# Builders/carpenters: what do these measurements relate to (14 7/8 x 6 3/8 x 18 ½ | 37.8 cm x 16.2 cm **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 20, 2013, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/builders-carpenters-what-do-these-measurements-relate-to-14-7-8-x-6-3-8-x-18-37-8-cm-x-16-2-cm/676836 "2013-12-20T18:09:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/builders-carpenters-what-do-these-measurements-relate-to-14-7-8-x-6-3-8-x-18-37-8-cm-x-16-2-cm/676836/1 "2013-12-20T18:09:38Z")
I’m adding a few Stack-On storage cabinets to my shop walls. The boxes have, to me, odd measurements. Do these measurements relate to anything? That is, is 14 7/8 the typical distance between two 16-on-centre studs? Or is this just the dimension the manufacturer thought looked good? ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/builders-carpenters-what-do-these-measurements-relate-to-14-7-8-x-6-3-8-x-18-37-8-cm-x-16-2-cm/676836/2 "2013-12-20T18:17:30Z")
I don’t see any relation to common framing dimensions. Space between two common studs is only 14 1/2, so these cabinets wouldn’t fit between nicely. But they’re not quite wide enough to provide two good anchor points :-/ ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/builders-carpenters-what-do-these-measurements-relate-to-14-7-8-x-6-3-8-x-18-37-8-cm-x-16-2-cm/676836/3 "2013-12-20T18:34:50Z")
The anchors are actually closer together than the 14 7/8. I don’t recall what they were (I’m at work and the boxes aren’t here), but do remember they didn’t seem to be an even number in either imperial or metric. You’d think a bunch of boxes to hold nuts and bolts type things would make some sense (which is why I thought I was missing something). ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/builders-carpenters-what-do-these-measurements-relate-to-14-7-8-x-6-3-8-x-18-37-8-cm-x-16-2-cm/676836/4 "2013-12-20T18:42:20Z")
Those are metal cabinets and don’t really have any connection to carpentry. If it were my install I’d go pick up a metal pinch cleat bracket and use that to hang them. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/builders-carpenters-what-do-these-measurements-relate-to-14-7-8-x-6-3-8-x-18-37-8-cm-x-16-2-cm/676836/5 "2013-12-20T18:53:31Z")
Plastic, actually ([link to one of them here](http://www.lowes.com/pd_354712-941-DSB-18-3_?PL=1&productId=3381354)), which was kind of helpful to me as one of the pre-cut mounting holes wasn’t quite where I needed it and I happened to have a Dremel in my hand at the time.