Plywood rant.

J

JOhnH

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I used to buy 4ft x 8ft 5/8 inch plywood. I have clips that require 5/8inch.

But lowes shows their closest plywood at 19/32" X 3.98ft x 7.98ft.

I could be wrong, but I don't remember those oddball sizes.
 
Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe said:
5/8 plywood was never actually 5/8. Just like a 2x4 is not 2 inches by 4 inches. But, a member of the great unwashed masses got all upset about "false advertising" so now the Borg doesn't give you the nominal size (5/8) but the actual after sanding size (19/32).

You can't fix stupid.

https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit...class-action-alleges-misleading-lumber-sizes/
Click to expand...
I preferred life when I was young and stupid.
(At least stupid beats old and senile).
 
Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe said:
5/8 plywood was never actually 5/8. Just like a 2x4 is not 2 inches by 4 inches. But, a member of the great unwashed masses got all upset about "false advertising" so now the Borg doesn't give you the nominal size (5/8) but the actual after sanding size (19/32).

You can't fix stupid.

https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit...class-action-alleges-misleading-lumber-sizes/
Click to expand...

And don't forget about the folks upset because their Subway 'foot long' wasn't actually 12".

I hope my wife doesn't catch on to these 'proof in measurement' arguments...
 
CJones said:
And don't forget about the folks upset because their Subway 'foot long' wasn't actually 12".

I hope my wife doesn't catch on to these 'proof in measurement' arguments...
Click to expand...

Are you saying size matters?
 
I think Subway hired Jared Fogle as a means to deflect the 12" sandwich scandal.
 
Sac Arrow said:
I think Subway hired Jared Fogle as a means to deflect the 12" sandwich scandal.
Click to expand...

I think you got that backwards. They needed the 12" sandwich scandal to deflect from the Fogle disaster.
 
CJones said:
As long as we're talking about 19/32 vs. 5/8, we're OK. Differences beyond that, I don't know...
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My question was the result of looking at clips that are designed to be clipped to plywood, and the clips claim a 5/8 width.
I'm going to have to assume they will work on 19/32, but with all the misleading claims abounding, who knows.

I'm sorry if it was stupid of me to ask.
 
JOhnH said:
I'm sorry if it was stupid of me to ask.
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It wasn't stupid to ask. Stupid is the guy that buys the plywood or lumber, finds that it's smaller than "advertised," and promptly launches a lawsuit against the retailer. It's a result of his ignorance that tells him that everyone is out to cheat him, and he refuses to be educated even a little bit.

The world is a bit more complicated that many people can understand. We see/read/hear that every day.
 
Dan Thomas said:
It wasn't stupid to ask. Stupid is the guy that buys the plywood or lumber, finds that it's smaller than "advertised," and promptly launches a lawsuit against the retailer. It's a result of his ignorance that tells him that everyone is out to cheat him, and he refuses to be educated even a little bit.

The world is a bit more complicated that many people can understand. We see/read/hear that every day.
Click to expand...

I don't believe for one moment that these actions are about "ignorance".

You don't file a class action lawsuit over deception on a 2x4 purchase. You file a class action lawsuit because you and some attorney collaborate to create a scheme to win the class action lottery. Big attorney fees to share, and every US purchaser of lumber in the last decade gets a $1.50 settlement check.
 
ElPaso Pilot said:
I don't believe for one moment that these actions are about "ignorance".

You don't file a class action lawsuit over deception on a 2x4 purchase. You file a class action lawsuit because you and some attorney collaborate to create a scheme to win the class action lottery. Big attorney fees to share, and every US purchaser of lumber in the last decade gets a $1.50 settlement check.
Click to expand...
That they can spend on the next 2x4 they buy that now costs $1.25 more than it used to.
 
JOhnH said:
My question was the result of looking at clips that are designed to be clipped to plywood, and the clips claim a 5/8 width.
I'm going to have to assume they will work on 19/32, but with all the misleading claims abounding, who knows.

I'm sorry if it was stupid of me to ask.
Click to expand...

Sorry.. My comment about 19/32 vs 5/8 was an attempt to extend on the 'wife' joke - not directed to you in any way.
 
JOhnH said:
I'm sorry if it was stupid of me to ask.
Click to expand...
Not stupid to ask. Stupid to claim you are getting ripped off and file a class action lawsuit because your 2x4 is a real 2x4 and not a fantasy 2x4 that wouldn't work if you tried to use it for remodeling.
 
Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe said:
Not stupid to ask. Stupid to claim you are getting ripped off and file a class action lawsuit because your 2x4 is a real 2x4 and not a fantasy 2x4 that wouldn't work if you tried to use it for remodeling.
Click to expand...

<speaking from experience with an old house remodel; not realizing for a bit it was built with real 2x4s and trying to understand why the new drywall was going up so wonky>
 
I've always wondered, if I don't claim my $8.34 in a class action ie FB etc,
who gets that money?
Law firms?
Sued company?
 
I think they should sell that Abromov guy 38mm x 89mm lumber, that'll show him!
 
ElPaso Pilot said:
<speaking from experience with an old house remodel; not realizing for a bit it was built with real 2x4s and trying to understand why the new drywall was going up so wonky>
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Must be pretty old or built with rough sawn timbers. My house from 1929 has nominal 2x4's.
 
at this point, I just wish plywood wasn't priced like it was made of gold or gold pressed metal latinum
 
Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe said:
Must be pretty old or built with rough sawn timbers. My house from 1929 has nominal 2x4's.
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It was early 20's, with several remodels over the years.

