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3 Posts
rdwernecke posted on 10-19-2009 6:37 AM

I would like to find on line courses, for designing furniture/cabinets/closets.  Are there any schools that provided courses in drafting on-line.  I, at my age do not really want to take full courses that have drafting courses included.  If any of the schools out there can provide me with these courses I would appreciate you letting me know. 

I am 63yrs. old, on disability, and am unable too drive more than a few miles.

Richard W.

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Top 10 Contributor
836 Posts

If you want to learn to draft on paper then a book such as:

Drafting And Design For Woodworkers: A Practical Guide To Traditional And Digital Methods

is a good place to start. This book also covers some digital drafting info as well.

If you want to learn to draft on a computer (CAD), I'd still recommend a basic book like above, but your real task will be learning the CAD program. A couple inepensive options include:

Google Sketch-up (free version or full version @ $495)  There are several sites

TurboCad16 Deluxe 2D 3D ($149) is also avaiable as a free trail download at:

http://www.turbocad.com/TurboCAD/TurboCADforWindows/TurboCAD16Deluxe2D3D/tabid/1225/Default.aspx

and if you buy the full version you also get a free training DVD with it. 

TurboCAD won our editor's choice when we tested CAD a few years back. You can find the article at: http://americanwoodworker.com/blogs/tools/archive/2008/09/04/CAD-for-Woodworkers.aspx

A couple other options include Autodesk QuickCAD , Autodesk AutoSketch, and DeltaCAD.  These can all be purchased on Amazon. Many woodworkers are also starting to use Google Sketchup.

 

For a Formal online Drafting/CAD course check out Penn Foster at

http://www.pennfoster.edu/autocad/index.html?semkey=Q085103

Most of the CAD software companies also offer training for the programs.

All Replies

Top 10 Contributor
836 Posts

If you want to learn to draft on paper then a book such as:

Drafting And Design For Woodworkers: A Practical Guide To Traditional And Digital Methods

is a good place to start. This book also covers some digital drafting info as well.

If you want to learn to draft on a computer (CAD), I'd still recommend a basic book like above, but your real task will be learning the CAD program. A couple inepensive options include:

Google Sketch-up (free version or full version @ $495)  There are several sites

TurboCad16 Deluxe 2D 3D ($149) is also avaiable as a free trail download at:

http://www.turbocad.com/TurboCAD/TurboCADforWindows/TurboCAD16Deluxe2D3D/tabid/1225/Default.aspx

and if you buy the full version you also get a free training DVD with it. 

TurboCAD won our editor's choice when we tested CAD a few years back. You can find the article at: http://americanwoodworker.com/blogs/tools/archive/2008/09/04/CAD-for-Woodworkers.aspx

A couple other options include Autodesk QuickCAD , Autodesk AutoSketch, and DeltaCAD.  These can all be purchased on Amazon. Many woodworkers are also starting to use Google Sketchup.

 

For a Formal online Drafting/CAD course check out Penn Foster at

http://www.pennfoster.edu/autocad/index.html?semkey=Q085103

Most of the CAD software companies also offer training for the programs.

Top 500 Contributor
3 Posts

Thank you.  I have the book "Drafting and Design for Woodworker's", and "Sketch-Up".  I was looking for some on-line courses for "Technical/Mechanical Drawing" or "Architectural Drafting".  Seem as if every school has gone to the computer aided software programs.  Again thank you for the reply.

Richard

Top 500 Contributor
3 Posts
Suggested by aggieville

There are tech schools that teach courses like this, I'd look inot the local ones in your area.

Dave Behlen

Waterlox, Inc.

Not Ranked
1 Posts

Thanks for the suggestions.  Unfortunately my driving ability is limited too short distances, so I need online courses.

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