Replies

1. 
   SteveSchoene | Feb 02, 2006 09:34pm | #1

   Whats mysterious to me about the framing square is laying out rafter angles.  As far as I know, board-feet measure doesn't depend on any particular aspect of the square beyond measuring the width (and thickness) of a board.  Take the width in inches multiply it times the length in feet and divide by twelve for the board foot measure of one inch thick stock. If the stock is thicker, you need to multiply the result of the first calculation by the thickness in inches. 

2. 
   JohnWW | Feb 02, 2006 10:31pm | #2

   "It is called the Essex table and it is on one side of the 24" blade."  And that's the only thing I got right in my original answer.

   The answer from Hammer1 that follows is the correct way to use a framing square to calculate board feet.

   John W.

   
   

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   Edited 2/3/2006 9:07 am ET by JohnWW

1. 
   hammer1 | Feb 03, 2006 10:46am | #3

   John, you have a different take on the essex board measure than I've been taught. I can't seem to get my lumber yard to sell me a 1"x12"x20' at 10 board feet. All the measurements start under the 12" mark on the square. You go down the column under 12" to find the length of your board. You then follow that line down the square and find the number on that line, that is in the column, under the inch mark that corresponds to the width of the board. For example, 1"x6"x10'. Under 12" find 10 for the length. Follow that line to the 6" mark on the outer edge of the square and you will see the number 5. A 1"x6"x10' piece of lumber contains 5 board feet of lumber. A single board foot measures 1"x12"x1'. When you look under the 12" mark, you will notice there is no line for 12. The way the measure works, every 12' board contains the number of board feet equal to the width of the board. 1"x10"x12' contains 10 board feet. All the calculations on the Essex Board Measure are for 1" thick materialAt one time all lumber was sold by the board foot. Today it is mostly rough sawn hardwood that is sold by the board foot. Dressed lumber is now sold by the lineal foot or by the piece. I think it's very easy to calculate board feet just by multiplying the dimensions and dividing by 12. (1"x12"x20')÷12=20. There is no need to convert the feet to inches and if the lumber is 2"x12" the procedure is the same.Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

1. 
   JohnWW | Feb 03, 2006 05:04pm | #4

   You are right.  I was working on memory, and obviously didn't recall the procedure.  I should have checked my math, but I wrote the answer in a hurry.

   Thanks for the correction.

   John W.

1. 
   hammer1 | Feb 03, 2006 05:58pm | #5

   I did the same thing just about a week ago. When it comes to math, I triple check my answer and still get it wrong! When it comes to memory, I have to sub that job out.Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

3. 
   gb93433 | Feb 07, 2006 03:47pm | #6

   I don't use a framing square to measure board footage. If you forget about the formulas and understand where board footage comes from it makes it much easier. Board footage is measured surface measure times thickness. In hardwoods it is tallied square footage on the surface measured to the nearest foot and then multiplied times the thickness.

   For example a 8/4 hardwood board that measures 4" X 8' would have 3 square feet on the surface and measure 6 board feet. If it were a softwwod piece it would have 5.33 board feet.

   A hardwood umber tally measures the surface square footage. The grade is based on the surface measure.