On Thu, 1 Jan 2009 12:57:18 -0800, "CalifBill"
wrote:


"Don White" wrote in message
.. .


Up here, the lumber yards use the old measurements when selling
dimensional product.
Everyone with half a brain (sorry Johnny) knows that a 2" x 4" is really 1
5/8 x 3 5/8 inches


It is that everywhere now. But a 2x4 in years past was really 2" by 4" and
rough on the sides.

Heh. That 1 5/8 by 3 5/8 is what I remember buying as 2x4's when I
first started buying lumber.
When I noticed it was 1 1/2 by 3 1/2 some years ago I looked up when
it changed to the smaller dimensions, but got no real answer.
Still confused. Maybe I was getting Canadian stuff.
Found this, but I don't have enough beer in the house to get through
it.
http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/misc/miscpub_6409.pdf

--Vic