A guy at the lumber yard taught me how to pick good 2x4s

I was at Home Depot in Denver last Tuesday grabbing wood for a shed and this older guy in a flannel just walked up and started showing me how to check for warping. He said look down the edge, not the face, and put each board on the concrete to see if it rocks. I've been grabbing random boards for years and now I can't believe I didn't know that. Has anyone else had a random stranger teach them something simple that made a big difference?

2 comments

2 Comments

riley5951d ago

Learn the concrete test early and you'll never go back. I still do it with every 2x4 I grab at Lowe's or Home Depot. Saved me from buying a whole stack of twisted lumber last summer when I was building a deck. That rocking test catches stuff you'd never see just looking at it. My neighbor still grabs random boards and wonders why his stuff squeaks.

jake_mason301d ago

You ever try picking lumber with your eyes closed? I had an old contractor show me the same trick a few years back, and I still do the concrete test every time. It saves so much hassle when you're framing because a warped stud throws everything off. That little trick has probably saved me more headaches than anything else I've learned.