Wood & Paper Manufacturing worked example

Saw Kerf Loss at 72% recoverable loss share: a worked example

Here is what the math looks like when conditions slip. We hold every other input steady and drop recoverable loss share to 72%, then walk the calculation through step by step. Estimates the value of wood lost to saw kerf width plus blade upkeep over a sawing shift.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Cuts per Shift: 850 cuts (held at the documented default)
  • Material Lost per Cut: 0.35 $/cut (held at the documented default)
  • Recoverable Loss Share: 72 % (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 100)
  • Blade Maintenance Charge: 75 $ (held at the documented default)

Working through the calculation

  • The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: Saw kerf loss = cuts x material lost per cut x loss share% + blade maintenance charge.
  • Total saw kerf loss cost works out to 289 $ at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
  • Saw kerf loss cost per unit works out to 0.34 $ / piece at these inputs.
  • Variable saw kerf loss cost works out to 214 $ at these inputs.
  • Fixed saw kerf loss adder works out to 75 $ at these inputs.

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 22.36% below the baseline at 289 $.
  • The practical read: the gap between this scenario and the baseline is entirely attributable to recoverable loss share, so recovering it is worth quantifying in dollars before considering equipment or staffing changes. 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: 289 $ (headline result)
  • Saw kerf loss cost per unit: 0.34 $ / piece
  • Variable saw kerf loss cost: 214 $
  • Fixed saw kerf loss adder: 75 $

Run it with your numbers

  • To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live Saw Kerf Loss calculator, set recoverable loss share to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.