i'm giving up metric

[Steve Maskery]

Although I started in feet and inches, I use metric almost entirely, although I agree that 30" is easier to visualise than, well, however many millimetres that is.

But as to the point about being comfortable with what you are used to, when I was making a lot more furniture than I am doing at the moment, a few years ago, say, I discovered I was very good a something. I could look at a a piece of wood and tell you, pretty accurately, how thick it was. 21mm. 22mm. Between 16 and 17mm. Ooh, about 27mm. It got as I was so confident that I didn't need to get out the ruler to measure it. I was in a fairly tight range, but I could easily tell you if it was 19mm or 20. Get above 30mm and it didn't work, but I guess it was becasue I was using the stuff every day, and simply got used to the fine differences in thickness.

I can't do it anymore

 

[Alf]

I have not heard anyone brought up with metrics say they prefer using imperial.

You have now I was metric through and through but what with the 'Murrican influence on all things woodworking, old tools being pre-metric etc etc, well I was always fighting a losing battle - so I gave in and been happier ever since.

Cheers, Alf

 

[Scrit]

But here in Europe its mixed still, though for timber I can order in Imprial or the German version 1 SOLL etc......

So you didn't pick up the Dutch "duim" (or thumb, 25mm) or "onz" (pronounced onse. 100 grams)?

Scrit

 

[Paul Chapman]

Yanks only know Imperial

Purely as a matter of interest, Brad, have you any idea why some of the American imperial measurements are slightly different from the UK imperial measurements? For example, a UK quart is 40 UK fluid ounces, whereas an American quart is 32 UK fluid ounces :? :? I used to use some American photographic developers and always had to be careful not to over-dilute them when the instructions said "add water to make up to one quart".

Cheers :wink:

Paul

Well there's the simple answer, and the not so simple answer. The simple answer is that the American pint is based on the pound (weight). 16 fl.oz (water)= 16 oz. dry weight. Of course it's not that simple as weights of fluids are different at different temperatures... Additionally, I recently discovered that in different industries within America, the pint can be slightly different. But basically for consumers a pint is 16 fl. oz., a quart is 32 fl.oz., and a U.S. gallon is 128 fl. oz.

Actually, I guess I'm trilingual as systems of measurements go. :wink: I'm conversant in Imperial, metric, and the American version of Imperial. (There's a few other differences.)

Brad

Thanks Brad.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Anonymous]

As yet another child of the sixties (are we all the same age on here?) I visualise in feet and inches but work in millimetres simply because calculations are easier.

I agree though, that imperial measurements are somehow more human and natural in scale.
I would also contend that it is unfortunate that our forebears selected the number 10 as the base for their numerical system.

It would have been far better if they had set us all off using base twelve .i.e have another two digits representing ten and eleven respectively with twelve being 10

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 x y 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 1x 1y 20 and so on

This would mean that 10 would easily be divisible by 2, 3, 4, and 6

No silly recurring decimals every time you divide by three.

You probably think I'm being ridiculous but I really think the Romans missed a trick here. Base ten is completely unnatural wheras base twelve would work beautifully.

And everyone would be happy using metric measurements!

Cheers
Brad

 

[DomValente]

I'm with the metric up to 30 inches brigade,even though I was definitely brought up in the Imperial class.
Interestingly in some parts of Italy, within the plumbing industry,they use something called a pollice (pronounced pol-e-che{the ch pronounced as in Church} this is the equivalent to one inch. There's more, pollice also means thumb and as every good carpenter knows,from the tip of your thumb to the first knuckle is approximately one inch.
Exciting or what?

No Brad just us old gits

 

[Anonymous]

Mr Spanton, France does only use miLLimeters (metrics).
If you heard "pouces", it's only the translation for inches.

Well they invented the stupid things didnt they? :lol: :lol:

I call them fart-o-meters if I like dont mean I have to use or even resepct them as a unit of measuring :roll: :wink:

Pouce is the french for thumb, it can also mean inch. Now just maybe there's some kinda connection here?

