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Aussie timber (lumber) sizes - 1 x 2 available in Australia???

I am planning to build the recycling center (from Ana's book) which calls for a 1 x 2. Imperial converted to metric is 19mm x 38mm (internet google references and blog references confirm this measurement, although of course it could be incorrect). Today when I went to the hardware store their wood sizes started at 19mm x 42mm. When I asked the Customer Service Rep about 38mm he said, he that the store didn't stock it and that he didn't think it was available in Australia in pine. Possibly in a hardwood.

Has anyone else had this issue? I'm sure a lot of Ana's plans call for 1 x 2 so hopefully someone will have the answer.

Also the store told me that they can cut the wood but each cut would be about 5mm out due to their saw cut. Half a centimetre is quite a bit I would have thought.

Is anyone else from Melbourne and can recommend a quality timber yard who cut accurately (within a mm)?

Thanks in anticipation.

Michelle

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claydowling

Mon, 05/13/2013 - 11:05

My advice is to adapt the plans. This is going to be a twist mentally, because all of your schooling has emphasised the importance of measurement with numbers and following directions (or at least mine did).

The absolute easiest way to do the adaptation is to make a full sized drawing of the project (most lumber yards and home stores sell rosin paper, which is ideal for this). On this full sized drawing you can mark out the actual widths and thicknesses of the lumber you have, and that will let you see how long to cut the mating pieces to match what you need.

This also means that you will be making your own cuts, because you can't take a cut list to a lumber yard. That's okay, you'll be happier with your own cuts anyway. If you don't already own a circular saw or miter saw, and don't want to spend the money, the enexpensive back saw or japanese pull saw from the big box store really works quite well. There are a lot of good videos on the internet that will show you how to use them and get great results.

Juanita_r

Mon, 05/13/2013 - 19:23

Hi Michelle, fellow aussie here, although I am in Tamworth NSW. We have Bunnings only and smaller building suppliers, which I haven't been to as I am still new to this and am a bit chicken to go where the ''big boys shop'' ;)
I too have been a little stumped by the sizing. Ana's book has some great charts on converting from US lumber sizes to metric actual timber sizes, but then they don't always (if not ever) seem to match up with what I can find here. So after going on line to Bunnings (I have 4 small kids so taking them down there for hours to write down all the sizes the have just aint gunna happen) I found the closest or improvised, redrew the plans on 1mm grid paper and made my own cut list, it is fiddly, but I don't know any other way.
The closest I have come is:
1x2 - 42x18mm
1x3 - 65x18mm
1x4 - 90x18mm
1x6 - 138x18mm
I have no idea what to use for 2x2 (cant seem to find that) SO PLS, IF AUSSIES COULD SHARE THEIR LISTS OF TIMBERS WITH USE THAT WOULD BE AWESOME!!!!!!

vic b

Mon, 05/13/2013 - 19:38

I'm from Brisbane, Australia. I use the timber sizes from bunnings that Juanita mentioned.
I don't redraw anything. I follow the plans and even work in inches, I found by using timber slightly wider or narrower in most cases made no difference to the project, or if they did for example in the case of a table top width, it was easy to add or subtract a board to get the required width.

vic b

Mon, 05/13/2013 - 22:39

Hi, I occasionally see 2x2, but not very often. I have used 1x2's laminated together on occasion. I have also used 2x4 framing timber ripped down. But mostly I try to avoid plans with 2x2. You with think 2x2 would be around somewhere.

monster

Mon, 05/13/2013 - 20:45

Hi Michelle, I'm in Melbourne too and have had the same issues... I have just worked with the closest sizes I could find and it's worked out fine.
As for timber yards in Melbourne, a good furniture-specific supplier (as opposed to construction timber) is Australian Furniture Timbers in Port Melbourne. You'll pay more but have better choice of materials. Good trade timber suppliers I've dealt with are DeMar in Clifton Hill and Bernie Cook in Preston. I've found you won't get better than a rough cut from the trade yards because they use big ol' saws. They'll get closer to the mark than Bunnings, though... Good luck!