Project Planning
Offcut Reuse Planner
Tell it your parts and your scrap pile, and find which offcuts can become a new project — no extra lumber needed.
Calculator
Example: 4x18x2 = 4 in × 18 in, 2 pcs
Example: 4x12x2 = 4 in × 12 in, 2 pcs
What makes this different
This tool flips the cutting-list problem: instead of optimizing cuts on a sheet, you tell it the offcuts you have and the parts you need, and it matches them. Useful for small shop projects where leftover walnut from a tabletop can become a jewelry box.
Who it's for & when to use it
Planning a small project from shop scrap; justifying a tool purchase by listing all the parts you can build from your bin.
How to use
- Enter the dimensions of your material or the parameters of your project.
- Adjust the optional knobs (waste factor, kerf, planer allowance) to match your shop practice.
- Click Calculate and read the output. Use the per-item breakdown for ordering, the totals for budgeting.
- Compare the result to your lumber yard's quote — the effective $/BF column is the apples-to-apples number.
Formula: Match parts to offcuts; a part fits if W_part ≤ W_offcut AND L_part ≤ L_offcut (rotations allowed). Greedy by largest part first.
Notes & tips from the shop
- Always keep an offcut bin — a small project's parts are usually sitting in someone else's scrap pile.
- Offcut reuse works best for small parts (knobs, drawer pulls, jewelry box components) — larger furniture parts rarely fit a scrap.
- Rotating a part 90° often makes the difference between fitting and not fitting.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my 'fit' obvious but the tool says it doesn't?
The tool only checks W × L, not thickness. A 1 in thick part won't fit a 3/4 in offcut.
Should I rip an offcut to fit?
Yes — that counts as 'using' it. The tool assumes you can rip to width.
What if I have an oddly-shaped offcut?
The tool assumes rectangular offcuts. For irregular pieces, eyeball and a story stick are still the best tools.
Limitations
Rectangular parts and offcuts only. Curved parts, taper, or grain-matching constraints are not modeled.
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