Your first linear cut list

Cut deck framing from 8′ and 12′ boards: stock lengths, parts, kerf and results.

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Updated September 27, 2026
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1. Start a new linear cut list

  1. Step 1: Open Linear Cuts → New cuts.
  2. Step 2: Name it at the top, for example Deck framing.

2. Add stock lengths

  1. Step 1: On the Materials tab, open Material preset and pick a close match, such as 10′ × 4″ × 2″ (4×2 / 2×4) under Wood (Dimensional Lumber), or choose Custom for a 2×6.
  2. Step 2: Set Length to the board you buy, for example 12' or 144.
  3. Step 3: Optionally enter Width / Ø and Thickness. They're needed for paint estimates and cross-section cuts.
  4. Step 4: Enter Qty (sticks), the number of boards you have on hand.
  5. Step 5: Enter Price / piece, for example 14.98.
The linear Materials tab with a 2×4 preset, 40 sticks at $5.48
1 Material preset · 2 Length · 3 Qty (sticks) · 4 Price / piece.

3. Enter parts

  1. Step 1: Switch to the Cut List tab.
  2. Step 2: Enter each part's Name, length and Qty: for example Joist 11' 9" × 8, Rim 12' × 2, Blocking 14 1/2 × 16.
  3. Step 3: Click Add part for each new row.

4. Set kerf and read the results

Enter the blade thickness in Kerf / Blade thickness. The Optimization Result shows total Pieces (sticks of stock), Yield, Total waste and Total cost, then a bar diagram for each board showing where every cut goes. See Reading linear results.

Deck framing results: 14 pieces of 12′ 2×6, 94.8% yield, USD 209.72
1 Pieces (sticks of stock) · 2 Yield · 3 Total waste · 4 Total cost · 5 The first bar's cut diagram.

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