G+_Rud Dog Posted August 13, 2017 Share Posted August 13, 2017 Any carpenters out there? Had to replace a few pieces of a fence I started the project last summer and just got around to finishing it. The lumber I purchased last summer was 1 1/2" (this is the import dimension at the moment. Lumber purchased the other day was 1 3/4" . This miss-match shows up big time as it is part of the railing. Did I buy the wrong 2x4s? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Mark Wehrwein Posted August 13, 2017 Share Posted August 13, 2017 Standard cut is 1 3\4. You can take 1\4 off for the cut Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Giligain I. Posted August 13, 2017 Share Posted August 13, 2017 Treated vs. non-treated difference? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Ben Reese Posted August 13, 2017 Share Posted August 13, 2017 A 2×4 should be 1½×3½. Same for treated and untreated. I'm guessing it was poorly milled or unfinished. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Rud Dog Posted August 13, 2017 Author Share Posted August 13, 2017 Not much help at the big warehouse type stores. Picked up the wood from the selection of 2x4 redwood lumber, both times. In fact for redwood 2x4s there was only one location in the store to select from no finished or unfinished. Just different lengths. Cutting them presents a problem as my little saw and my skills will produce the must dastardly piece of lumber known to the wood industry. Just amazed this is not standardized. Or as mentioned it might be a fluke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_J Miller Posted August 14, 2017 Share Posted August 14, 2017 Also keep in mind that wet lumber will swell and shrink as they dry out. It will take weeks for the lumber to fully dry out and shrink. If the lumber was wet when you bought it it will not be the same size of the lumber on your dried out fence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Richard Bell Posted August 14, 2017 Share Posted August 14, 2017 There are standards but not everything is 'dimensional' lumber, especially if you deviate from the standard FPS (fir, pine, spruce), oak, maple etc. I would try to find a mill or woodworker in your area to rip it down for you (if you are near Chicago I'd do it for you). Good luck, let me know if I can clarify further. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Rud Dog Posted August 14, 2017 Author Share Posted August 14, 2017 Richard Bell , thank you. Took another trip down to Home Depot and brought along my tape measure. Sure enough, all the wood no matter what I checked was 1 1/2". And memory serving correctly I bought the 1 3/4" from a lumber yard don't know if you have them in Chicago they are called Sothern Lumber. Anyhow decided to check around, after spending the day trying to use a poor man's planer (router), for rentals maybe I can rent a planer. Seems silly for so few pieces of lumber. They just might turn out to be firewood. Almost worth the drive from California to Chicago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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