How to Read Lumber Sizes in Woodworking Plans: Nominal vs. Actual Dimensions
The plan says 2 × 4. The board in your hands measures 1½ × 3½ inches. For a moment, it’s easy to think you picked up the wrong lumber. You probably didn’t. In common North American retail lumber, 2 × 4 is the board’s nominal size—the name used to identify it. The actual size is … Read more