Any system of measurement from pinch rod's to laser measure, inch cubitt mini meter etc is just that, a method of getting an abstract way to reliably represent and reproduce the physical dimension of an object. What I take exception to is the politically driven beuracratic determination to impose this continental metric system on every one around the world wether they like it or not or want it or not, never mind the confusion, extra expense, over ruling and destroying cherished cultural preference's etc with no real benefit to anyone (ecxept the beauracrat's who make a living from inventing and imposing these sort of stupid arrangement's :roll: )

http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/estatopia/inch.htm#intro

 

[Anonymous]

I can't believe it, I'm a child of the sixties but you've got to move with the times, anyone who says measuring in imperial is easier is BONKERS.

 

[Alf]

Okay, so I'm bonkers. But I'm also younger than you, so ya boo :lol:

 

[wrightclan]

I can't believe it, I'm a child of the sixties but you've got to move with the times, anyone who says measuring in imperial is easier is BONKERS.

Like a Frenchman who says reading French is easier than reading English must be BONKERS :?: :roll:

Brad

 

[wrightclan]

Okay, so I'm bonkers. But I'm also younger than you, so ya boo :lol:

Same here. :wink:

Brad

 

[Gill]

How about a politically correct solution - let's all agree to discard both imperial and metric in favour of ... binary!

After all, there's only 10 types of people - those who understand binary and those who don't.



Gill (who's conveniently ignoring the fact that there isn't a basic binary unit of measurement)

 

[woodbloke]

I find it easier to vislulise a room size say, in imperial but always make stuff in metric - all drawings etc are done to mm sizes as its just so much easier - Rob

 

[David C]

Born in 1951, I got subjected to about four different sets of units between primary school and university.

Anyone who has read my books will be aware that I still fluctuate between three systems.

Up to 0.3 mm I use thousandths of an inch. (0.001")
0.1mm is almost exactly 0.004"

very happy with 1/10 ths of a millimetre and millimetres up to about 30 mm.

Then sudden reversion to inches and feet, which are so much more anthropo (something)

This is seriously crazy but useful to me. I no longer want to have to think about drill bits of 13/64" etc.

Of course engineers used decimals of an inch and then there were those wonderful drill sets in letters and numbers.

How about the Bob which makes lots of sense?

http://www.bobsrule.com

David Charlesworth

 

[wrightclan]

Oh and Brad dont take on board all that oh so fashionable (but ignorant and racist) "dumb yank" crap. ...

Cheers Jonathan

Nah, I don't take it too seriously. When I do my 'backward Yank' bit, my tongue is firmly implanted in cheek.

I just decided awhile ago, that I wouldn't be one of those Americans who feel the need to apologise for being American. (I think I'm in the minority on that count this side of the pond.) At the same time I don't feel the need to ram my ways down other's throats. I'll defend the reasons why I do things the way I do, and the way Americans do certain things and think in certain ways. But I won't tell you, that you have to do it my way. I'll just strongly suggest that my way is as legitimate as yours and that my way is sometimes quite effective, and has been proven to be so by many others before me.

As an example, as a resident of Scotland, I have changed my spelling and sometimes my pronunciation, to better communicate and fit in to my adopted home. But I won't put on a false affected Scottish accent. Maybe not the clearest example; but hopefully you get the idea. :wink:

Brad

 

[Colin C]

I can't believe it, I'm a child of the sixties but you've got to move with the times, anyone who says measuring in imperial is easier is BONKERS.

I must be bonkers too but I think I am younger too ( It is my birthday today, 39 :shock: )

 

[Alf]

ccasion4: Colin! Ooo-err, the big four-oh next year huh? Not that I want to spoil your day or nuffink... 8-[ :lol:

 

[Alf]

P.S. I should have asked - what unit is that 39 in....? :lol:

 

[Colin C]

Alf

My wife's best friends would have have said it but she is in the land of Devonwoody so I missed it this year ( well almost ) :roll: :wink:

 

[Paul Chapman]

ccasion4: Happy birthday, Colin ccasion4:

Cheers :wink:

Paul