One 2x4
The cheapest board at the store and the most forgiving to work. Everything in this section comes out of a single eight-foot stud.
- Nominal size
- 2x4 × 96 in.
- Actual size
- 1½ × 3½ × 96 in.
- Good for
- Shop fixtures, stools, outdoor and garden pieces
2x4 hammer rack
A rail that stands 3½ inches off the wall. Hammer heads rest on the rail, handles hang behind it, claws clear the wall. Lands on three studs.
2x4 plant stand
A square-topped stand that lifts a pot off the porch floor. Two H-frames and a three-slat top.
2x4 planter box
A chunky two-course planter for herbs, succulents, or a single tomato plant. Solid 1½-inch walls and a slatted bottom.
2x4 shop mallet
A laminated three-layer mallet with a shaped handle. Heavy enough to seat joints and drive chisels, and the first tool most people should make.
2x4 step stool
A solid one-step stool for the kitchen, the shop, or reaching the top shelf, glued up from three slats and two slab legs.