Demystifying construction details – FineWoodworking

I’ve little question stated it earlier than – SketchUp demystifies complicated joinery and construction. Through the method of constructing 3D fashions, very fuzzy, obscure options in a bit of furnishings are uncovered, labored out, and visually displayed. This has been notably obvious in my present work on a Seymour Secretary Bookcase. This is a big Hepplewhite-style piece constructed round 1800 by the grasp cabinetmakers in New England, John and Thomas Seymour. The authentic is positioned within the White House. Here is a photograph of the unique and my present SketchUp mannequin.

This piece is definitely composed of 5 unbiased buildings – a Lower Case, Tambour Inner Box, Tambour Outer Box, Bookcase, and Pediment. Here is an exploded view of those separate buildings.

In the primary total image of the mannequin above, the drawers and doorways are open and the writing floor is hinged open. By utilizing Tags in SketchUp, with two mouse clicks, I can present both the open or closed place. In the Default Tray, word the 2 Tags, Open Desk and Closed Desk. I can flip these Tags on and off by clicking the mouse on the icons, thus creating the separate views. I present this operation within the connected video.

In the closed place, the distinctive key lock escutcheon for the Tambour Doors is hidden behind the entrance edge molding on the Writing Surface. In the open place, you possibly can see the important thing lock escutcheon on the entrance face of the decrease rail on the Outer Box. This locking mechanism is exclusive to the Seymour cabinetmakers. You solely see it accomplished on their constructions. I had no concept how this labored. Fortunately there’s a excellent rationalization of the mechanism within the guide “The Furniture Masterworks of John and Thomas Seymour” by Robert Mussey Jr. Also I noticed it accomplished on a drawing by Rob Millard on a really totally different Seymour piece. I can’t make sure that that is an correct illustration of the unique, however I believe it really works as I’ve developed the design in SketchUp.

In this primary image, I’ve hidden the column to reveal the publish behind it, which has grooves and cutouts. The blue-inexperienced rod represents a 1/8-in.-dia. brass rod that’s linked to a drawer lock positioned beneath. That brass rod protrudes by way of brass seize screws that connect with the tambour doorways. So that is exhibiting the “locked” place. There is a zoomed-in view to the suitable.

And right here is an X-ray view exhibiting the drawer lock positioned on the Register Block that drops right into a socket within the high of the Lower Case to carry the Tambour meeting in place.

As accomplished with the Open/Closed Desk utilizing Tags, I created Locked and Unlocked Tags to indicate the positions of the Rod in each positions, making certain a correct reference to the brass Tambour Capture Screws.

These are the sorts of mysteries that SketchUp illuminates for me. I can go to the store and have faith within the construction.

Here is the video.

Tim

KillenWOOD