 8 or 9 now on sketchup so I am sure you could find an older verison to work with your mac...

GlennInDFW · Post by **GlennInDFW** » February 25th, 2014, 2:09 pm

The free version of SketchUp is very functional and allows you to do 3D modeling. I would recommend it highly. I'm using it now to design a vertical offset. YouTube has some pretty good tutorial videos that should get you ramped up very quickly. Take a look and us all know what you think.

http://www.sketchup.com/download

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