shop improvements, or "how much do woodworkers use 2x4s?"

I just finished making an open cabinet for my chop saw all 2×4 framed with plywood sides and back. In Chris Schwarz book of workbenches he uses nothing but dimensional lumber from local home centers.

While they might not use it for fine woodworking type projects, there’s plenty of woodworkers who use dimensional lumber for shop projects. Hell, LJ had a contest where you could build anything…so long as it was out of a 2×4 ;)

-- "Give me your poor tools, your tired steel, your huddled masses of rust." Yep, I ripped off the Statue of Liberty. That's how I roll!

I’ve run across several examples on the computer where one 8’ length has been used solely for a project. From chairs to tables, results amazed me and were a really cool way to see how others could show off their skills and imagination.

-- Ciao, gth.

We had a contest last year on how to use a 2X4

http://lumberjocks.com/projects/4874

This is mine, Gary K actually built a BIRDCAGE out of a 2X4, and Stewart pulled off a real windsor chair!

If you look under the “contest” tab you can see all of the entries, it was a very cool contest, and peoples skills and imagination were really showcased.

Ryan

-- If you can't set a good example, at least serve as a horrible warning... www.rarewoodcreations.com

wow, some amazing stuff being done with 2×4s then. jeez.

I read this article here: http://blog.woodworking-magazine.com/blog/Taming+The+Wild+Pine.aspx

when using a 2×4 to build something, do you either let it equilibrate to your shop atmosphere for a long time and/or dry it further, let it do whatever warping it will, then re-mill it?

I don’t throw anything away including used construction lumber consisting of 2×4’s, 6’s, & 8’s. The trick of course is like Aaron has stated. Namely allow them to acclimatise in your shop before machining. Even then, make sure your project joinery allows for excessive wood movement. Other than this there are lots of interesting projects that can be made using construction lumber.

-- Lee

well, like that article states, pine actually has a low “moisture movement” coefficient (forget the right term!) – much less than say, oak. so once it has moved, it’s basically done.

I havnt been throwing anything away either… but I’m still leary of using this stuff for jigs and such…I guess with the necessary precautions i shouldnt be.

I usually stick a bunch of 2x lumber in my shed and let it dry. I normally buy 2×10’s and 12’s and toss the center section. This gives me rift sawn softwood. After some drying time, it’s great for shop projects.

-- - Please help keep Lumberjocks an enjoyable escape by refusing to participate in political discussions. Simply spit out the bait and ignore the thread...

2×4’s rule !!! bbqKing.

-- bbqKing, Lawrenceville

With my limited budget and current learning curve, I tend to use dimensional lumber for a lot of stuff. In fact most of my projects have been built out of them. I would certainly not classify any of them as fine furniture. But I am thinking about a new desk based on some of that lumber. So we’ll see.

CtL

-- Chris L. "Don't Dream it, Be it."

I made my daughter a bed out of 2by4 I had to cut a lot of them down but it Looks nice they all was in a burn pile Iam always recycling

-- Jim, Kentucky