Plain-English guides for your first builds: lumber sizes, squaring a project, reading a cut list. Dimensions in inches, with millimeters alongside.
A 2x4 is really 1 1/2 in x 3 1/2 in (38 x 89 mm). See the full chart of nominal vs. actual lumber sizes, and why it matters for your cut list.
Two ways to check a frame is square with only a tape measure: compare both diagonals, or use the 3-4-5 rule. Includes a diagonal chart.
What each column of a cut list means, how to account for saw kerf, and how to lay out cuts on a board with a worked example.
The short list of tools a beginner needs for shelves, benches and planters: what each one does, safety gear, and what you can skip.