5/4 means ?

[siliconbauhaus]

I've never understood this reference for wood sizing. Deos this mean the wood is nominally 1 1/4 thick

[ragswl4]

Yes, that's what it means. Way back when someone decided to dimension wood by quarters, hence 1/4, 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 5/4 to .....infinity/4. Good as any I guess.

[Tom Slick]

to confuse it even more it is the rough size before surfacing (most lumber has been surfaced). that means that a 4/4 board that has been surfaced (not rough) is going to be 3/4" thick. a rough 2" board is refered to as 8/4 but it will only be 1-3/4" thick.

[Cheeky]

I was replacing exterior trim, and 5/4 meant 1" for primed pine, 1 1/8 for cedar and azek....very confusing and unfortunate, especially when you need something that is actually 5/4.

[siliconbauhaus]

gah.....blimey I miss metric so bad.

thanks for the info though.

[JSCOOK]

gah.....blimey I miss metric so bad.

thanks for the info though.

Now if we could only just get the USA on board with metric, it would make everything easier ...

[siliconbauhaus]

tell me about it mate.....*sigh*

[Tom Slick]

is "metric" dimensional (building) lumber in inches? like is a 2x4 still a 4x2?

[siliconbauhaus]

yep 50 X 100 = 2 X 4

[Black wallnut]

Yep! Metric is so dang superior! .30 Cal = 7.62mm and .223 cal = 5.56mm

What exactly is the difference? The placement of the decimal. Those that are endeared with the metric system good on ya but for those of us with no problems with whole number, decimals and the use of fractions I've little doubt we will wnat to change any time soon.

My bet is that even in metric places if you only want half of something that you get it cut in half, and if three people are splitting a pizza equally each will get one third! How the **** do you say that in metric?

[Ed62]

My bet is that even in metric places if you only want half of something that you get it cut in half, and if three people are splitting a pizza equally each will get one third! How the **** do you say that in metric?

Funny!

Ed

[siliconbauhaus]

Blimey.... didn't mean to get any knickers twisted.

All I was saying was that everything is a sensible number...ie 19 mm not .1905 (3/4)

IMHO fractions are a pain in the arse. I have to use a special calculator to work this stuff out.

[JSCOOK]

Yep! Metric is so dang superior! .30 Cal = 7.62mm and .223 cal = 5.56mm

Just gotta get you upgraded to a 9mm ...

My bet is that even in metric places if you only want half of something that you get it cut in half, and if three people are splitting a pizza equally each will get one third! How the **** do you say that in metric?

1/3 = 0.33333

[siliconbauhaus]

raises a molson and chuckles

[JSCOOK]

raises a molson and chuckles

Hmmm ... enjoying one of our fine exports I see ... cheers!