Hacker News Reader

Comment by analog31 | Hacker News Reader

We are. All of the US standards are based on metric units. A large number of the products that we buy are made from metric components such as screws. CAD software and machine tools can switch effortlessly between unit standards. There are some standards that are so unique that they might as well be arbitrary, such as spark plug threads.

Some building materials still have US dimensions, but if you measure plywood carefully, it's thicknessed in mm. And the "2 x 4" has never been 2 x 4 inches.

So I think we've made great progress towards an age when units of measure don't matter much any more.

View on HN

> the "2 x 4" has never been 2 x 4 inches.

Well, it used to be pretty close, until lumber manufacturers and builders cheaped out. They've been gradually "shrinkflating" by reducing the thickness, conveniently requiring less wood. This went along with the switch to fast-growing garbage pine. I lived for a long time in an early-fifties house, and the quality of the wood was vastly superior to what you'd find today. Though, the newer measurements did make things a pain.

Here in NZ when we switched to metric nothing changed, 2x4s (well we call the 4x2s) were never quite 2x4, and 50x100s (the metric replacement) are close enough (but still not quite) that nothing really changed

four buh two

No the difference is that we process wood now. Look up dimensional lumber. Its confusing, but makes sense if looked at historically. Iy is not shrinkflation or any other such nonsense.

While i don't doubt they're cheating it a bit, the dimensions originally refered to rough cut, pre-dried lumber. Most of the difference came from finish cuts and drying.

My house was built in 1860. The 2x4s are basically 2x4.

My house was built in 1962, and there were some exposed studs, and spares made into things like garage shelves. The old 2x4's are bigger than new 2x4's.

Yeah, I went through a remodel and dealt with the same thing, trying to get drywall to line up on old (1970) and new walls. There's more to it than that, but it's the quick version.

On the other hand, if you find a smaller mill, usually the ones specializing in hardwood, you can still get "full size" cuts, usually without even asking.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com