Dimension lumber-Milling question, Just ordered a Mrsawmill

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TrustintheLord

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Simple question to start off with. I guess I posted back in June.
I was taking care of my Mom then as well who a couple weeks later went to be with the Lord. (Cancer)
Been a rough time here, in many aspects. Lots of changes and adjusting.
But, I have wanted to make my own lumber for a long time, so maybe this will help with adjusting.

So when I have bought lumber at a lumber yard before, the 2x4's are 1.5"x3.5".
What size should I mill my fresh green pine at if I want it to match lumber yard dimensions? Will it shrink that much as it dries?

After months of digging, phone calling, researching, looking at different mills, I ordered a Mrsawmill today. Gonna mill up my own trees to start with, maybe see if I can make a couple dollars in the near future.
 
Simple question to start off with. I guess I posted back in June.
I was taking care of my Mom then as well who a couple weeks later went to be with the Lord. (Cancer)
Been a rough time here, in many aspects. Lots of changes and adjusting.
But, I have wanted to make my own lumber for a long time, so maybe this will help with adjusting.

So when I have bought lumber at a lumber yard before, the 2x4's are 1.5"x3.5".
What size should I mill my fresh green pine at if I want it to match lumber yard dimensions? Will it shrink that much as it dries?

After months of digging, phone calling, researching, looking at different mills, I ordered a Mrsawmill today. Gonna mill up my own trees to start with, maybe see if I can make a couple dollars in the near future.
I am so sorry for your loss.

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk
 
Ballpark, if you dry to 10% MC, most conifers will shrink 5% in one direction (running parallel,to the rings when looking at the end grain) and 2-1/2% in the other. Also do not forget that your wood might warp/twist and in order to take that out you will loose additional material thru jointing/planing.
 
I mill my "matching" 2x4's at 1/8" over in thickness, some will dry to exact match, some won't. It all depends on where it comes out of the log...

No matter, all will dry some, so all will match good enough.

SR
 
A normal 2x4 is 1 5/8 x 3 5/8. Measure the space in a joist hanger. I think a 2x6 is 5 5/8 after that not really sure. A 2x12 is usually about 11 1/4. 1 3/4 x 3 3/4 for me seems to end up a bit larger. Some parts of the country have access to Doug fir, some only Canadian spruce or syp.
 
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