9 ms·

The humble 2x4 piece of lumber will likely be the last major industrial component to change over in the US. Which actually measures 1-1/2" by 3-1/2", but let's

by chiph 10y ago

The humble 2x4 piece of lumber will likely be the last major industrial component to change over in the US. Which actually measures 1-1/2" by 3-1/2", but let's not go there...

thearn4 10y ago
That actually raises an interesting question, what are dimensional lumber measurements like in metric? Or do countries that use the SI system generally not use wood for framing?
- Coincoin 10y ago
  In Canada we still use imperial for construction stuff, I guess for import/export reasons. Oh and Farenheit for water and cooking temperatures. No idea why because I have no freaking idea what a Farenheit is otherwise.
anexprogrammer 10y ago
But will it? In the UK 2x4, 2x2 etc is still commonly available, but it's 50x100mm. Probably has been for 30 years but only sold as 50x100 for ten or less. Metricating timber was easy because no one's going to notice or care if they get 25mm instead of each inch. Metals, fastenings, pipes etc converted much slower because metric was often incompatible sizes without adapters. > Which actually measures 1-1/2" by 3-1/2", Isn't that because it's 2x4 before planing. cut lumber would be actually 2x4.
- cbr 10y ago
  > Isn't that because it's 2x4 before planing. cut lumber would be actually 2x4. It used to be, but now we're more efficient in our rough cutting and a 2x4 you buy was never actually a full 2x4.
- ascorbic 10y ago
  And cut lengths of timber and sheet materials are usually multiples of 30cm but many people will order "8 foot" rather than 2.4m. Likewise joist and stud centres. However you can also get 3m or 5m, for example. Of course, most houses in the UK were built pre-metric system, so rooms will mostly be sized in feet, if they are in round units at all.
tsomctl 10y ago
And even then, it can vary by +/- 1/8". (I don't know if this is due to shrinkage from drying, or if they are deliberately milling it smaller to get more linear feet.)
- imglorp 10y ago
  More than that. It's 2x4 when cut wet, but shrinks to 1-1/2 x 3-1/2 when dry(er). Note that it will continue to grow and shrink over its life as humidity changes. I don't try to figure out their fake dimensions; I just measure and buy what fits. Oh, and this is why composites like MDF and plywood are better sometimes.

by chiph 10y ago

The humble 2x4 piece of lumber will likely be the last major industrial component to change over in the US. Which actually measures 1-1/2" by 3-1/2", but let's not go there...

thearn4 10y ago

That actually raises an interesting question, what are dimensional lumber measurements like in metric? Or do countries that use the SI system generally not use wood for framing?

Coincoin 10y ago
In Canada we still use imperial for construction stuff, I guess for import/export reasons. Oh and Farenheit for water and cooking temperatures. No idea why because I have no freaking idea what a Farenheit is otherwise.

anexprogrammer 10y ago

But will it? In the UK 2x4, 2x2 etc is still commonly available, but it's 50x100mm. Probably has been for 30 years but only sold as 50x100 for ten or less. Metricating timber was easy because no one's going to notice or care if they get 25mm instead of each inch. Metals, fastenings, pipes etc converted much slower because metric was often incompatible sizes without adapters. > Which actually measures 1-1/2" by 3-1/2", Isn't that because it's 2x4 before planing. cut lumber would be actually 2x4.

cbr 10y ago
> Isn't that because it's 2x4 before planing. cut lumber would be actually 2x4. It used to be, but now we're more efficient in our rough cutting and a 2x4 you buy was never actually a full 2x4.
ascorbic 10y ago
And cut lengths of timber and sheet materials are usually multiples of 30cm but many people will order "8 foot" rather than 2.4m. Likewise joist and stud centres. However you can also get 3m or 5m, for example. Of course, most houses in the UK were built pre-metric system, so rooms will mostly be sized in feet, if they are in round units at all.

tsomctl 10y ago

And even then, it can vary by +/- 1/8". (I don't know if this is due to shrinkage from drying, or if they are deliberately milling it smaller to get more linear feet.)

imglorp 10y ago
More than that. It's 2x4 when cut wet, but shrinks to 1-1/2 x 3-1/2 when dry(er). Note that it will continue to grow and shrink over its life as humidity changes. I don't try to figure out their fake dimensions; I just measure and buy what fits. Oh, and this is why composites like MDF and plywood are better sometimes.