Well, while we're talking about wood

Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2003 7:03 pm

Please understand I am very inexperienced with building things with wood.

I went and bought lumber tonight to build Ethan's bass traps.

The plans say to buy various 1x4, 1x3, and 2x2 material, as well as 1/4 and 1/8 plywood.

Well, when I measure a 1/4, it's not 4 inches wide. It's stamped 1/4 but it's not! The guy at Lowe's says that this is normal though.

Did I buy the right stuff, or should I really be searching for the exact dimensions?

Also, 1/4" plywood is not 1/4" !!! ($%#$%) Is this correct also?

Thanks to all who reply.

Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2003 8:02 pm

Quote:

Originally posted by Daniel E.:

Well, when I measure a 1/4, it's not 4 inches wide. It's stamped 1/4 but it's not! The guy at Lowe's says that this is normal though.

Did I buy the right stuff, or should I really be searching for the exact dimensions?

Also, 1/4" plywood is not 1/4" !!! ($%#$%) Is this correct also?

Thanks to all who reply.

:d: Relax, long ago there used to be what is called "full dimensional lumber" a 2x4 WAS really 2" by 4" but now it is called "mill dimension" meaning it was really 2x4 but we cut the knots and rough stuff off at the mill so now it is 1&1/2" X 3&1/2" and a 1x4 is really 3/4" x 3 & 1/2" . Sooo what you bought was the right stuff, take these dimensions into consideration on your project. The 1/4" ply could vary a little more or less depending on the grade, and quality.
Hope this helps a little,
--Rick

Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2003 4:01 am

Daniel,

Rick beat me to it with the correct answers. I just hope we don't see this as a trend in other products, like where candy bars labeled 3 ounces are really only 2-1/2 ounces! Very Happy

--Ethan

Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2003 7:57 am

Thank you guys.

Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2003 8:18 am

Bags of potatoe chips seem to have the same problem. It'll say one measurement on the outside but you open it up and they are almost all gone...

Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2003 8:52 am

Yes, the mysterious potatoe chip bag phenomenon. Outside of the simple answer that "chips settle in transit", I have deduced that we are paying for that fresh 3 quarts of 'potatoe chip air' that shoots out of the bag when we open it.
Oh, and the other answer of "if you knew that you were only getting $.80 in potatoes, you'd not buy it" might be valid....

or so I heard.

JZ

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