In this step, we measure the width of each board as it comes from the sawyer and confirm that is is wide enough for our use. A very rough indication of the length of each component is marked on the board or boards to insure that there will be enough material for the project. If the board is of manageable size, we then rip cut the board to the appropriate width, leaving no more than 1/8" excess, to allow 1/16" for smoothing on both sides. In medieval times, a rip cut in the shop would probably have been done with either a frame saw, or a handsaw. Specialty shops in the late middle ages might have also have had a narrow-kerf ripsaw. Had the board been too long to easily handle in the shop, we might cut it to length first.