No need to know the vocabulary first
A few words, explained
- Stock
- The wood or other material you start with.
- Grain
- The direction and pattern of the wood's fibers.
- Cut list
- A list of the pieces you need, with their sizes and quantities.
- Board foot
- A lumber-volume unit equal to a piece 12 inches long, 12 inches wide and 1 inch thick.
Measure the stock you buy
Use the rough thickness, width, and length required before milling. Finished dimensions are useful for design, but they often understate the amount of lumber needed to produce the part.
Plan for yield
Defects, grain selection, twist, cupping, and cutoffs affect usable yield. Allow for the defects and milling loss expected in the stock you are buying.
Allow for grain and color matching
Tables, doors, panels, and matched drawer fronts often need more material than utility parts. Grain and color matching are valid project costs.
Shop 101
Apply this reference to your project
Use your own project measurements and record how the result affects the material, setup or estimate.
- Name the material, dimension, or cost input that affects the decision.
- Use the reference and related calculator to check the measurement or estimate.
- Test or compare the result before committing final material, time, or client scope.
CheckpointKeep the inputs and result together so you can check or repeat the calculation.
Start the Woodworking 101 foundation →