Can someone please tell me what it means to say "8/4" than a species name? I actually have a book just about wood identification but it does not explain this nomenclature. Is it simply eight inch wide quarter sawn boards? Thanks!!
[OP]
Member
Can someone please tell me what it means to say "8/4" than a species name? I actually have a book just about wood identification but it does not explain this nomenclature. Is it simply eight inch wide quarter sawn boards? Thanks!!
Member
"8/4" is simply "8 quarters of an inch thick". That would be 2". And that is wood in its rough milled form. Thickness will be lost in finish milling.
David
Member
Each inch has four quarters....8/4 refers to a stock that's 2" thick. [Rough measurement of course].
Member
It's just a wwing nomenclature for describing material thickness. I suppose it's just easier to say 5/4 than 1 and 1/4" or inch and a quarter.
Last edited by scott spencer; 11-04-2006 at 11:35 AM.
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You'll see S2S, S4S also which mean "Surfaced (2 or 4) Sides". Milled stock.
Mitch
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You just say "eight quarter" when you are talking to someone.
Mike
[OP]
Member
I suppose I get it.....just reduce the fraction. Anyone know why woodworkers started talking this way? I mean it's just as fast and simple to say "2in." as it is to say "8/4". I've never seen anyone say "12/4" for 3in. or "16/4" for 4in. Maybe there's still something I'm mssing. Thanks!
Member
Wait til you go to an older lumber yard and they fill out your invoice by the 1000 board feet to get the price you pay. No idea why that got started but I would like to know now that you've asked.
Moderator
The "quarter" measuring system didn't originate with "woodworkers"...it's a sawyering term...
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Recently, since I've been buying lumber for boatbuilding, I've run into some confusion when asking questions about lumber. Some places refer to "8/4" when they are refering to rough stock and "inches" when they are refering to dressed lumber. So, 8/4 is really 2 inches (often a little more) and 2 inches is really 1 1/2, or a "2 by." I most recently bought a 10 1/2'x 6" Mahogony board that was 4/4, or 1 full inch. Some places, however, just go by the number of inches. Just another part of the fun of woodworking, eh!
John
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