wood demensions

[awilson]

why dosent anyone sell lumber in terms that newbs can read. i started my work in framing and we use simply 2x4, 2x6, or 2x12. why cant these big lumber distributers ever sell them like that. i dant have a planer of joiner so i size them to my needs and Rockler says that one side "may" not be the greatest. why do they do this and what can i do to fix my problem cuz they aint changing.


Anything can be built if you have good plans, the right tools, the right know how, and more importently the money to do it.

[TDHofstetter]

There are lots of hardwood distributors that sell "S4S" (predimensioned) cabinet-grade woods. You might check your yellow pages under "Hardwoods". Heckins, I live in rural Vermont and there's such a dealer just over half an hour from my house. Ain't a Home Despot less'n two hours away, though. :)

-- Tim --


There are two ways to have enough.
One is to get more.
The other is to need less.

[MadMark]

Lumber is dimensioned three different ways depending on what you're talking about.

4/4 - Quarter Notation - Used for rough lumber. Indicates the minimum thickness to nearest quarter inch.
2x4 - Nominal Notation - Used for S4S lumber. Numbers indicate the size of the rough that was consumed to make the S4S. Dimensions of 1 will be less 1/4" (or 3/4" actual). Dimensions larger than 1 will be that dimension less 1/2". So 2x4 is 1½" x 3½" and a 1x6 will be ¾" x 5½".
3-5/8" x 4¾" x 27¼" - Actual Notation. This is dimensions listed on plans. The final wood should be as close to these dims as possible.