Yo Hugo

That is the $80 000 question. I have just run out and counted the pile of strips I got for my expedition single. I can't remember how much I asked for, but worked out a price for pre-cut 1/4" (with a bit) strips. The guys cut them real long for me and most of the strips would be about 15 - 17 feet.

My grand total seems to be around about 75 and I think that is going to be close enough, to enough, for my project (but I am guessing as I have only started stripping - the deck first).

That news will put you in a quandary as 55 strips probably aren't going to be quite enough and 110 is probably going to be too much for your project.

If it helps, the strips were pre-cut for me with alot of precision and there was no wastage. They were so good that for a long while I was reluctant to mill the cove and beads into the strips (hadn't done that before and didn't want to ruin the lovely strips). The uniformity of the strips should help reduce the amount of fairing work at the other end of the project too.

I had a go at cutting some strips myself out of a plank of native timber on a borrowed bench saw. I ended up with strips of varying widths and thicknesses and ruined a few as well. This was quite a contrast to the practically 'machined' strips I got from the shop.

Having more strips than you need isn't a bad thing and will be usefull: It will enable you to have a second go at strips that aren't quite fitting like you would want them too. Also my pile of western red has alot of colour variation. The must confounding strips are ones that start off chocolate brown at one end and change hue half way along to end up just about white at the other end. I have got quite a few of these critters - if only I could ever figure out a way to make them into a some sort of pattern.

So, having more strips than you needed, will enable you to be more fussy with your strip selection and ensure achieving your colour scheme/patterns (mine have gone by the board and I am starting to look at a 'Harlequin')and you will have more opportunity for matching strips that need joining.

The left overs will help kick start your next project.

I think Nick says that he has put in a fudge factor to allow for wastage, so you might come pretty close with a '55 strip' lot. Once you have used them up, you will know for sure, how many more you will need to finish off.

Good Luck

Pete