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Board lumber comes in many
different sizes, types and shapes. Most of the lumber we use in set
building is taken from fast growing soft wood trees. We must do our
best to recycle as much lumber as we can. While wood does grow on (in) trees, we should do our part in preserving our natural resources.
We use the following sizes of
board lumber the most. You'll notice that the list has two different
columns on the left. One labeled Name and the other labeled Actual. A
2"x4" is not actually 2 inches by 4 inches when it reaches the lumber
yard. You see, when the wood is cut from the log at the saw mill, the
actual size is 2 inches by 4 inches "rough cut". Rough cut means the
surface of the wood has rough saw marks all over it. When you get the
lumber, it has already been smoothed via a large wood surface planer.
When you pass wood through a surface planer, the blades take off 1/8th
of an inch from each side. The result is a smooth piece of wood that is
smaller then it's name.
| Name |
Actual
|
Use
|
| 1"x3" |
3/4"x2 1/2" |
Used for framing flats. |
| 1"x6" |
3/4"x5 1/2" |
Used
for framing door flats where extra rigidity is needed. Also can be used
for framing light weight platforms. Platforms using 1"x6" need more
legs and extra bracing then platforms using 2"x6" |
| 2"x3" |
1 1/2" x
2 1/2" |
We often use this for stair railings, furniture parts, diagonal bracing and more. |
| 2"x4" |
1 1/2" x
3 1/2" |
Platform
legs, railings, heavy duty flat construction, medium duty platform
framing. These are also used for framing houses, wall studs, heavy duty
diagonal bracing... |
| 2"x6" |
1 1/2" x
5 1/2" |
Platform framing, narrow stair steps (treads), stair risers. |
2"x10"
2"x12" |
1 1/2" x
9 1/2" &
11 1/4" |
These
two are most often used for stair risers (sides) and for heavy duty
beams under platforms. Let's say we wished to have an open span of 12
feet. You could use a few 2"x12" beams, with proper legs at each end,
to hold up your platforms |
The Actual
dimensions may vary from wood to wood. You should always double check
the actual size before finalizing your cut lists. Let's say your cut
list calls for 1x3 to be cut to 3'7" for the toggle of a 4x8 flat... If
the 1x3 were to be 2 3/8ths instead of 2 1/2", the flat would be just a
bit narrow.
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