Why is a 1 inch lumber 3/4 inch thick?

Question

I am looking for a 1" thick board 8" wide and 8' long. All I can find is boards marked as 1" thick but they measure 3/4" thick.

If someone could tell me whyere to get an actual 1" thick board I would be very happy.

Thanks.

Answer 1

Well, what he is saying is that 1/4 inch will be(was) palned off before the lumber made it to the store. So you have to ask for a piece of lumber that is one and one fourth inch wide to get one that is actually 1 inch. (5/4ths is one inch 4/4 plus an extra 1/4)

The other answer said that you could build up a piece to one inch using a 3/4 in thick lumber and a 1/4 in think 'furring' strip--glued or tacked on top. This might work depending on your project. It will show as two layers of wood...best bet is to go to lumber dept and tell them what it is you need this board for and how wide, long, etc...and they will help you figure out the best approach.

Answer 2

that is the way it is milled now days. depending on what you need it for you might have something milled down. if you are building out trim or something you can furr it out with 1/4 in furring stripes then use the 3/4 in material

Answer 3

It was the size before plaining. If you need a full 1" you will buy 5/4 and to get the full 8" width you will have to get something sold as 5/4x10 and rip it down.

Answer 4

5/4 =1 1/4 inches

When lumber is smoothed down or "planed" to make ready to sell they take off 1/4 inch of a 1 inch board leaving 3/4 inch.

A 2by 4 isnt really 2 inches either, its 1 1/2 inches by 3 1/2 inches.

A 5/4 board should be 1 inch at the store.

Answer 5

If you own a table saw the you can buy a piece that is bigger and just rip it to the size you need.

Answer 6

u want what called 5/4...the reason its 1/4 inch smaller is that is the dressed size.......lowes or like

lic.gen. contractor

Answer 7

that is the size it comes fro the mill.( Rough sawn)

then it gets planed to a framing size etc and finally to a dressing grade . Thats why it ends at 3/4''  or 18mm

sizes are always ex 1" . That is the way it works in New Zealand and I expect it would be similiar in other places as well

Answer 8

common lumber is sized by what is called a nominal dimension, as opposed to an actual dimension. for an actual dimension, go to a mill that will plane it to an actual dimension.