No need to know the vocabulary first
A few words, explained
- Kerf
- The width of material removed by a cut.
- Stock
- The wood or other material you start with.
- Joinery
- The methods used to connect pieces of wood.
- Grain
- The direction and pattern of the wood's fibers.
- Reference face
- The marked face of a piece that you consistently measure or position from.
- Cut list
- A list of the pieces you need, with their sizes and quantities.
Separate finished and rough dimensions
List the finished size for the drawing, then create a rough size that allows for milling, snipe removal, and final trimming. Buying and cutting only to finished size leaves no room to correct stock.
Keep grain and part roles visible
Note grain direction, show faces, left and right parts, pairs, and mirrored pieces. A sheet layout can be mathematically efficient but still wrong if it destroys the visual intent of the project.
Plan the sequence, then label immediately
Crosscut, rip, plane, and final-size parts in a sequence that is safe for your machines. Label parts as soon as they are cut so the information survives the move from plan to bench.
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.
Try it with your own numbers
Common questions
What belongs on a woodworking cut list?
Include quantity, finished dimensions, rough dimensions, material, grain direction, part name, and notes for matching, joinery, or show faces.
How much extra length should I leave?
It depends on stock condition, joinery, and machine setup. Leave enough room to square, flatten, remove defects, and trim after dry fitting.
Can software replace checking the cut list?
No. Optimizers are excellent planning tools, but you still need to check grain direction, defects, tool kerf, safe cut order, and the actual stock in hand.