What size is a 2x4?

[Sangersteve]

Tell me you've never worked with lumber without tellng me you've never worked with lumber.

Just stumbled on a thread on X. Discussing why framing lumber is smaller than advertized.

The thread starter was aghast that a 2x4 wasn't 2x4.

He just couldn't get over the false advertizing.

It got very strange.

[rusty]

A 2X4 is 1 1/2" X 3 1/2"

[Red Oak]

Historically, lumber in the US changed from the full 2 by 4 dimensions about a 100 years ago, then it was planed to approximately 1 5/8 by 3 5/8, for the next 40 odd years before the current 1 3/4 by 3 1/2 was introduced.

Most likely because of the lower quality of the lumber being cut.

[rusty]

Historically, lumber in the US changed from the full 2 by 4 dimensions about a 100 years ago, then it was planed to approximately 1 5/8 by 3 5/8, for the next 40 odd years before the current 1 3/4 by 3 1/2 was introduced.

Most likely because of the lower quality of the lumber being cut.

Except a 2X4 isn't 1.75 X 3.5