Cutting guides
Short, practical reads on getting more parts out of less material.
What is kerf?
Every cut turns a thin line of material into dust. That line is the kerf — and overlooking it is the most common reason a cut plan comes up short at the saw.
Typical saw kerf widths
Kerf is not one fixed number. Use these typical widths as a starting point, then measure your own blade before a high-value job.
1D vs 2D nesting
Use a 1D optimizer when every part is just a length. Use a 2D nesting tool when every part has length and width and must be placed on a sheet.
How to minimize cutting waste
Most offcut waste comes from a handful of avoidable habits. Here's how to cut more parts from less material.
How to optimize cuts from a board
Getting the most parts out of a board comes down to four steps you can do before the first cut.
Linear feet vs board feet
They sound alike and get mixed up constantly, but they measure two different things — and reaching for the wrong one throws off both your material estimate and your cut plan.
Standard lumber sizes and lengths
A 2x4 isn't 2 inches by 4 inches, and knowing the real numbers — across the board and along it — keeps a cut plan honest before you reach the saw.
Standard metal stock sizes and lengths
Metal is sold in long mill lengths and named by conventions that don't always match a tape measure — knowing both keeps a cut plan honest before the saw.
The cutting stock problem, explained
The math behind every cut optimizer — what it is, why it's hard, and how the tools solve it well enough to save you material.