Replies

1. 
   RalphBarker | Jul 09, 2012 09:21am | #1

   lumber sizes

   The two main "home improvement" chains in the U.S. are Home Depot (www.homedepot.com) and Lowes (www.lowes.com). You can research their sites for sizes they typically sell. Most of the stock is limited to "S4S" (surfaced four sides) 4/4 - about 3/4" in thickness, with common widths including 4", 6", 10". From there, commonly-available stock jumps to "4x4" fence posts. But, it is difficult to find stock worth using for furniture due to their sources and storage methods. Specialty lumber stores will have wider selections, but 8/4 (1 3/4" S4S) is often the limit in thickness.

2. 
   swenson | Jul 09, 2012 09:52am | #2

   nominal size vs actual size

   Lumber Dimensions

   2x4s are not actually 2 inches by 4 inches. When the board is first rough sawn from the log, it is a true 2x4, but the drying process and planing of the board reduce it to the finished 1.5x3.5 size. Here are the common sizes of lumber, and their actual sizes.

   Nominal	Actual	Actual - Metric
   1" x 2"	3/4" x 1-1/2"	19 x 38 mm
   1" x 3"	3/4" x 2-1/2"	19 x 64 mm
   1" x 4"	3/4" x 3-1/2"	19 x 89 mm
   1" x 5"	3/4" x 4-1/2"	19 x 114 mm
   1" x 6"	3/4" x 5-1/2"	19 x 140 mm
   1" x 7"	3/4" x 6-1/4"	19 x 159 mm
   1" x 8"	3/4" x 7-1/4"	19 x 184 mm
   1" x 10"	3/4" x 9-1/4"	19 x 235 mm
   1" x 12"	3/4" x 11-1/4"	19 x 286 mm
   1-1/4" x 4"	1" x 3-1/2"	25 x 89 mm
   1-1/4" x 6"	1" x 5-1/2"	25 x 140 mm
   1-1/4" x 8"	1" x 7-1/4"	25 x 184 mm
   1-1/4" x 10"	1" x 9-1/4"	25 x 235 mm
   1-1/4" x 12"	1" x 11-1/4"	25 x 286 mm
   1-1/2" x 4"	1-1/4" x 3-1/2"	32 x 89 mm
   1-1/2" x 6"	1-1/4" x 5-1/2"	32 x 140 mm
   1-1/2" x 8"	1-1/4" x 7-1/4"	32 x 184 mm
   1-1/2" x 10"	1-1/4" x 9-1/4"	32 x 235 mm
   1-1/2" x 12"	1-1/4" x 11-1/4"	32 x 286 mm
   2" x 4"	1-1/2" x 3-1/2"	38 x 89 mm
   2" x 6"	1-1/2" x 5-1/2"	38 x 140 mm
   2" x 8"	1-1/2" x 7-1/4"	38 x 184 mm
   2" x 10"	1-1/2" x 9-1/4"	38 x 235 mm
   2" x 12"	1-1/2" x 11-1/4"	38 x 286 mm
   3" x 6"	2-1/2" x 5-1/2"	64 x 140 mm
   4" x 4"	3-1/2" x 3-1/2"	89 x 89 mm
   4" x 6"	3-1/2" x 5-1/2"	89 x 140 mm

    I did a cut n paste of this nice table in three columns but it seems to post as one long list of sizes.  When I go to edit it looks right but reposting has the same problem.  If you search on nominal lumber you will get better results than this mess.  Sorry.

   EDIT:  Now that I look at it I see that the information is all there, just in groups of three. 

   first nominal then actual then metric.

    

1. 
   swenson | Jul 10, 2012 06:09am | #3

   Home Depot and Lowes

   Those two home improvement stores in my part of the country, Northern Virginia on the east coast of US usually have three kinds of dressed lumber.  Pine, red oak, and maple.  They sell by the linear foot, not by board feet.  Most of the stores will cross cut lumber for the customer for free but no rips.  Plywood they will crosscut or rip.  That's one or two cuts of course, they won't cut out parts of a project for you but it's nice to be able to put longer boards in shorter cars.

   EDIT:  Add poplar to that list of dressed lumber

               You say you don't want the folks buying your plans to have to rip lumber.  That is such a basic part of woodworking.  If you are going to build furniture you certainly have a table saw.  Not every woodworker has a planner and jointer so I can see wanting to use dressed lumber, but no ripping?  Are these plans for outdoor furniture?.