Cutting out the pieces To maximize the yield from the stock you have chosen it is often wise to take a few moments to mark the outlines of the various parts of the door on the timbers. Doing so will give you the opportunity to rearrange the pieces so the grain of the wood will be best displayed on your new door. The long stile layout should be first, followed by the rails. Look carefully at both sides of the wood. Often the best face for one piece is on the opposite side.
Allowance for Trimming When laying out the pieces on the timber, be sure to allow an ample amount of excess, both in width and in length. I prefer to leave an extra inch on each end and about 1/2" in width. This excess will allow you to make your fine dimensional cuts later when the lumber is not as large or heavy.
Diagram and Cutting List Make a cutting list and a diagram showing where you intend to make your cuts. Use your diagram and cutting list to mark off each piece as you cut it. This will help to avoid the possibility of cutting to many of one piece and not enough of another.
