Why are those long planks of wood called “2 by 4s”?
What units are we measuring here? 2 what by 4 what? Regardless of what units were using the proportions seem all off. 2 by 4 seems to imply that its a rectangle where the longer side is twice the side of the shorter side, but that doesn’t describe this wood size at all. The long side is quite a big longer than twice the side of the shorter size. So I’m confused. Then there are other sizes of wood, like 2 by 6s, and I see similar issues there too.
Someone please explain what’s going on here.
It used to be you’d buy a 2x4 and then face it by taking 1/4" off all sides so it would be pretty. Now the lumber yards do that. Don’t get me wrong the lumber industry is fucked and new lumber is inferior to old lumber, but be mad about timber forest management instead of the yard facing your lumber for you.