are two-by-fours actually 2" x 4"?

[phatj]

just curious

 

[Snakes on a Plane]

no, 1 1/2 by 3 1/2 i think

maybe 1 3/4 by 3 3/4

 

[mugs]

No, they're about 1.5x3.5 I think.

http://www.arnoldlumber.com/size.html

 

[woowoo]

Nope

 

[Ramma2]

Just like gas isn't 2.14$ by me, it is 2.149$.

DAMN THE MAN!

 

[jacob0401]

yea the corners are sort of rounded off so they are not exactly 2x4...confusing i know...

 

[Rubycon]

No but it's a lot easier saying two by four or four by four.

If Intel was in the lumber biz we'd have some kind of strange numeric naming convention. Dual core rafters sounds interesting. :laugh:

 

[nakedfrog]

I think they were 2"x4" before they were dried or something like that. Last time I bought some, the hardware store had a sign that said "2x4s" but also had the actual measurements listed on it.

 

[cKGunslinger]

1 3/4 x 3 1/2

 

[KillyKillall]

From internet search:

"The true measurement of a 2x4 is actually about 1.5x3.5. When the board is first rough sawn from the log, it is a true 2x4, but the drying process and planing of the board reduce it to the finished 1.5x3.5 size. The lumber is then sold as a "2x4" because the cost of the drying and machining are figured in ... it is also much easier to refer to a board as a "2x4", rather than a "1.5x3.5"."

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

1 1/2" by 3 1/2". All dimensional lumber under 10" in width is 1/2" smaller than nominal.

But when you reach a 2x10, it becomes 1 1/2" by 9 1/4". That is 3/4" smaller in width. The same applies to 2x12.

 

[BrownTown]

Its supposedly 2x4 before the cut, but the blade of course shaves some off when it cuts.

 

[GoPackGo]

At one point in time...they were!

 

[Demon-Xanth]

They are if you get unfinished 2x4s. After the planing and sanding processes they are reduced signifigantly.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Originally posted by: jacob0401
yea the corners are sort of rounded off so they are not exactly 2x4...confusing i know...

has nothing to do with the chamfering.

 

[JulesMaximus]

No, they are more like 1.75x3.75 actually.

 

[mugs]

Another wood-related question - why are plywood thicknesses often measured in 32nds of an inch, usually 1/32 away from an even 1/8" or 1/4"? Why not just make the wood an even size?

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Originally posted by: mugs
Another wood-related question - why are plywood thicknesses often measured in 32nds of an inch, usually 1/32 away from an even 1/8" or 1/4"? Why not just make the wood an even size?

The most common are 7/16 and 9/16 for OSB, but some manufacturers make 15/32 and 19/32. The veneers used for OSB and plywood are generally 1/32" thick. When you buy plywood, you can also usually buy 1/2", 5/8" and 3/4".

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Originally posted by: mugs
Another wood-related question - why are plywood thicknesses often measured in 32nds of an inch, usually 1/32 away from an even 1/8" or 1/4"? Why not just make the wood an even size?

Because they're made from an odd number of layers that are 1/32nd inch thick. The cross layers are two pieces while the ones you see on the outside are one since they all come from 4x8 sheets. So you'd lose strength.

 

[Baked]

"I need to buy some one and three quarter by three and a half."
"What?"

 

[Rudee]

No, and gas doesn't get sold by the "barrel" either.