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Stesso

Layout Common Dimensional Lumber Widths

1:08
1:42
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At 1:08 in

Framing square Friday

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What happens here

Building on the previous step, the presenter shows how to mark the width of a 2x4 and a 2x6. By placing the 1.5-inch tongue against the edge of the lumber and then adding an additional 2 inches using the 'body' of the square, a total of 3.5 inches can be marked, which is the actual width of a 2x4. Repeating this process by adding another 2 inches allows for marking 5.5 inches, the actual width of a 2x6. This technique is useful for quickly establishing layout lines for wall framing.

Goal: Quickly mark 2x4 (3.5 inch) and 2x6 (5.5 inch) widths for framing.

Tools and materials

  • Framing Square — Measuring and marking
  • Pencil — Marking lines
  • Lumber — Practice marking

What they say

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an inch and a half. Now, if you flip it and you add 2 in to your inch and a half, you have 3 and a half. Which is your width of a 2 by 4. Now, if you go ahead and you add another 2 in to that, you have 5 and a half, which is the width of a 2 by 6. Being able to quickly measure inch and a half and 2 in will help you with layout when it comes to building walls. Now, there are plenty of uses for this speed square, and we're going to attempt to find them all.

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