SketchUp (aka Google Sketch) is possibly one of the most popular CAD-based woodworking software packages available. That’s the guy we’re talking about today – and here’s the software. One woodworker may need some graph paper, a pencil, scrap lumber for a story stick, a divider and a tape measure – another may prefer a computer and some specialized software. The skills you nurture and the woodworking tools you use may vary greatly depending on what’s most important to you. The project might start off with the design, but adjustments are made here and there throughout the entire process, just as edits are made during the writing of a long-planned novel.ĭesigning a complex piece made of woodwork requires far more than simply the aesthetic perception of what the final piece will look like it requires an understanding of the material being used, which will eventually influence the whole project. Woodworking is often treated as a single large skill, but it’s actually composed of many smaller skills – and design is always the first one used when creating a beautiful wooden item. Today, the most significant woodworking tool for many craftsmen is the computer. Some artisans still draw their designs by hand, but the design phase has come a long way since the days of pencil and paper sketches. Some of the most beautiful woodwork in the world – architecture, furniture and musical instruments – were designed, crafted and polished by hand. Some of these items are mass-produced, but many are custom made – designed in the mind of a craftsman and brought to life by hand. Woodworkers craft furniture, artwork and often whimsical wonders out of wood and other wood-based materials.