RE: Crazy law suit

oldtanker · Jun 23, 2017

Read all the way through all that and I got to thinking.

What would you say if you went to fill your car/truck up and it took way more than you thought it would then noticed a sign that said "nominal gallon"? Or if that pound of butter said "nominal pound"?

We have been conditioned to nominal sized lumber but does that make it right? Shouldn't you get a 2X4 if you pay for a 2X4?
Makes me think we have been getting ripped off for decades!

Don't laugh at these people who don't know. This all started back in the late 40's and 50's. People were at work. Good paying work. We were the only industrialized county in the world that didn't have to rebuild after WWII so we exported to everyone! People with good paying jobs didn't have to do their own repairs. So they never taught their kids. I saw this as a kid in NJ. Most of our neighbors in the 60's couldn't do much around the house. They hired it done. My dad was tight with money so he did everything and I was his forced gopher. But I learned. Lot of you guys grew up with dads like mine. But most of the kids I went to school with had no idea.

Rick

Stephen Newell · Jun 23, 2017

Anybody that has any experience with woodworking or construction knows the 2x4 or 4x4 is the size the board is when it is ripped from the log. It's only after surfacing it becomes less. Maybe they need to quit surfacing the wood so it is true to size. Then let them complain about getting splinters. Anyway if you read the fine print on the sign showing 2x4's or whatever it gives "Actual Size".

ptfarmer · Jun 23, 2017

Nominal vs. Actual

The label put on the lumber you buy is called the “nominal” lumber size. The actual size is always a little bit smaller. Nominal refers to the dimension the lumber was sawn. When a 2×4 is cut out of a log it is 2?x4?. After the board is dried and planed it becomes its actual size of 1 1/2?x3 1/2?.

JimS · Jun 23, 2017

I'm suing Warner Brothers over the "Never Ending Story." Blatant false advertising. If it was truly never ending, why would they
need a part two?

ptfarmer · Jun 23, 2017

(quoted from post at 13:52:46 06/23/17) Nominal vs. Actual

The label put on the lumber you buy is called the “nominal” lumber size. The actual size is always a little bit smaller. Nominal refers to the dimension the lumber was sawn. When a 2×4 is cut out of a log it is 2?x4?. After the board is dried and planed it becomes its actual size of 1 1/2?x3 1/2?.

Hate the editing being disabled.

After the board is dried and planed it becomes its actual size of 1 1/2" x 3 1/2". Building codes specify how much water content the wood is allowed. If they want to use rough sawn, wet lumber what are they going to do when the lumber twists as it dries out.

steve706 · Jun 23, 2017

In building supplies, the only people who sell true dimensional lumber I have found is the Amish. You ask for 2x4's, you get 2"x4".

wilson ind · Jun 23, 2017

it is not 2x4 when cut new thin band saws allow the mills to cut much smaller cheats consumer and producer. Had a friend exect in westerm mill laugh about how much they save with thin band saw.

paul · Jun 23, 2017

What about plywood?

The powers that be decided we have better glue now, so it is stronger, and plywood would be sold to strength, not actual size. So 3/4 plywood
is a layer or two less now.... Etc.

Paul

Stephen Newell · Jun 23, 2017

Most 3/4" plywood today is between 11/16" and 23/32".

Ozlander · Jun 23, 2017

(quoted from post at 18:08:41 06/23/17) Most 3/4" plywood today is between 11/16" and 23/32".

And not 48" x 96".

Destroked 450 · Jun 23, 2017

I worked for a hardwood lumber mill for several years hauling lumber to manufactures, we sawed mainly furniture and flooring grade lumber, it had to be sawed 1/8 heavy or the buyers would reject it.
4/4 or 1" had to be 1 1/8"
5/4 or 1 1/4 had to be 1 3/8"
We gave away a 1/8" of lumber on every board sawed.

