I've long lamented how lumber sizes seem to be shrinking a little more every few years, but I had never encountered a history of why, and more importantly, when lumber sizes were reduced.
I recently came across a document produced by the U.S. Forest Service entitled History of Yard Lumber Size Standards (September 1964). While this document is over 40 years old, it shows an interesting history of when and why lumber was reduced from the common nomenclature (2x4, for instance) to the actual sizes used today.


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I received the following email, and thought it brought up an interesting point:

We just went through a major remodel of our home and I have extra trim and crown moulding from all our cabinetry. Can you tell me the how to store this in case I need it in the future?

There are a few things to keep in mind when storing wood. Learn some tips for keeping your wood for future projects in Storing Wood and Moulding.


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As a reminder, if you're considering visiting the biennial Association of Woodworking & Furnishings Suppliers (AWFS) this year, it begins one week from today in Las Vegas. There are still tickets available, so you're not too late!

With four days of exhibits and educational sessions, AWFS Vegas 2009 promises to be a very productive show. If you're still in need of a room or to make your show reservation, check out the AWFS Vegas 2009 show website.

When working with recycled stock, one of the most tedious (but vitally important) tasks is to remove all of the protruding nails and metal from the wood. While many woodworkers would use a hammer or a pry bar to remove the nails, there a much easier and cleaner trick with a tool that is not typically thought of as a woodworking tool.

The next time you have a lot of nails to remove from a piece of stock, try this Quick Tip to remove protruding nails with ease.

(c) 2009 Chris Baylor licensed to About.com, Inc.


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