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I would like to know how to figure out what timber to buy for a 45mm x 46mm x 1.6m part. My lumber supplier sells boards in customary units (2x4, 2x6, etc.). Can anyone provide a solid method to work the conversion out?

While I am interested in this conversion specifically, I want to know the process to convert back and forth between final metric dimensions and the sizes of lumber that are sold at the store.

rob
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Dave Smith
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    2.54 cm == 1 inch and 100 cm == 1 m – ratchet freak Jul 02 '15 at 12:57
  • I need to know wether it would come under 3x2 @3.6 or 4x2@3.6 or 5x2@3.6 – Dave Smith Jul 02 '15 at 13:01
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    I am not sure how the simple math is not helping but to clarify are you just trying to double the dimension listed and finding matching lumber? Also if you have the right tools you can always buy oversize and reduce appropriately. The title is a little misleading – Matt Jul 02 '15 at 13:41
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    @keshlam If that actually is what the op wants we should open the question, in terms of context, to reference the table and close future questions and point to this one. For now I would be curious what the OP has to say about our discussion so far – Matt Jul 02 '15 at 14:00
  • Google does unit conversions if you just type your number and say "mm to inches"... I agree with @keshlam that it should be closed. If the OP clarifies their question with more details specifying a request other than simple unit conversions, then we can reopen. From how I'm reading the question though, this is simply a request to divide by 25.4. – Doresoom Jul 02 '15 at 19:05
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    @keshlam someone's knee-jerk reaction might be to dismiss this as a simple unit conversion, but that's only the beginning of the problem. You also must know the nominal sizes in which lumber is sold, as well as the differences between nominal and actual sizes. If you want to make a table leg whose final dimensions are 51mm x 51mm x 724mm (roughly 2"x2"x28.5"), you don't want to go to the store and bring home a 2x2.... – rob Jul 02 '15 at 20:00
  • A question about nominal sizes would be fine. If that's really what the OP was trying to ask, we should edit the question to make that clear. As it stand, it really does sound like a straight units question, especially with that headline. – keshlam Jul 02 '15 at 21:31
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    I would still wait for the author to return before we edit the question too much. – Matt Jul 02 '15 at 22:06
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    I think the first line of the question body is pretty clear: "I'm trying to figure out how to figure out what timber to buy for a 45x46mm @1.6m." He is not asking for us to do a simple unit conversion for him; the measurements are only supplied as an example. He wants to know a method for selecting an appropriate dimensional lumber size, given some final dimensions. – rob Jul 03 '15 at 01:24
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    45x46 sounds weird to begin with. Neither 45 nor 46 is a common measure here (I'm assuming this is kind-of-similar in the entire "metric space"?) 44x44 is common for timber (also, 22, 54, 60, and 80, and any combination of these) – Damon Jul 03 '15 at 08:11
  • I've never seen the notation .. x .. @ .. before; It appears to refer to the length, is that right? Is this a European thing? – Daniel B. Jul 06 '15 at 15:19
  • So I assume, since that would be usefulnin representing common measurements. A 6-foot 2x4 would be 2" x 4" @ 6' (nominal). I've seen that with two x;s rather than x@) – keshlam Jul 12 '15 at 16:43

1 Answers1

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The confusion comes from nominal vs. actual dimensions of dimensional lumber.

Typically a solid wood board sold in customary/imperial units is slightly smaller along its thickness and width, the thickness being the smallest dimension. For example, a "2x4" is actually 1.5in x3.5in and a "1x3" is actually 0.75in x 3.5in.

To convert from customary units to metric, subtract 1/2in from the thickness and width, then multiply by 25.4 to get millimeters (1 inch = 2.54cm = 25.4mm), and round to the nearest mm. This is called a "soft conversion" according to the American Wood Council.

Here are a few common equivalents:

2x4 = 38x89mm
2x6 = 38x140mm
2x8 = 38x184mm
2x10 = 38x235mm
2x12 = 38x286mm

Once you've converted the nominal customary dimensions to actual metric dimensions, you can convert the actual customary length to the actual metric length. If the customary length is expressed in feet, multiply by 12 to get inches. Once you have the length in inches, multiply by 2.54 to get cm, then divide by 100 to get meters (or simply multiply by 0.0254 to convert directly from inches to meters).

If you need to go in the other direction, simply work backwards.

Starting with desired final dimensions of 45mm x 46mm x 1.6m, let's convert to nominal customary units:

  • Thickness: 45mm / 25.4mm/in + 0.5in = 2.27in
  • Width: 46mm / 25.4mm/in + 0.5in = 2.31in
  • Length: 1.6m / 0.0254m/in = 62.99in / 12in/ft = 5.25ft

Depending on the lumber sizes available, you may need to buy either a 3x3 x 6ft or 4x4 x 8ft.

Another solution is to adjust the dimensions of your finished parts to be slightly smaller so you don't have to resaw or waste so much material.

Yet another solution, especially if you have difficulty finding 3x3s or 4x4s, is to buy, you could buy thinner material such as 2x4s or 1x3s, and laminate (glue) them together. If you can find 3 perfectly flat 1x3s, your finished laminated board will have dimensions of 2.25in x 2.5in--just a hair under your 2.27in x 2.31in preferred size in terms of thickness.

A couple final tips:

  • Because most boards are not straight and flat when you buy them, you should buy slightly oversized (even if laminating) so you can mill them flat and trim them to their final dimensions.
  • Always start with a plan, but leave some extra material that you can trim away as-needed (not as-planned) during final dimensioning. You will almost never be able to cut all your parts to final dimensions and have them fit perfectly in the end. Instead, dimension your parts relative to one another, and adjust as necessary as you're cutting the parts. This is called relative dimensioning, and it allows you to make and account for minor mistakes along the way without ruining the final fit of the entire project.
rob
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