I don't use a lot of sheet goods and when I do I try not to end up with a lot left over. Tonite, I needed a piece of 1/4 ply for the back of a cabniet and went to Lowes to buy a 48 X 48" sheet of birch. I needed to cut the piece 31 and 3/8" inches wide and my fence only goes to about 31 inches. So, I subtract 31 and 3/8" from 48" and end up with 16 and 5/8". Set the fence and cut the piece. Its too narrow. Put the pieces back together and they measure 47 and 3/8. Unless I cut a 1/2" kerf with my table saw, the piece was only 47 and 1/2" wide when I started. Just for grins I measured the length and it was only 47 and 7/8" long. First they short us on the thickness and now they are shorting us on the width and length!