Beginning woodworkers can acquire 2×4 studs at a relatively inexpensive price and the material is simple to work with. If you haven’t constructed anything in the past, there is much to pick up! In this guide, I will provide responses to all your queries regarding the humble 2×4 and assist you in beginning your next assignment!
Why Is a 2×4 Not 2 Inches by 4 Inches?
Have you ever bought a 2×4 plank in a hardware store only to find out that it’s not actually 2 inches wide by 4 inches long? Are lumber companies deceiving us into thinking that we are acquiring greater quantities of lumber than we actually are?
The main explanation why 2×4 is not 2 inches by 4 inches is because sawmills trim away uneven or misshapen sides of a 2×4 to provide it a sleeker and more complete look. By arranging the wood on all four sides, the original 2×4 has been reduced to a size of 1 1/2 inches by 3 1/2 inches. After the timber has been cut to the desired dimensions, the edges are smoothed out to avoid any potential injuries.
Wood of all sizes, ranging from 1x2s to 2x12s, is cut to a smaller size than what the name indicates. These days, the specific measurements are no longer of concern in the building trade, as all dimensions are adapted to the more petite timber items being made now.
What Is the History Of Lumber Sizes?
Exploring the origins of how lumber dimensions were determined is quite interesting if you return to a distant past. Wood has been employed for many years globally to build houses and other structures. Let’s not look too far in the past, but rather to the mid-1800s.
The townspeople had to get their lumber from sawmills and lumber yards that were in the vicinity during the time it was needed for construction. Lumber mills were scattered throughout America, creating lumber to be used in urban and rural areas from sea to shining sea. Generally, the timber they manufactured was trimmed to the dimensions that nearby construction workers were seeking and requesting, so these sizes could vary from lumber yard to lumber yard.
Be cognizant that during the era of American progression, most houses, barns, as well as other constructions were built through connecting timber by hand, an extremely lengthy process but making the boxes robust and powerful. If the dimensions of a board were not precise, the constructor would normally readjust it with an axe. It was nearly impossible to find wood from one lumber supply that was the same as from another.
As the 1800s were coming to an end, woodlands were slashed away from more and more from urban centers where it was needed, making it necessary to transport it much farther distances to the person using it. As the availability of locally sourced lumber decreased, construction workers discovered that the lumber from one store was cut to different measurements than that of another.
Sizing and Cutting and Weight
Builders struggled to find lumber in uniform sizes which sparked lumber yards to start cutting and planing dimensional lumber to an even size in order to increase their sales and make their customers happy. Some timber merchants provided two choices of dimensional lumber: S1S and S2S meaning “smoothed on one side” and “smoothed on two sides” respectively. There was the possibility, if a builder was ready to spend a higher amount, to obtain S4S lumber, or timber that had been ‘surfaced 4 sides’, which is now accessible in stores like Lowe’s and Home Depot.
By trimming and crafting the tree, the proportion of the lumber was reduced, giving some clever entrepreneurs the thought that they could generate more income by delivering pre-cut lumber boards instead of merely selling raw, unprocessed timber. A new industry was born!
Before too much time had elapsed, lumber associations began to come into existence in a number of places in the U.S., enacting regulations for the members implying a definite size for the woody material.
These associations conducted real operations in order to decide what measurements and qualities of timber should be. Kelloggs created their own guide in 1914 titled “Lumber and Its Uses” which outlines lumber standards.
What are the Different Types of Wood Used for Lumber?
The term ‘lumber’ applies to all wood that has been sawed into pieces and prepared for use in building projects. Wood can be made from both softwood and hardwood, and there is an intriguing contrast between the two.
Hardwoods like oak, walnut, cherry, maple, birch, and even balsa originate from trees whose foliage is, as a rule, lost in the cold season. Softwoods such as fir, pine, spruce, hemlock, and redwood do not have leaves and instead possess needles, which remain on the tree during the winter season. You might know them by their nickname, evergreen trees.
Softwoods are widely used in the building trade. They are employed in beams, rafters, supports, posts, decking boards, sheathing, planks, subflooring, and the molds used when concrete is poured. The root of why softwood is utilized so frequently is understandable; it is cheaper than hardwood.
Why is Lumber not Actual Size?
Lumber measurements are not exact as they are usually sawed before they become dry, resulting in a decrease in size once the wood has dried out. The boards are then smoothed out to the finished size, which removes additional wood, causing the wood pieces to be slightly less than the initial measurements. In addition, when wood is freshly cut from the tree, it has a lot of moisture in its “green” state. As the wood dries, it contracts in both its length and width. The degree of contraction depends on the sort of wood and its initial moisture level. For example, oak shrinks more than pine.
