i.e. a 2x4 does not measure 2"x4" and more importantly for me, a 3/4"x8" piece of wood does not measure 8".
2007-08-02 15:01:29 · 15 answers · asked by LifeTwo 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
Wood is dimensioned unfinished and then is planned to size for the smooth finish you find in lumber yards. If you wanted full sized wood, you either have to buy 4/4 (1") or 8/8 (2") or buy rough sawn wood and plane it yourself.
Fortunately, we are not subject to the whims of the planing companies so 1x8 (not 3/4 x 8) is reliably 3/4" x 7 1/2" for planning projects. Either cut your own from plywood or 1x10 or 1x12 or plan your projects for 7 1/2
2007-08-02 15:07:15 · answer #1 · answered by Mike1942f 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have hated wood work for 50 years due to the false labeling of wood sizes. As much as I hate class action lawsuits I feel the lumber industry should get one filed against it. A 2x4 should be 2 inches by 4 inches. We need truth in labeling. If a Gas station sold you 3 quarts and called it a gallon they would be in trouble. Just think of all the people paying for lumber and being cheated all thier life.
2007-08-02 16:09:13 · answer #2 · answered by fixitall 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It seems you may have a few tools avaialble to you...I would suggest if you wanted good precise wood and it needs to be sanded that I would cut it about an 1/8 inch over in both dimensions..then run it through either a planer..or a drum sander would be the best..You will end up with a precise sanded piece of wood..
2016-03-16 05:49:33 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would be nice wouldn't it. This measurement is the wood size after trim. Once you get used to the sizes in carpentry it's easy, you just have to get used to it.
It's always funny to see a novice starting out and trying to figure out what's going on with his measurements and why it's not working for him.
It's best to learn your sizes right away and all the other important measuring standards used before you start cutting your wood.
2007-08-02 21:21:06 · answer #4 · answered by cowboydoc 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nominal wood dimensions are just a convention these days, dimensional lumber used to be exactrly what they were called, a 2 X4 was 2" X 4", but the wood was just rough sawn.
later dimensional lumber was planed for straightness and consistancy and size, but the name remained the same.
2007-08-02 15:07:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the size refers to the rough cut ... the wood is rough cut to 2x4 .. then it is run thru plainners to smooth it .... the end result is a piece 1 1/2 by 3 1/2 ... a piece of 3/4 x 8 ends up 5/8 x 7 1/4 ... .. only proffesionals are aware of this
2007-08-02 15:06:19 · answer #6 · answered by freecreed.com 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the measuremnts at the store are "rough cut", cut right from the lumber mill. But the wood is once agian cut to "smooth cut" whcih removes 1/8 of an inch from each side.
So a 2 by 4 ( rough cut) is actually a 1 3/4 by 3 3/4 (smooth cut)
2007-08-03 11:18:51 · answer #7 · answered by j Jay 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Surfaced wood is like this. It's rough sawn to 2x4 but then they surface it to make it true and it ends up @ 1 1/2x3 1/2. You can find rough sawn wood at some lumber yards and it will be actually 2x4.
2007-08-02 15:07:57 · answer #8 · answered by rob89434 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some of the wood got planed off in the planer and the joiner so that it can be nice and smooth. Otherwise, you would have to handle some pretty rough, unfinished wood!
2007-08-02 15:10:21 · answer #9 · answered by a.michelson 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they used to be those sizes
now they skimp a bit on wood
they claim its lost in planing
2007-08-02 15:04:20 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