Tech Theatre 1: Lumber Notes
2 Main Types
Stick Lumber: 1 x 4, 2 x 4, 4 x 4, etc.
“stick lumber”: name comes from the lumber being milled into long narrow pieces.
Most common types of stick lumber seen at your local stores: Pine, Fir, Poplar, Cedar, Oak, Cherry.
Graded on a number scale: #1 best quality, #2, #3, and #4 the lowest quality
See board for most common sizes
Sheet Lumber: plywoods --- Sheathing vs. Project ply (cabinet grade)
Plywood is graded on a letter scale:A (best) , B, C, D (worst)
Both sides of the plywood are graded.
Example: BC sanded = meaning one side is a “B” grade and is sanded
The other side is a “C” grade and not sanded
Example 2: CDX sheathing????
Plywood – Multilayer – Alternating Layers/ Glues/ Resins Heat and Pressure
Sheet lumber typically is purchased in 4’W X 8’L (four feet wide by eight feet long) sheets.
Common thicknesses: ¼”, 3/8”, ½”, ¾ “ Plywood
“Luan”: 1/8”, 3/16” thick – thin, cheap type of plywood like material (correct spelling is lauan)
Particle Boards: Special kind of material made of saw dust and glue.
Higher end particle boards are made of very fine saw dust and special resins known as “MDF”.
M= Medium
D= Density
F= Fiberboard
“OSB” is a type of Sheathing product…looks like a large sheet of mulch glued up.
O= Oriented
S= Strand
B= Board
Pressed paper(pulp) sheet material: Masonite and Homasote are two example.
Paper pulp pressed into a form. Then a hardening agent is applied for the outer coating.
Terms for Wood
1 x dimensions
Any 1 x ? , the first number is always ¾”
1 x 4 = ¾” x 3 ½”
Edge x Face
1 x 10 = ¾” x 9 ¼ ”
Any 1 x ? , the first number is always ¾” and the second is either ½” or ¼”
1 x 8 = ¾” x 7 ¼”
2 x dimensions
2 x 4 = 1 ½” x 3 ½”
Common Sizes of Stick (See Below)
1 x 2 = ¾” X 1 ½”
1 x 4 = ¾” X 3 ½”
1 x 6 = ¾” X 5 ¼”
1 x 8 = 3/4” X 7 ¼ ”
1 x 10 = ¾” X 9 ¼”
1 x 12 = ¾” X 11 ¼” ”
2 x 8 = 1 ½” x 7 ¼”
2 x 7 = 1 ½” x 6 ¼”
2 x 6 = 1 ½” X 5 ¼”
2 X 4 = 1 ½” X 3 ½”
2 X 2 = 1 ½” X 1 ½”
4 X 4 = 3 ½ X 3 ½”
4 X 6 = 3 ½” X 5 ½”
8 X 8 = 7 ½” X 7 ½”
Facts
Stick: Longest you can buy at Lowes/Home Depot is 16’ – 0”
They are never straight!!!! (Always twisted or warped or bowed)
Reason: when they mill the wood at factories and then dried…wood shrinks unevenly.
1” x 4” x 16’
Reason why lumber is not actually the sized labeled: Due manufacturing process The finishing of wood shortened the dimensions of lumber and conservation/maximize the use of trees.
Theatrical Scenery Units: Construction.
Flats (Wall units) and Platforms (used to create raised levels) are normally sized the same width as Plywood sheets.
Size of Stair Units are also often based on size of 2” X12” boards and plywood sheets