Converted a couple of rooms from crumbling plaster and lathe to drywall and installed replacement windows.

Found mixed dimensional lumber behind the plaster, which really stand out when putting up drywall.
 
So when they say the "whole nine yards" do they really mean 17 feet 6 and 9/32 inches?

Asking for a friend.:D
 
ElPaso Pilot said:
I don't believe for one moment that these actions are about "ignorance".

You don't file a class action lawsuit over deception on a 2x4 purchase. You file a class action lawsuit because you and some attorney collaborate to create a scheme to win the class action lottery. Big attorney fees to share, and every US purchaser of lumber in the last decade gets a $1.50 settlement check.
Click to expand...
They shoulda sent him a note of apology and a big stack of undimensioned 2x4’s, knowing that those are now useless for many of the things you’d want to do with a 2x4.
 
Let'sgoflying! said:
I've always wondered, if I don't claim my $8.34 in a class action ie FB etc,
who gets that money?
Law firms?
Sued company?
Click to expand...
They're way ahead of you there. The lawyers will have usually already divvied up all of it for you, taking your share so you don't have to worry about it. We've gotten some settlement checks over the years, often for values lower than the cost of the postage to mail it to us. The biggest was for some siding that turned out to be water soluble (no surprise there); they sent a check for a couple hundred bucks.

One of the most egregious settlements we ever got was on a very expensive fridge that had the absolute worst, stupidest icemaker design ever devised by mankind. It was a constant source of frustration and numerous service calls, including one or two out of warranty before I finally sold the stupid thing, vowed to never own anything made by that company again until the day I die, and bought one that's been pretty much perfect for the past 6-8 years. There was a class action lawsuit over the icemaker. Our piece of the multimillion dollar settlement? A coupon for $100 off the full retail price of a new refrigerator made by the same company. As if we'd ever buy one, or would ever pay retail to begin with. The settlement added insult to injury and just further cemented our resolve to avoid that manufacturer in perpetuity.

It's a racket.
 
I stopped opening class-action mailings a long time ago. Invariably the law firm of Nasty, Brutish, and Short is going to clear $148 million for protecting me the consumer, while I will receive a check for 97 cents and an expired voucher to Blockbuster Video.
 
On a related topic, I was asked to source some Aluminum tube, the spec given was 75mm OD.

Well, guess what, it seems that most of the Al tube made worldwide is in US sizes.

Here is a screenshot from UK Ebay. They offer it as 75mm, but when you look further it turns out to be 3" (76.2mm). Actual 75mm tube is almost unobtainable (expensive). 3" was fine for the home made bowsprit:)

upload_2023-5-10_23-59-39.png
 
Spring Ford said:
On a related topic, I was asked to source some Aluminum tube, the spec given was 75mm OD.

Well, guess what, it seems that most of the Al tube made worldwide is in US sizes.

Here is a screenshot from UK Ebay. They offer it as 75mm, but when you look further it turns out to be 3" (76.2mm). Actual 75mm tube is almost unobtainable (expensive). 3" was fine for the home made bowsprit:)

View attachment 117180
Click to expand...
We run into this all the time. People want a pipe or tube that fits inside another pipe or tube. 1-1/2 o.d will not fit inside 1-1/2" id.
 
This reminds me of 5/4 lumber being 1" thick and 4/4 lumber being 3/4" inch thick. Ummm 4 quarters equal 1 no?
 
ElPaso Pilot said:
It was early 20's, with several remodels over the years.

Converted a couple of rooms from crumbling plaster and lathe to drywall and installed replacement windows.

Found mixed dimensional lumber behind the plaster, which really stand out when putting up drywall.
Click to expand...


If I remember correctly, I believe a lot of older homes in more rural areas would have gotten their lumber from Bob’s Local Airport, Barber Shop and Sawmill. And in any stack of lumber you could always find a few boards that were 2x4 at one end and 1x4 or 2x3 at the other end, depending on who sharpened the blade or who was running the carriage.

….I miss those days.
 
Racerx said:
This reminds me of 5/4 lumber being 1" thick and 4/4 lumber being 3/4" inch thick. Ummm 4 quarters equal 1 no?
Click to expand...
A 1 X 4 is 3/4" X 3-1/2". The 5/4 would have started out as 1-1/4" thick and then planed to one inch. The 4/4 gets planed to 3/4".
 
Racerx said:
This reminds me of 5/4 lumber being 1" thick and 4/4 lumber being 3/4" inch thick. Ummm 4 quarters equal 1 no?
Click to expand...
Nah. It equals whatever they say it equals. And if you think lumber sizing is effing brain damaged, then you’ll appreciate why I love plumbing projects sooooooo much. 1-1/4” pipe? Yeah, sure, there are lots of them, all totally different sizes. Depends on the material, the intended use, whether it’s going to be run horizontally or vertically, which county you’re in, the day of the week…
 
DaleB said:
Depends on the material, the intended use, whether it’s going to be run horizontally or vertically, which county you’re in, the day of the week…
Click to expand...

The colour of your trousers?
 
My take away from this thread is that big box plywood may be better to eat than subway sandwiches. Which isn't surprising. A friend calls their subs "meat flavored bread". From the above article, turns out he was more right than we thought, not just quantity but quality.
 
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