Wood & Paper Manufacturing worked example

Saw Kerf Loss at 110% recoverable loss share: a worked example

What does the result look like when recoverable loss share reaches 110%? The full calculation is worked below with real intermediate numbers. A sawmill optimizer uses it to weigh thin-kerf blade investment against material recovery.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Cuts per Shift: 850 cuts (unchanged)
  • Material Lost per Cut: 0.35 $/cut (unchanged)
  • Recoverable Loss Share: 110 % (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 100)
  • Blade Maintenance Charge: 75 $ (unchanged)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Saw kerf loss = cuts x material lost per cut x loss share% + blade maintenance charge) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 402 $ for total saw kerf loss cost, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 0.47 $ / piece for saw kerf loss cost per unit.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 327 $ for variable saw kerf loss cost.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 75 $ for fixed saw kerf loss adder.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where recoverable loss share sits at 100% and the headline result is 373 $, this scenario comes in 7.99% above the baseline at 402 $.
  • A figure at this level is achievable when recoverable loss share is genuinely sustained, not just peaked for a shift. It treats material lost per cut as a flat dollar value, so it will not capture how kerf-per-cut changes with species density, moisture, feed speed, or blade wear over the shift.

Results at a glance

  • Total saw kerf loss cost: 402 $ (headline result)
  • Saw kerf loss cost per unit: 0.47 $ / piece
  • Variable saw kerf loss cost: 327 $
  • Fixed saw kerf loss adder: 75 $

Run it with your numbers

  • Every input above is editable in the live Saw Kerf Loss calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.