Quote:
Originally Posted by BK001
Here is the gist of a totally true, personal story I posted a while ago in the Nothing Thread:
Many, many years ago (in between husbands) I decided to build a closet in my bachelorette apartment bedroom. It was a simple design that basically involved constructing 4 sliding doors across the room - just frames with rice paper -- basically Japanese style.
I thought I did a great job. However there was a gap when the doors were closed. I could not figure out why. For months it bothered me and I would measure, re-measure and check my math. Always worked out perfectly -- yet still a gap! So frustrating.
Finally, in a fit one evening, (and aided and abetted by a bottle of Merlot) I decided this was not going to get the better of me and I measured every last portion of this closet -- INCLUDING each piece of wood.
It was then I learned this sorry, testosterone-laden fact. A 1" x 2" piece of wood does not measure 1 inch x 2 inches. Same for a 2 x 4, etc. etc. I was shocked. The next time I was at the lumberyard/hardware store I complained to the clerk. His answer was "Look lady, everyone knows those are the measurements at the mill before the wood is cut down."
Conclusion #1: I should have built the closet at the mill.
Conclusion #2: Make sure you always check measurements even when you buy a 12" ruler - since you never know.
Conclusion #3: If you ask a man "what color was George Washington's white horse" don't be surprised if you get a different answer.
So I am totally unsurprised about the ladder!
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Reminds me of when we went metric in the UK. I measured up a job in feet an inches, went to the lumber yard and placed order.
"All timber size orders got to be metric now mate" said yardman.
Spent about 10 minutes with my rule converting 4"x2," "2x2," "6x1, etc etc all to metric, finally I gave the sheet to the yard man to cut for me.
"How many feet do want" he asked, "our length cutter still ony works in feet and inches!"
