OUR APPROACH

Useful answers. Visible reasoning.

GrainBench helps hobby woodworkers connect material choices with the projects they want to make.

Where the information comes from

Our starting references include Purdue Extension, the USDA Forest Service, wood-products associations, and manufacturers. Each material page links to the reference behind its characteristics. Industry and manufacturer references are identified so you can understand their scope.

Facts and recommendations are different

Material characteristics summarize the linked references. Project choices and buying checklists are our editorial interpretation. We do not claim independent laboratory testing, professional engineering review, or firsthand testing of every material.

What our calculators do

The board-foot calculator applies thickness × width × length × quantity ÷ 144 with dimensions in inches. The shelf tool uses the ideal simply supported rectangular-beam equation: δ = 5WL³ / (384EI), where I = bh³ / 12, W is total uniformly distributed load, L is span, E is elastic modulus, b is depth, and h is thickness. It estimates elastic deflection only. The default E is illustrative, not a measured species property.

Original content and illustrations

The writing, interface, diagrams, and decorative swatches are original. Swatches are not identification photographs. Project inspiration photos are sourced from Pexels and credited to their photographers in each project guide. They do not verify the pictured species or construction. Pexels photo license. We have not imported a commercial wood database or reused its image collection.

Corrections and development

This is an early public reference. If a statement conflicts with the specification for your actual product, use the documented product information and seek clarification from the supplier. Report an issue or suggest a correction on GitHub.

Last updated October 22, 2026. No affiliate links or sponsored recommendations are currently included.