What to Look For at the Lumber Yard
Dipping your toes into a lumber yard or hardware store’s lumber division can be quite intimidating for a beginner! There are so many stacks to choose from! Take a wooden hand truck and walk around until you find the two-by-fours you need.
Avoid Cracked and Damaged Boards
When you chance upon the stack of 2x4s, likely on the top will be visible a number of flawed and broken planks. The poorest-quality bins are discarded after being examined. Don’t grab boards right off the top!
Go a few layers deep or look back to find the row of 2x4s arranged in neat stacks. These are the boards that haven’t been gone through yet, and there are sure to be some really good ones in there! On occasion, there will be a strap on the outside of a fresh delivery of timber, and I can employ my car keys to cut the strap and take out all the top-quality lumber.
Choose any pieces of 2×4 lumber which do not have any splits, pieces missing, or deep marks. I’m usually choosy and will attempt to stay away from as many entanglements as possible in order to spare myself some trouble later.
Look For Bowing and Cupping
Two-by-four lumber is cut and processed rapidly, and rarely allowed to dry thoroughly. Consequently, the boards available at the store may be warped and bent. Having a flat board is key for creating furniture, though it is not a requirement for construction.
Have a brief examination of each board you selected. Place one end of the object on the ground and lift the other end so it is level with your eye. Examine the 2×4 from end to end to determine if it is aligned correctly. It’s possible to quickly detect when something is deviating from a straight line. I’ve observed some that would make a perfect canoe!
You should also inspect the corners to see if they are 90 degrees and aligned correctly. If it’s shaped like a potato chip, it’s cupping! In wider boards, this is a regular occurrence, but there’s no harm in making sure it’s true.
Once you have selected the best quality 2×4 lumber, you can have the store employees cut it into shorter portions in order to make it more manageable for transportation. It may be difficult to cram 8-foot boards into a small car.
How to Cut a 2×4
No matter what kind of saw is employed, it is possible to cut a 2×4, however certain saws are more effective than others. Let’s begin the conversation by discussing the two separate types of cuts that can be made.
Types of Cuts
- A cross-cut severs the fibers across the grain, making the 2×4 board shorter. This is the most common type of cut and can be made with most saws.
- A rip cut slices down the length of the board with the grain. This makes a thinner board and is commonly used to take off the rounded corners of standard 2×4 lumber. It’s difficult to make a rip cut with anything other than a table saw, although it’s possible to do it with a circular saw with the right support.
How to Cut a 2×4 Without Power Tools
If you need to chop a 2×4 but don’t have access to any power tools, a miter box with a saw operated by hand should do the trick. The grooves in the receptacle will help direct the saw to generate an even cut as you drag the blades back and forth across the plank.
How to Cut a 2×4 With a Circular Saw
In the majority of households, there is a circular saw that is not being used and is collecting dust in the family’s garage.
It’s a simple task to cut a 2×4 in a straight line with a circular saw by simply adjusting the blade to match with the cutting line. Positioning a speed square close to the bottom plate will aid in guiding the saw in a straight line. You can also employ a jigsaw to make the same cut on a 2×4!
To generate the most exact cutting, it is suggested that you build a circular saw jig that you can clasp to the plank in the designated spot. You can execute a rip cut with this jigsaw as long as support is maintained and it does not tilt.
How to Cut a 2×4 With a Miter Saw
The simplest method of cutting a 2×4 is utilizing a miter saw. The blade can be adjusted in order to make both straight and angled cuts. If you implement the stop block technique, you can produce an array of duplicate 2×4 pieces in no time!
The miter saw is ideal for producing cuts across wood, yet is not suitable for making cuts lengthways. Your digits will come frighteningly close to the rotating blade, creating an uncomfortable feeling.
How to Cut a 2×4 With a Table Saw
A table saw is capable of easily making cross-sections and rip-cuts. I typically employ the table saw to slice off the curved edges on the 2×4 or reduce it into two 2x2s.
In order to create a cross-cut on the table saw, the miter gauge or a cross-cut sled has to be used. This type of ornate crosscut sled will make it simple to do angled cuts.
What Size Screws to Use With 2×4 Lumber
The most frequent screw employed to secure 2×4 wood is a 2 ½” #9 or #10. A #9 or #10 screw is sufficiently strong to hold pieces of 2×4 lumber together in place without breaking apart when tension is applied. The length of the screw will be sufficient enough to make it go all the way through the first board and most of the way through the second board, without emerging out of the other side.
Creating a hole before inserting a screw into the board will stop the wood from splitting or developing cracks. If you want the screw to be flush with the wooden surface, drill a countersink hole and use screws with a flat head.
If you’re utilising pocket hole joinery, you’ll need to use Kreg screws which are 2 ½” for 2x4s. This cut shows that the 2 ½” Kreg screw is positioned correctly to enable two 2x4s to join together in a flush, 90-degree angle.
