Panel offcut inventory

Offcut inventory is a local list of rectangular sheet remnants you physically own. SawWise can try compatible inventory before adding new sheets to Sheets to buy.

Inventory currently covers panel offcuts, not timber offcuts. An entry is finite: its quantity can become available, reserved, or used.

Add an existing panel

Open Offcuts, then enter:

• Label (optional): a name that helps you find the real piece.
• Length (X).
• Width (Y).
• Thickness (Z).
• Quantity.

Select Add existing panel. If no label is entered, SawWise uses a generic panel-offcut name.

Measure the offcut as it is now and enter the largest clean rectangle available. There is no need to remember the original sheet size.

Tip: Include material in the label, such as Birch plywood shelf offcut. SawWise infers plywood, MDF, OSB, or chipboard from an unambiguous label where possible.

If SawWise cannot infer the material, the row displays Matched automatically and waits for a suitable unambiguous group. Adding the material to the label makes matching easier; thickness alone cannot distinguish plywood from MDF or other products.

For directional material, mark X and Y on the real panel and enter Length (X) and Width (Y) to match. Keep panel orientation then preserves a part relative to those axes.

Allocation and reservation

When an offcut fits a sheet-material group and improves the result, SawWise can allocate it before purchased sheets. The plan labels it Existing offcut, and the purchase summary excludes that blank from sheets to buy.

Use Offcut priority above the sheet cutting plan to choose which suitable piece is tried first:

• Smallest suitable first avoids handling or breaking down a larger panel when a smaller offcut can produce the same result.
• Largest suitable first reduces the size of the biggest stored offcuts first.

The priority never takes precedence over placing all possible parts or avoiding purchased sheets. You can also set the default under Stock and cutting setup.

Starting cut progress on an inventory panel reserves one unit for that project and layout. The inventory row can show quantities that are available, reserved, or used.

Reservation stops the same panel appearing as available in another project. Use Release reservation if you change plans or picked the wrong physical panel. Resetting all cut progress for that layout releases it too.

Complete cuts and save remainders

1. Follow the dependency-aware checklist in Sheets.
2. Mark each cut complete as you make it.
3. For an inventory panel, select Mark existing panel as used. For a new sheet, select Mark sheet as cut.
4. Confirm the sheet or panel was used as planned.

SawWise then marks the placed project panels complete and creates remainder entries from the plan. A used inventory panel saves all rectangular remainders; a purchased sheet saves the remainders marked reusable. They are labelled Saved remainder and become available immediately when you plan another work item.

Generated remainders use the planned dimensions. Measure the real pieces before labelling them, as kerf and edge cleanup may have made them a little smaller.

Restore or discard

Restore used panel undoes an accidental recorded inventory use. Undo completed sheet removes remainders and completion records created from a purchased sheet.

Discard removes available quantity from future planning. If part of a quantity is already reserved or used, those unavailable units remain recorded while the available balance is removed.

Use Release reservation rather than Discard when the physical panel still exists but should no longer be held by a project.

Small and reusable labels

SawWise may mark an entry Small, consider discarding, and plan summaries divide area into reusable and discard. These are simple size-based suggestions.

A little piece may still be perfect for testing paint or dialling in a cut, while a larger damaged piece may not be worth keeping. Your offcut rack, your rules.

Local persistence

Inventory is stored in this browser rather than synced through an account. Clearing site data removes it, so keep labels on the real panels and a separate list if the inventory matters to you.

If browser storage is unavailable, you can still use the current session, but the list may not be there next time.

Tip: Put the inventory label and dimensions on the real panel so it is easy to find later.