Thread: 4x2

I’ve always heard it as 2 X 4

You are right Murtz
Alan
Carpenter since ‘73

4be2

Yep Always 4x2 in Aus

4x2 ever since Cpt Cook arrived

4x2 has been the usual term but it looks to be shrinking fast
Regards
John

4x2 in Australia.

My wife says 2x4, but she's American, so I excuse her for that

Yep 4x2

fore-b-two, too

In Straya it is 4B2.

It is worse than you think.

Prior to the purchase of a Jointer / Thicknesser I was reading the user manual on line and I realized how the US has corrupted the world and is still fighting the use of the metric system. The instruction was to use a "one meter 2 x 4". When I read that I realized that "The end of the world is nigh."

To me, putting the higher number first seems more logical , especially in construction. You're looking for strength and the 4 is more descriptive. In woodworking you're looking for width and it just comes along in a "one by". Again we seem to do it bass ackwards. And the one by is really a bit more than 19mm not 25.4mm.

Originally Posted by rrich

And the one by is really a bit more than 19mm not 25.4mm.

That is not quite right, you are referring to DAR timber. 4x2 was 100x50 nominal size and that is what you got but if you ordered 4x2 DAR it was 90x45 and this goes for all sizes ordered, you could even specify dress two sides if you wanted it.
Wet sawn hardwood still comes the full nominal size unless it is KD DAR

When I read here about timber sizing with the thickness first (2 X 4) it really gets me annoyed. I am a Carpenter and have been all my life. I was taught that when referring to timber, the thickness was always first 4 X 2. With so many people reading information that comes from the US it is plain to see that our Aussie way of doing things is not being adhered to by these people.

With so many of our TV shows originating in the US we are now using American terms to describe material here. Our Aussie language is also under threat with so many words and attitudes being used in common speech. I have also noticed how many words are being lost to these Americanisms.

I will get off my soap box and crawl into my hole

Some years ago I was in a hardwood mill up the North Coast. A Yank came in and asked for some 2x4's. The manager asked him if it would be ok if they were cut from 4x2's. He said that would be fine.