Simple CAD App – Advice Please

[Nick ThorpeParticipant @nickthorpe64546]

[Nick ThorpeParticipant @nickthorpe64546]

Hi All,

We moved a year ago and left behind a lovely 14 x 8 wooden workshop that looked good, worked well and cost very little, which might explain why the supplier has ceased trading.

I have decided to make my own workshop this time and was wondering if anyone could recommend a very simple and free CAD package that would allow me to do the basic frame layout etc.

Many thanks, Nick

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

Open Office Draw

[John BaronParticipant @johnbaron31275]

Hi Nick,

You could always use "Libre Office" and the drawing part.

[IanTParticipant @iant]

Hi Nick,

My son's brother-in-law is a chippy and builds "Summer Houses" and "Garden Offices" as a speciality business. Apart from agreeing the overall dimensions of the building there are no highly detailed plans involved that I'm aware of – he basically seems to work off the materials involved to figure out a construction 'unit' – allows for openings – and then just makes the required 'units' for each wall. He's got a rough sketch and works out a detailed materials list but it's not anything like an architectural drawing.

As someone asked me here recently – are you sure you're not over-thinking this?

Regards,

IanT

[Andy CarlsonParticipant @andycarlson18141]

I am a satisfied user of QCAD Community Edition.

Whatever package you choose will need some time to learn so a pencil and paper might be a better option for just one job. On the other hand if you think your newly acquired CAD skills willl be used for other jobs in future then go for it.

[Nick ThorpeParticipant @nickthorpe64546]

Thank you everyone for your advice and yes Ian I have been accused of over thinking things in the past!

I am not good with numbers and I am what I call ‘numerically dyslexic’ – measure it twice and cut it wrong once. I wanted to draw a plan up partly to overcome the number business and also be able to work the materials out more easily and have the flexibility to make changes.

Thank you all again, I will keep you posted on progress. Nick.

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

FreeCad has an architectural section but I find CAD too detailed as it wants things to mm accuracy whereas in designing a shed you just want to slap a 2×4 in the general area of where it should go and cut off a bit later if too long.

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

Libre Office Draw and Open Office Draw are very similar, have the same heritage.

[Author]

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