As each piece is added to the cut list, it is circled on the bill of materials to make sure nothing is omitted.

Starting with the widest and thickest stock, he collates the components by function and dimension so that related parts with the same dimensions are grouped together. In Measure Twice, Cut Once, Jim Tolpin describes a process whereby he uses the bill of materials to create a master cut list. Some woodworkers take cut lists one step further. Its purpose is to help you figure out how and where to cut each piece of wood. You can think of a cut list as a bill of materials for lumber and sheet stock without any of the cost information. It’s basically a list of all the parts required to build a woodworking project that contains a number for each part along with its thickness, width and length.

In fact, many woodworkers treat them as one and the same. SymĪ cut list, also called a cutlist or cutting list, is closely related to a bill of materials. When listing dimensions, don’t forget to account for the extra length required by tenons and other such joinery issues. One common approach is to circle each part’s symbol on the working drawing as it is recorded on the bill of materials, starting with the largest parts and working down to the smallest parts such as molding and trim. It is helpful to have a system in place to make sure every part is accounted for. Note that similar materials are generally placed together and in the order they will be used. Here is a sample bill of materials for a chest of drawers that was derived from the Tabulator, an online resource here at WoodBin. A separate bill of materials can be created for supplies and hardware such as glue, screws, nails, sandpaper, finish, and hinges. Unit and total cost information may also be included. It typically includes the name and quantity of each part, its symbol from the drawings (A,B,C, …), dimensions (thickness, width, length), and the type of wood or sheet stock to be used. Once the working drawings have been completed, a bill of materials can be generated.

Optimal plywood cut list