Adam King Studio Fine Furniture & Antique Restoration

Hearing that, Practicing Your Scales, kind of brings back those horrible memories of eternal piano lessons doesn't it? Don't worry. We're not even going to come close to touching on that with a 25' tape measure!! However, there is a little wisdom to be gained in that question.

As we prepare to move our designs from a flat 2D existence into the 3D world, we have to stop and take some time to practice our scales. Just like any aspect of the craft, we need to practice these fundamentals in order to grow and progress in our design vocabulary. Now let’s look at some basics to help us make this flat pencil drawing come to life!

Scale It Up
When you are satisfied with the overall design, it’s time to move from a thumbnail sketch to a scale drawing. A scale drawing is just a simple rendering of the overall form and important details drawn to proportionate scale. This is easiest to do with one of those triangular architect rules. It has various scale measurements on each side and each end.
I prefer to start with a ¼” scale drawing. This helps me to work out proportion and scale in greater ways. I can really begin to see how each part relates to the others. This also gives me a chance to correct dimensions of the piece as well as the individual parts.
This gives you one more chance to go back to the original sketches and make any design changes before moving forward.

Scale It Even Bigger
Once you have a ¼” scale rendering, it’s time to move on to a full scale drawing. I know this can seem a little redundant, and admittedly, it can be somewhat of a formality, but it can also really be a time saver in the long run.
A full scale drawing is simply all the views, or “elevations” of the piece and any special details drawn to exact size and dimension. If there were any questions about proportion in the previous renderings, they will be answered here. Getting a look at the piece in full scale can really help you see any flaws in the overall design. This is also a chance to work out the details for elements like complex joinery, delicate molding profiles, and any carvings or embellishments.
I have to confess that I do not always use this step for the whole piece. If there are complicated joints and angles that I plan on using, I will do a full size drawing of these elements. It is, however, a good practice to get into early on in your design work. I typically generate my full size drawings on a simple antique drafting board with a basic drafting T-square and yard stick.
Recently, however, I have found a new tool that has allowed me to add a new spin on the idea of a full scale drawing. Google SketchUp has been taking the woodworking world by storm. This freeware gem has everything you need to produce scale renderings and virtual 3D models that include dimensions, textures, different elevations; you can even print full size templates and generate cut lists right from the program. The best part is, as I mentioned earlier, it free!

A Whole New Dimension
Once all of the details and measurements are worked out, it’s time to add a whole new dimension to your design. If you want to see what all the parts look like from every angle, then a full scale model is in order. Now, I’m not suggesting that you build the whole piece exactly as you would for real. A full scale model is simply a quick three-dimensional reference tool for the real thing. All you need are materials like scrap plywood, cardboard, framing lumber, screws, and even duct tape! I really enjoy this stage of design because you can essentially construct a piece of furniture in a matter of an hour or two. Cut all the parts to size and you can join them with pocket screws, nails, or whatever suits you. The idea is to build a close representation of the finished piece. This is a great time to work out the process for executing complicated joinery or shaping complex curved parts. You can clearly see how each part works or doesn’t work within the context of the whole.
I have gotten to this stage in the design several times and realized, only then, that I needed to go back to square one and adjust some sizes and proportions, or add or remove some details. Believe me, better to discover these things now than when you’re building the actual piece. It’s actually a lot of fun to build, and it gives other people an opportunity to give some valuable input as well, since they can observe the object with all sides and design elements right in front of them.

While all of these steps may not be necessary to go from pencil sketch to finished piece, each one can and should have its place in the vernacular of any woodworker who is actively designing their own pieces. So don't forget to practice those scales next time the opportunity presents itself. I promise you it will not be as torturous as those childhood piano lessons were!

Do you routinely use scaled drawings as you design? What about full size models? How do these steps help you in your efforts to design your work? I would love to hear your thoughts and comments!

Photo courtesy of [nati]