# When 10" isn't 10". A word about my lumber **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 21, 2006, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-10-isnt-10-a-word-about-my-lumber/369602 "2006-08-21T15:37:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Carnacki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5e925/32.png) [@Carnacki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnacki)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-10-isnt-10-a-word-about-my-lumber/369602/21 "2006-08-21T17:04:43Z")
IHNBABIML (I Have Never Built Anything Before In My Life), but I’m curious - if I went to someplace like Home Depot, would it make a difference if I asked them for “a piece of wood 2 inches by 4 inches” versus “a two-by-four”? Or would I get the same thing (i.e., a piece of wood not 2" by 4")? ---
**Author:** ![stretch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@stretch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stretch)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-10-isnt-10-a-word-about-my-lumber/369602/22 "2006-08-21T17:09:31Z")
[QUOTE=KidScruffy] IHNBABIML (I Have Never Built Anything Before In My Life), but I’m curious - if I went to someplace like Home Depot, would it make a difference if I asked them for “a piece of wood 2 inches by 4 inches” versus “a two-by-four”? Or would I get the same thing (i.e., a piece of wood not 2" by 4")? [/QUOTE] I think it would depend on the person assisting you. A good assistant would ask you if you needed a 2x4 or if you needed something with a finished size of 2 inches by 4 inches. A good assistant would help you find the type of wood you wanted and cut it down to size for you (if they have the equipment available). A crappy drone would tell you to grab a 2x4 and then wander away. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-10-isnt-10-a-word-about-my-lumber/369602/23 "2006-08-21T17:16:22Z")
[QUOTE=KidScruffy] IHNBABIML (I Have Never Built Anything Before In My Life), but I’m curious - if I went to someplace like Home Depot, would it make a difference if I asked them for “a piece of wood 2 inches by 4 inches” versus “a two-by-four”? Or would I get the same thing (i.e., a piece of wood not 2" by 4")? [/QUOTE] The clerk will probably ask, “Do you mean a 2x4?” If you say, “I don’t know,” he should ask what you intend to do with it. I do not believe that HD sells any wood that is literally 2 inches by 4 inches in cross section. Structural lumber is nominally 2x4, 4x4, 2x6, 4x6, etc. Anything else would likely be no thicker than 5/4 (one inch) thick. You could got to a bona fide lumber yard and have them cut any dimension you want, wihtin the limits of the rough stock. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-10-isnt-10-a-word-about-my-lumber/369602/24 "2006-08-21T17:18:55Z")
[QUOTE=stretch] I think it would depend on the person assisting you. A good assistant would ask you if you needed a 2x4 or if you needed something with a finished size of 2 inches by 4 inches. A good assistant would help you find the type of wood you wanted and cut it down to size for you (if they have the equipment available). A crappy drone would tell you to grab a 2x4 and then wander away. [/QUOTE] They will rip panels (plywood, etc.) but not crosscut it. They will crosscut dimensional lumber, but not rip it. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-10-isnt-10-a-word-about-my-lumber/369602/25 "2006-08-21T17:30:44Z")
I think the heart of the OP’s rant is that the pre-cut stringers had treads of 10" true, so why wouldn’t his 16’ board stock also be 10" true? The answer has already been supplied above, numerous times. However, I believe you can purchase pre-cut stair treads in varying lengths/depths, so while it seemed to make sense that a 16’x2"x10" board would work, the better solution would have been to buy actual stair treads of the proper size. A 2" thick tread (or even a 1-1/2" thick tread) is pretty thick, and unless the tread is spanning a significant distance, you probably don’t need something that butch. Just add a stringer in the middle of the span. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-10-isnt-10-a-word-about-my-lumber/369602/26 "2006-08-21T17:34:48Z")
[QUOTE=Contrapuntal] They will rip panels (plywood, etc.) but not crosscut it. They will crosscut dimensional lumber, but not rip it. [/QUOTE] But then you have to explain the difference between ripping and crosscutting, and so on. It’s better if they just ask someone else so you don’t have to punch them. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-10-isnt-10-a-word-about-my-lumber/369602/27 "2006-08-21T17:35:15Z")
The most likely outcome is that they would tell you that there ain’t no such animal. Should you insist on those dimensions, they would be able to provide them only by trimming a 3 X 6 or larger piece of lumber, probably at a substantial extra cost per board. And there’s always the possibility that they would refer you to a real lumber yard, who would likely suggest that you try to do business with a lumber mill, or try to talk you into accepting the merchandise that lumber retailers have been making available to the public for generations. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-10-isnt-10-a-word-about-my-lumber/369602/28 "2006-08-21T17:35:24Z")
[QUOTE=buttonjockey308] 9-1/4" That’s 3/4" of a bloody inch! [/QUOTE] -Which is just enough to let you put in some 1" risers. ---
