Turn a woodworking plan into a cut list and board layout

Give the piece and its dimensions and get a cut list, a board-buying list and a cut order that wastes less wood.

The problem

Building a bookshelf, workbench, cornhole boards or a deer stand from a sketch means working out every part size, then figuring out how many boards to buy and how to cut them. Mistakes cost real money at today's lumber prices.

Step by step

1. 1Sketch the piece with overall dimensions and note the joinery (screws, pocket holes, dados) and the lumber you plan to use, with its actual thickness and width (a 2x4 is really about 1½" x 3½").
2. 2Paste the prompt below into ChatGPT or Claude with your sketch photo or measurements.
3. 3Check the math on every part yourself before cutting, and account for blade width (kerf). Measure twice, cut once still applies.
4. 4Put the cut list and buying list in Google Sheets and take it to the lumber yard or store.
5. 5Follow your saw and tool safety instructions, wear eye and hearing protection, and for anything that bears a person's weight (stands, lofts, ladders), use a tested plan and the manufacturer's ratings.

Copy-paste prompt

Help me turn this woodworking project into a cut list. Project: [piece] with overall size [W x D x H]. Joinery: [screws/pocket holes/dados]. Lumber: [type and actual dimensions]. Stock lengths at my store: [8ft, 10ft, sheet sizes]. Give me: (1) a parts list with part name, quantity and finished size, showing how each size was calculated from the overall dimensions and joinery; (2) a buying list with how many boards or sheets of each size, plus about 10% extra; (3) a cut layout for each board that minimizes waste, allowing 1/8" for the blade; (4) assembly order; (5) any part where I should double-check the math. Mark prices as estimates.

Tips and watch-outs

• Check every dimension yourself before cutting, including blade kerf.
• Use real lumber sizes, not nominal (a 2x4 is about 1½" x 3½").
• For anything that holds a person's weight, use a tested plan and rated hardware.

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