Need definintion

[grandy]

I will be attending a hands on workshop next week. I'm kinda new and not sure what they're asking for. I have heard it before but. We have been ask to bringour wood for the projects. And it says: 8/4 squares about 12" long, 5/4 squares about 8" long and 4" x 4" x 8/4 hardwood.
Don't remember what is meant by the quarters. Please help.
Grandy (Sandy) Meyer

 

[Jim Keenan]

Sandy, a quarter is a quarter of an inch. So 8/4 would be 2".

 

[Steve Worcester]

And remember that 1/4" aren't exact measurements in the wood world. So a 16/4 isn't usually 4" but undersized. If you are planning something of specific size, that may become important.

 

[MichaelMouse]

The "quarters" are marks on the scaleboard used for rough sawing. In the days of circular saws, 8/4 was about 2 1/8 wet. The blades used to squirm and score the surface if overfed, so they were shooting for nothing thinner than 2". With band mills they don't have to worry as much about blade squirm, so they tend to cut at the 2" thickness. When the wood cures, it loses about 8% dimension across the face, 5% on the quarter, so planing out any minor twist ends up with 1 3/4 for an 8/4 plank.

Softwoods shrink a bit more, so they're closer to 1 5/8.

 

[grandy]

need definition

One of the best perks of being a member of the AAW is the friendship you gain
with people you never meet. The help and assistance has been great. The few times
I've needed an answer, it was returned quite quickly.You could say any help needed
is only a mouse click away.I understand the quarter thing much better now.
I thank you all for your help.
Grandy