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The incredible shrinking 1×2

geoffhazel | Posted in General Discussion on March 2, 2009 05:23am

The “grocery shrink ray” strikes grade stakes.

On a recent trip to Home Depot, I noticed these grade stakes, clearly marked ‘1×2’ — I guess they are thinking that would be 1″ x 2″. But careful measurement shows they are 1/2″ x 1 1/2″. Now I suppose you could say “well, they were 1 x 2 before they went through the planer” but I sincerely doubt that. In MY day a 1×2 was at least 3/4 x 1 1/2. These are 33% less wood than THAT, and 37% wood than what a 1×2 would be if it was full size. You can get nearly 3 of these out of a full size 1×2.


Edited 3/1/2009 9:26 pm ET by geoffhazel

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  1. DavidxDoud | Mar 02, 2009 05:25am | #1

    metric - be sure to measure your grade in meters and drive them with a kilogram rated hand sledge -

    just be thankful they aren't whitworth....

    "there's enough for everyone"
    1. geoffhazel | Mar 02, 2009 05:35am | #2

      If they went metric they could be 1x3's!

  2. Scrapr | Mar 02, 2009 05:45am | #3

    i think you burned an inch on your tape

     

    ;-)

  3. AitchKay | Mar 02, 2009 05:47am | #4

    AAHH, Quitcher whinin'!

    Sounds like they're at least 12.5x 37.5 metric, and these are way bigger numbers than a mere 1x2.

    Aitchkay

  4. User avater
    Matt | Mar 02, 2009 06:03am | #5

    And what sux is they are rather hard to drive into the "grade" without them breaking.  I use a fair number of stakes in what I do - for marking utilities, lot corners, etc and often make my own when I have some scrap wood.  My favorite is PT 5/4 board or 2x2s.

    1. caseyr | Mar 02, 2009 06:19am | #6

      I just built a redwood step and wanted the step to be slightly wider than the two 2x6's so I bought a redwood 2x2 to space things out. Except, as I find out, a 2x2 ain't the same thickness as a 2x4 or a 2x6 - it is only 1 3/8". Tried several lumber yards with no luck so ended up trying to cut freehand down the middle of a redwood 2x4. A master with the Skillsaw, I am not, but it looks OK - better than having it an eighth shy of the other boards. Somehow it seems like if they can make a 2-by 1.5", they could do the same with a 2x2. But they don't...

      1. wrudiger | Mar 02, 2009 07:32am | #8

        I'm building some cabinets and those missing 1/32nds really add up after a while.  The math is a PITA - I'm about ready for metric!

  5. davidmeiland | Mar 02, 2009 07:12am | #7

    Why buy material at a box store and then complain about it being substandard? That's the whole idea.

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