A cut list, also called a cutlist or cutting list, is closely related to a bill of materials. In fact, many woodworkers treat them as one and the same. Each part is numbered and has a thickness, width and length. Using this definition, you can think of a cut list as a bill of materials for lumber and sheet stock without any of the cost information. Its purpose is to help you figure out how and where to cut each piece of wood.
Some woodworkers take cut lists one step further.
In Measure Twice, Cut Once , Jim Tolpin describes a process whereby he uses the bill of materials to create a master cut list. 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. As each piece is added to the cut list, it is circled on the bill of materials to make sure nothing is omitted. Tolpin also places scratch marks next to each component grouping to indicate the number of like size pieces to be cut. As each piece is cut, a corresponding scratch mark is made so he can more easily determine when all the pieces have been cut.