Good morning Friends,

Since Gene Howe, brought up the subject on how the terminology of measuring by the quarters in rough sawn hard wood, how many can find or know the true reason for the terms of thickness by quarters?

I think it had something to do with the way saw mills were set up to make cuts. The material was moved by 1/4" steps as it was processed.

Yep, originally the dogs were set every 1/4". 

The last mill I visited was using an old set up and they  were at 1/4". Don't know if newer mills have different settings. And I wonder about European mills with their non- Imperial measurements. 

Good Afternoon Fellows,

Due to a heavy rain storm this morning our cable connection to the internet was lost for the better part of the morning and now I can answer your answers;

Good thinking by both and you are right that is exactly how this came about and as you know the sale of wood whether it is surfaced or not it is still bought and sold by the nominal sizes. You will take note that the bottom figure never changes.

4/4, 5/4, 6/4 and so forth, so to determine the actual thickness is to look at all of the top figures 4/4= 1", 5/4 = 1 1/4" and convert them to inches.

6/4 = 1 1/2" etc.