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Howard Gutenstein Why are the measurements listed on a peice of wood wrong
February 18th, 2002 07:04 AM
I am not much of a wood worker and don't do projects often, so this gets me every time.

I was going to make a ramp for my dogs so they could get into the new truck. I picked up a 1x12x6 board to be the base of the ramp. I wanted to be able to break the ramp down for storage. I picked up a hinge 12'' long. Why? because that was how wide the board was supposed to be. However it turns out the board is really 1/2x11x6.

What is the deal here? Why don't they list the true measurements? Anyone know?
Wm. Kirby Why are the measurements listed on a peice of wood wrong
March 24th, 2002 05:33 PM
The lumber that you used was finished lumber. The measurements, that are used to describe lumber, are the sizes of the lumber before it is finished. The planing process, to smooth the lumber, removes all the rough edges. A 2"X4" is actually 1 5/8" X3 1/2". You can purchase rough sawn lumber, but you would probably have to get it at a saw mill.Rough sawn would be the actual size stated, for the lumber.
Richard W. Tidd Why are the measurements listed on a peice of wood wrong
July 15th, 2003 05:58 PM
( The lumber that you used was finished lumber. The measurements, that are used to describe lumber, are the sizes of the lumber before it is finished. The planing process, to smooth the lumber, removes all the rough edges. A 2"X4" is actually 1 5/8" X3 1/2". You can purchase rough sawn lumber, but you would probably have to get it at a saw mill. Rough sawn would be the actual size stated, for the lumber.) Copied from m. Kirby 3/24/2003 from above. The whole deal is you purchase the full size lumber but get a finished product to a new standard size.
Roger Smith Why are the measurements listed on a peice of wood wrong
May 26th, 2004 09:23 AM
Actually the 2X4 use to be 2 inches by 4 inches. Sometimes in the late 50/early 60 range, the lumber industry figured they could get a few more boards if reduce the size. The green boards were reduced in size to allow for a finished product with today's dimensions.
The house I owned was built in 1920 and has wall studs that measure 2 inches by 4 inches and tongue and grove lumber that is a full 1 inch thick. Just try to buy window and door casing to fit is a problem today.
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