Finishing and hardware
What is Soft Close?
Soft Close is a finishing and hardware term used when planning, cutting, assembling, or finishing wood projects. In a cut list workflow, it gives a specific name to a material, part, tool, joint, or constraint that should be checked before cutting.
Why Soft Close matters
Finishing and hardware decisions affect clearances, exposed edges, screw placement, door movement, and the order parts should be cut or drilled. For builders using WoodCutTool, the practical point is simple: define the term before the material is cut so the plan, calculator result, and shop work all describe the same thing.
How to use it in a project
Account for hardware holes, edge treatment, sanding, and finish thickness before treating the cut list as final. When the project has many parts or expensive material, move from a rough note to a real cut list calculator, plywood cut calculator, or saved CutList layout before buying or cutting stock.
Use the glossary to clarify the language, then use WoodCutTool calculators to test the actual numbers.