**Author:** ![stretch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@stretch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stretch)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-10-isnt-10-a-word-about-my-lumber/369602/29 "2006-08-21T17:47:36Z")
[QUOTE=Contrapuntal] The clerk will probably ask, “Do you mean a 2x4?” If you say, “I don’t know,” he should ask what you intend to do with it. I do not believe that HD sells any wood that is literally 2 inches by 4 inches in cross section. Structural lumber is nominally 2x4, 4x4, 2x6, 4x6, etc. Anything else would likely be no thicker than 5/4 (one inch) thick. You could got to a bona fide lumber yard and have them cut any dimension you want, wihtin the limits of the rough stock. [/QUOTE] We only hit Home Dopey or SLowes if we need just a couple of 2xs; otherwise we go to our preferred lumberyard. I love a real lumberyard, but they usually won’t let you spend a long time picking through the wood yourself and most of the yards I’ve been too aren’t set up for cutting wood for you. Maybe this is a location thing–I live in the fucking boonies where they expect you to have your own tools and room to work in. Our local plywood mill just shut down too, and now it’s going to be a pain in the ass for us to get special order siding and beams. Damn it! We had projects planned. Well, that’s a whole 'nother rant. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-10-isnt-10-a-word-about-my-lumber/369602/30 "2006-08-21T17:47:45Z")
Hey, was there a good reason why you bought 16’ stock rather than 8’, **BJ308**? How did you get it home? ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-10-isnt-10-a-word-about-my-lumber/369602/31 "2006-08-21T18:15:22Z")
[QUOTE=McNew] I think the heart of the OP’s rant is that the pre-cut stringers had treads of 10" true, so why wouldn’t his 16’ board stock also be 10" true? The answer has already been supplied above, numerous times. However, I believe you can purchase pre-cut stair treads in varying lengths/depths, so while it seemed to make sense that a 16’x2"x10" board would work, the better solution would have been to buy actual stair treads of the proper size. A 2" thick tread (or even a 1-1/2" thick tread) is pretty thick, and unless the tread is spanning a significant distance, you probably don’t need something that butch. Just add a stringer in the middle of the span. [/QUOTE] The best thing to do is to use two 5/4 deckboards for each tread. That works out to about 11 inches, which gives you a one inch nose. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-10-isnt-10-a-word-about-my-lumber/369602/32 "2006-08-21T18:36:38Z")
And a place for water to drain. ---
**Author:** ![zagloba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/977dab/32.png) [@zagloba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zagloba)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-10-isnt-10-a-word-about-my-lumber/369602/33 "2006-08-21T18:45:05Z")
Historical anecdote: the houses around here (SF Bay Area) that I know about and were built in the thirties were framed with full dimensional redwood lumber (2x4’s that are really 2"x4"). ---
**Author:** ![JustAnotherGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/58f4c7/32.png) [@JustAnotherGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustAnotherGeek)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-10-isnt-10-a-word-about-my-lumber/369602/34 "2006-08-21T19:49:27Z")
[QUOTE=buttonjockey308] Turns out, those 2" x 10" boards are 2" x 9-1/4" That’s 3/4" of a bloody inch! That’s fuckin critical when you’re making STAIRS! [/QUOTE] They’re probably expecting you to use 2x12’s, leave a 3/4 inch overhang, and put a board vertically (riser) between each horizontal step. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-10-isnt-10-a-word-about-my-lumber/369602/35 "2006-08-21T19:53:48Z")
[QUOTE=DoctorJ] _My_ lumber is a full 10", baby. [/QUOTE] We’ll take your word for it. You don’t need to unlimber the timber. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-10-isnt-10-a-word-about-my-lumber/369602/36 "2006-08-21T19:58:44Z")
[QUOTE=astro] We’ll take your word for it. You don’t need to unlimber the timber. [/QUOTE] if he did, it’d be just another woody. ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-10-isnt-10-a-word-about-my-lumber/369602/37 "2006-08-21T20:38:16Z")
Always, Always, Always ask if the lumber went swimming before it was put on sale. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-10-isnt-10-a-word-about-my-lumber/369602/38 "2006-08-21T21:28:28Z")
[QUOTE=kaylasdad99] The most likely outcome is that they would tell you that there ain’t no such animal. Should you insist on those dimensions, they would be able to provide them only by trimming a 3 X 6 or larger piece of lumber, probably at a substantial extra cost per board. [/QUOTE] But rough boards are 2x4. And someone could really mean that. > [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > How do women know about shrinkage? “It shrinks?!?” ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-10-isnt-10-a-word-about-my-lumber/369602/39 "2006-08-21T21:33:55Z")
[QUOTE=Squink] -Which is just enough to let you put in some 1" risers. [/QUOTE] What the the fuck is a motherfucking riser? ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-10-isnt-10-a-word-about-my-lumber/369602/40 "2006-08-21T21:44:04Z")
[QUOTE=ParentalAdvisory] What the the fuck is a motherfucking riser? [/QUOTE] I hate to google it at work, but is that a quote from somewhere? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-10-isnt-10-a-word-about-my-lumber/369602.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-10-isnt-10-a-word-about-my-lumber/369602.md?page=3)