Originally Posted by rrich
I've noticed that some have taken umbridge of the lowly foot of a board.
Well, it's worse than that.
A board foot is 144 cubic inches. (Metric conversion is not necessary because you're smart enough to NOT use a board foot!)
144 cubic inches? Well, not always. If the wood is 12 inches by 12 inches and 3/4 inch thick, it's still 1 board foot. Half or quarter inch thick, it's still 1 board foot.
If a 6 foot board is 5 inches wide at one end and 5-3/4 inches wide at the other end, it's 3 board feet. (The timber seller rounds up.)
If you have 6 boards, 6 feet by exactly 5 inches it is 18 board feet not 15 board feet. Boards do not come in odd number widths. What's that? You don't believe me? Just ask the thief that sells the timber.
AND if the boards are thicker than 4/4, the seller charges at 6/4. More than 6/4 thick, the seller charges at 8/4. Boards greater than one inch (4/4) do not come in odd number thickneses.
Was the board straight line ripped? Well the board feet just grew by 10%. (It still must be run through a jointer to be used. Straight line rip my rear end!)