• 2-by-4 lumber can be glued together to form a board.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  The 2-by-4 is the most basic cut of lumber, available in various lengths in almost every hardware store or lumberyard. The planks measure 2 inches by 4 inches when they are cut, but after drying they almost always shrink down to closer to 1 1/2 inches by 3 1/2 inches. The 2-by-4 is thick and sturdy enough to serve as the base for a number of projects, but you can also rip or plane the 2-by-4 down to a smaller size, to fit your needs.
  
  

Table

• Tables are one of the most basic pieces of furniture and are ideal for 2-by-4 construction. Cut four 2-by-4 pieces to the desired height of your table to serve as the legs. Attach 2-by-4 pieces between the legs, at the top, to hold the legs up and keep them separated, and to provide a base for the top of the table. It's normally much easier to use plywood for the tabletop, but you can choose to install 2-by-4s across the top as well, giving it a picnic table look. You can also glue several 2-by-4s together side by side, and then sand them down, creating one giant board out of 2-by-4s.
  
  

Chair

• A 2-by-4 chair is more utilitarian than comfortable, since the curves of the body don't mesh well with the rigid lines of a 2-by-4, but if comfort isn't high on your list you can create a sturdy chair for just a few dollars.Use two long pieces of 2-by-4 for the back legs, and two slightly shorter pieces for the front. Attach more 2-by-4 pieces between the back and front legs where the seat will go and then again where the armrests will go. Fill in the seat area and the back area with 2-by-4 pieces as well. Remember you can always cut a 2-by-4 piece down to a needed size. You can finish the project by purchasing and installing cushions for the seat and back.
  
  

Shelving

• The strength of a 2-by-4 piece of lumber makes it ideal for creating structures that hold up other items, like shelving. You can make stand-alone shelving with four tall 2-by-4s as legs and other 2-by-4 beams horizontally connecting the legs. Normally it would be easier to use plywood to form the actual shelf, but you can install 2-by-4s side by side for this as well. Also, 2-by-4s make nice, small floating shelves, where you install the 2-by-4 on its side against a wall, to hold up small items.
  
  

Sawhorse

• Sawhorses provide stability for pieces of wood, such as 2-by-4s, when you need to cut them. Sawhorses are also generally made out of nothing but 2-by-4s. One cut beam is used for the centerpiece, and then four beams with angled cuts provide the legs. You could even build a few sawhorses and put them side-by-side to create scaffolding.
  
  

Raised Garden Bed

• Raised garden beds can help segregate your garden plants, enhance the drainage of your soil and even let you bring in specific types of soil to help your garden. Building these beds requires nothing more than some 2-by-4s and a little work. Secure two 2-by-4s together with screws and glue, and then cut them to height for each corner of the bed. Install these posts into the ground, and then connect the posts using more 2-by-4 lumber. Create a solid structure that will hold in your dirt.
  
  

Shed

• Large structures generally benefit from the added strength of 4-by-4 or 6-by-6 lumber at the corners, but you can create a simple shed using just 2-by-4s. Build the shed floor using the 2-by-4 lumber as the joists and beams. Suspend the floor over some deck blocks to lift the joists off of the ground. Build walls using the 2-by-4s as studs and with plywood installed on the outside. Once the walls are up you can even create a roof with 2-by-4 rafters.