Why is Lumber Getting Smaller and Weaker?

[@vandalsavage6152]

Narrated with passion, well done lad....

[@MacJackal]

Thank you!

[@Jandrewz7]

Nice! Stan, Nate, Aaron, and I were JUST looking at the difference between old and new 2x4s in Nate's garage (built in 1920!) this past weekend! It is pretty crazy how different they look.

[@MacJackal]

Thats awesome. Yeah they have changed a lot.

[@VincentComet-l8e]

Very interesting! Here in the UK, until maybe 15 or more years ago it used to be possible to buy rough-sawn softwood at a timber yard that actually did measure 4” x 2”. But this was usually lower-grade stuff (called carcassing timber) and significantly cheaper than a PAR 4” x 2” that had been prepared (Planed All Round) and was thus noticeably smaller. But usually of better quality. But now it’s only possible to buy them PAR at the higher prices, and they measure 1¾” x 3¾” and have rounded corners too. But I would only ever buy them from a proper timber yard rather than a big DIY store, where the quality is invariably dreadful. That axe is much too scary, so I've subscribed...

[@MacJackal]

Haha I didn't know the axe would actually work to get some subs. But honestly I appreciate you taking the time to watch the video, commenting and subscribing. I'm with you, the DIY big box stores don't care about quality here in the U.S. either. There is a lot to be learned from the master craftsmen who use superior products and skill to make things that last lifetimes.

[@aaronschoenherr737]

Love your pharma/FDA joke 😂

[@MacJackal]

Haha, I figured you would get a kick out of that.

[@aaronschoenherr737]

Also love the sneak peak of your new place

[@MacJackal]

Yup, paint will be going up soon.

[@seigeengine]

I mean, wood also shrinks in volume as it dries, but only a little bit. Also, Europe builds with stone for the obvious reason: it chopped down all it's forests like ten thousand years ago.

[@MacJackal]

You are correct. Thanks for watching.

[@johnrodgersbmx]

History lesson with Dan! I did it!

[@MacJackal]

I bet you didn't know you were going to learn about the 2x4 when you woke up this morning.

[@atvtony5543]

As someone who used to work as a remodeler carpenters apprentice I can tell you that old lumber is wayyyyy better then the new stuff but I will say some of the old houses especially the ones built between the 30s and 50s were built terrible at least in my area they were built like shit but built with great materials

[@MacJackal]

Yeah, it turns out just because they were old, doesn't mean a true craftsman had their hands on it. Also the great depression and WWII really affected how things were built during that time. It's always fun digging into a job that was cobbled together and trying to figure out what the builder was up too.

[@ThaoNguyen-jv4up]

My 1975 brick house is the only house that didnt die during hurricane katrina ( all thoes fancy modern homes got destroyed) not my old house

[@MacJackal]

I'm glad to hear that your house survived. I do love brick homes. I just spent the weekend in an old brick blacksmith shop in Missouri that had been converted into a home. It was built in the 1800s and it's still solid as a... brick. If I wasn't so obsessed with timber frames, brick or stone would be my next pick.

[@RamsesTheFourth]

Why building out of bricks never took off in US that much?

[@MacJackal]

That's a good question. I believe cost is a big reason. Labor is a lot more expensive with brick laying vs wood framing. Also you still need to frame inside the brick structure to add insulation. There are probably a lot more reasons for this. Maybe I'll do more research and make a video. It's something I'm interested in as well. I really like the look of some of the old brick homes out there.

[@RamsesTheFourth]

@@MacJackal Never heard that you would need frame structure inside brick building. We dont build houses like that in Europe. I guess you need more labor, thats true. But in both cases you can kinda make most of the work yourself to keep the cost down.

[@MacJackal]

Actually you are right. Many of the brick houses use a wall cavity or foam attached to the brick on the interior. Adding a wood frame is an option In colder climates to get a better r-value with more insulation, but not necessary. And I agree, if you can build yourself you will save a lot of labor cost. I plan on building a timber frame home in the next few years myself. I'll collect the trees from the property and mill the timbers on my sawmill. I would love to learn some masonry someday as well. I would like to have a large masonry wood stove to heat the home with.

[@RamsesTheFourth]

@@MacJackal In Europe we build out of hollow bricks, and if that is not enough insulation, we add foam to the outside. At least thats what I saw lot of times. Sounds like a nice plan :)

[@handsmcneil]

Earthquakes. We have a large old brick building here in town with a massive crack right down the front of it. Needed repair after repair over the years to keep it standing.

[@AM-gm3zx]

FDA joke was awesome 😆

[@MacJackal]

Haha, glad you enjoyed that!