Pickets are another term construction workers use for
balusters. The picture below provides you with an excellent example of a
stair handrailing picket (baluster). The black arrow is pointing to an
individual white picket.
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Where Do All Of These Crazy Construction Words Come
From?
I'm only going to guess, on this one, from years and years of home
building. When I first started working in construction, it was extremely
confusing and I think that most of the older carpenters, "Loved it."
A toenail is often referred to as any nail that is driven in an angle,
used to fasten two boards together. Every time we got a new apprentice
on-the-job, someone would ask the new guy to get a box of toenails from
the foreman. This would usually translate into hours of wasted time and
fun for the old-timers.
There were plenty of other crafty words that carpenters used to initiate
the new workers, but it usually didn't last long. I don't know where
some of these ridiculous words ever came from, but they are embedded in
my mind now and probably will be for a long time.
The next time someone asks you for a picket, you will have a pretty good
idea, what you're looking for. However, if they ask you for a box of toe
nails, simply take one of your shoes off, cut off a few of your extra
toe nails, place them in a box and hand it to them.
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