Question
What methods are used to convert random lineal feet to board feet when making custom millwork? Of course, you also need to figure in for waste. I can figure out how to go from board foot price to lineal foot price from the calculator but not the random lineal foot to board foot way. For example- someone orders 450' of a 3/4" x 4-1/4" special crown moulding. I need to convert this to board feet to fill the order.
Forum Responses
(Solid Wood Machining Forum)
From contributor A:
Lineal feet times width factor is how I do it. For 450 lineal feet of 4-1/4" crown, I'd figure it on a 5" board. 450 x 0.41667 = 187.50 board feet, roughly. Maybe I'm figuring high or low but this works for me.
(4.75 x 12 x total lineal feet)/ 144 = Net Board Feet. Add your waste factor anywhere from 1.5 to 2 to get the amount of raw RWL needed.
Net Board Feet (from above) x waste factor = Required Board Feet
This would give the board feet of lumber used, but you will need to buy two or three times that amount to sort for correct widths. I would figure 240 board feet for 450' of 4 1/4" moulding using the above formula, and order 500-750 board feet. The extra will go towards the next project, unless it's also 4-1/4".
