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How to Read Lumber Sizes in Woodworking Plans: Nominal vs. Actual Dimensions

by Tom Lindstrom

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

Categories Free woodworking plans Tags actual dimensions, nominal dimensions, read lumber sizes
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