I was working on setting up a VM server when I realized.. My desk was a mess. I had no room for another mouse, keyboard and monitor ; so I cleaned my desk and remembered that I had a rack mounted monitor, keyboard and mouse tray that I had salvaged and repaired a couple of years ago. The problem is I don’t have a server rack. So I measured the device (1.8x19x24) a went to Home Depot for a few 2x2’s and 1x2’s. If figure all I really need to do is build a small “U” shaped shelf with an open back for device and mount it under my desk. It seemed like a construction task even I could handle.
And so begins my spiral into sadness. I got to Home Depot and told them I need 2 boards measuring 2x2x20 and 4 boards measuring 1x2x20. They were nice enough to cut the wood to the right length for me since they were sold in 8 (or 10) foot lengths. I was on my way with my professionally cut boards in hand.
Let’s be clear, I do not visit Home Depot often…or ever, the round trip is a 30 minute drive and as a software developer I avoid projects that involve… labor.
So as I tried to find my way out of their parking lot and onto county road 42….I was a tad surprised by the signage (See the photo).
Ok, I was amused and returned home to build my shelf. When I got there I took care of a few items on the “honey-do” list and returned to building my shelf. I set the 2x2 down next to the device and found it came up short. Puzzled I re-measured the device and it was still under 2” high. I measured the board and it was 1.5 inches tall. I looked at the sticker on the board and it said 1.5”x1.5” well shoot. I returned to home depot and a different member of the staff –Tom- walked over to the bin with me and verified it was the 2x2 bin but the boards were all marked by the manufactures label as 1.5x1.5.
After a little while Tom returned with 2x2’s cut down to 20” for me an apologized for the mistake. So I returned home to build my shelf… or so I thought.
I placed the board next to the device and it came up short. So I grabbed my tape measure and verified the board was 1.5"x1.5 once again. I gathered up the boards, my tape measure and returned to Home Depot.
After talking with a 3rd staff member they returned to boards, and I went down to the lumber isle and started measuring the 2x2s. They were all 1.5x1.5. So I went across the street to Menards and told the guy in the lumber department what I was trying to do and his answer floored me “Yeah, I’ve been a carpenter for 30 years, and a 2x2 has always be 1.5x1.5. I don’t know where you can find a true 2x2 unless you rip a 4x4 on a table saw… but a 4x4 isn’t really 4 inches either so don’t cut it down the middle.”
Now maybe it is just me…but 1.5 != 2. Is this some sort of new fuzzy math? What trickery is this? After looking into it I have discovered the raw cut at the saw mill is a 2x2 but after “planning” and treatment they come out 1.5x1.5. The same is true for 2x4's, 4x4 and even my 1x2’s (which measure 0.75x1.5)
After poking around the lumber department, I found some 2” molding -which really measures as 2 inches-, had them cut into 20” lengths and called it a day.
After 3 trips to Home Depot, a trip to Menards, an hour+ in the car and more than a few curse words I reflected on the whole experience.
I assumed
- a 2x2 board measured 2 inches by 2 inches.
- That the staff at the store were subject matter experts.
- I was clear that about my requirement that I needed “2 boards 2 by 2 inches and 20 inches long”.
- This would be quick and easy.
- Street signs should point you in the correct direction
So what could I have done differently? I’m not sure. I believe the issue here is that Tom and the other folks at Home Depot simply did not know that a 2x2 is really 1.5.
If you break this down, I -the “PO”- said here is my business requirement, the implementer provided the result and they did not match. Why? Because there was not a subject matter expert to say, “wait, they need a board that is 2 inches by 2 inches, not a 2x2.” When I went to Menards, I found a SME and the issue was resolved. I did not tell him anything different than I told Home Depot on my second visit so I do not believe it was an issue of miscommunication or an unclear requirement but rather a problem of the lexicon. The stores lumber inventory uses a carpenters lexicon while Tom, myself, and the other HD staff did not. By assuming the people I was talking to were a SME with the proper lexicon I started on a flawed path that I could have discovered with a tape measure and 1 minute. But hey… I am not a carpenter.
Once I had the correct boards, building the shelf was delayed because the battery in my drill died; I finished it the next day and the shelf with the rack mount monitor/keyboard/mouse works perfectly.
PS About the signs,
- On my first trip -I took the route I could see and ignored the signs
- On my second trip- I could see the road and a valid/legal way to it, but I choose to pick a sign and followed it to the next sign and so forth until I made a trip around the parking lot and was put onto 42… one way… in the wrong direction to get home. I often say, never trust user input… but street signs?
- On my third trip – I only wanted to cross 42 to get to Menards and the signs weren't any help.
- On my fourth trip. Just kidding, there was not a fourth trip.
7/3/2017 Update
I am not the only one who has been confused by the way lumber is measured- I don’t really agree with the lawsuit; after all it is their industry standard and all sorts of other things wouldn't line up correctly without it when building a house, but – based on my experience- I don’t agree that a 2x2 or 2x4 is a well understood naming convention by the staff at Home Depot.
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