flying belgian · Jun 23, 2017

I've been thinking about this off and on since the op. You guys know darn well that 100 yrs ago a 2x4 measured 2"x4". That's why they called it that. Otherwise they would have
called it an axj or a galexcy or a gate. Then the mills started "cheating" by cutting it just slightly less so no one would notice. Then over the years they made them smaller and
smaller until the govt. had to make laws limiting them how small they could go. If that number did not reflect the size of the board then how come we need laws referring to the size
of the board? Yes, you and I know it is cut smaller then its name but many people honestly don't know. Because they don't know, you don't have to call them idiots or stupid. There
are many things I don't know but the next guy knows them like the top of his foot. I am not a stupid person, I just am not knowledgeable or experienced in every field. What about a
few years back when some small engines got caught because there 3.5 hp. engine didn't put out 3.5 hp. They had to stop selling it as such and just advertise it as 'x' cubic inch.
How is that different then this lumber thing?

pete black · Jun 23, 2017

Of all the replies, performer is the one I agree with.

CGID · Jun 23, 2017

This entire case smells, but lets assume they didn't know, they really were ignorant of common trade practice. Their case makes for an indictment of every mill, wholesaler and retailer of building material. The entire trade of construction has been operating with nominal dimension lumber for decades. These characters, appearing to be ignorant of what has been going on around them, are using their ignorance as moral high-ground to charge two retailers with fraud.

jimg.allentown · Jun 23, 2017

It is my understanding that the "new" dimensions of a 2 X 4 allowed the mills to get more lumber from each log milled.
Having said that, I think that the main reason that they are still called 2 by 4s is because it is much easier to say than "one and a half by three and a half" when you order lumber.

And, lumber is only one of many places where nominal sizes are used. A development acre is 40,000 square feet while a REAL acre is 43,560 square feet. Makes for easier calculations.

pete black · Jun 23, 2017

Should read ptfarmer!

tractorkrum · Jun 23, 2017

As nuts as this lawsuit is and I really think that these lawyers need a 2x4 pounded on the side of their heads. Having said that I asked my wife and daughter if they bought a 2x4 what would they get. They assumed it was 2 inches by 4 inches. I guess there are two sides to the story.

Hanky · Jun 23, 2017

If they could read a tape measure they would quickly learn they can only buy full dimensional
lumber if it isn't finished, or custom cut for them, I doubt they would have access to a dyno to
check the engine.

I've said for 30 years that this country has too many lawyers, I expect this case will be dismissed
before it goes to trial, the class action group was the only ones to not know this for 5 decades.

JMOR · Jun 23, 2017

(quoted from post at 23:19:08 06/23/17) If they could read a tape measure they would quickly learn they can only buy full dimensional
lumber if it isn't finished, or custom cut for them, I doubt they would have access to a dyno to
check the engine.

I've said for 30 years that this country has too many lawyers, I expect this case will be dismissed
before it goes to trial, the class action group was the only ones to not know this for 5 decades.

ep, just BS and sorry people looking for an easy buck!

LAA · Jun 24, 2017

My question is what are they wanting to do with full dimension framing lumber? Most all windows and door casings made in at least the last 50
years are made to flush up with dimension framing lumber, I remodeled a house in the 80's that was built in the 20's, all full cut 2 X 4 in the
walls. The casings for every window and every interior and exterior door we installed new had to be modified to fit and accept trim.

MarkB_MI · Jun 24, 2017

A "half gallon" of ice cream is usually 1.5 quarts these days.

Pappy · Jun 24, 2017

I thought a 2 x 4 was the size of rough-cut lumber and the final finish was smaller. Today
rough-cut lumber would be smoother than it was years ago, but still needs trimming to get
to a standard size.

K Effective · Jun 24, 2017

Had one guy, with wife and house full of kids buy a half of beef from me one year, so I put him towards the top of the list as far as size of the animals went. His in-laws liked the idea, and I had an opening for another half, this time on the other end of the list. They just couldn't understand why the two halves weighed 80 pounds different...

sotxbill · Jun 24, 2017

Always thought the 2/4 was the "[b:4d705f3bcd]finished[/b:4d705f3bcd]" size with the gypsum board on both sides...

kcm.MN · Jun 24, 2017

Nope, you can buy gypsum board in different thicknesses also.

RE: Crazy law suit

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