Metric or Imperial

[Mr Ed]

Reading a couple of posts recently and the currency that people described dimensions in got me thinking. How many of us work in metric and how many in imperial?

I suspect it may turn out to be mainly an age thing, but maybe not - be interesting to see. Personally I work in metric, although I am fairly comfortable with imperial and often use it when buying materials or quoting approximate dimensions ("about a foot", for example)

Cheers, Ed

 

[woodbloke]

Always metric - Rob

 

[JonnyD]

I work in metric pretty much all the time. The only time i work in imperial is when talking to customers who seem to have no grasp of metric (usually the older ones).

jon

 

[johnjin]

Sorry
I can't press either button as I use both a more or less equal amount.

John

 

[motownmartin]

I use both as some of my kit is imperial as are some of my router cutters, I was taught imperial at school but wish there was just one type as it can be confusing.

 

[PowerTool]

Metric - but can happily convert to imperial,as I was taught both.

Andrew

 

[sawdust maker]

Sorry call me old fashioned but its got to be imperial, too easy to make a mistake with metric. But then I'm an old git metric wasn't invented when I was at school.
Paul

 

[wizer]

I grew up with and use the metric system.

 

[Paul Chapman]

What's metric :? Nearly aways imperial - just can't visualise metric, except that 300mm is about a foot and a metre is about a yard.

The only good thing about metric is that when I drive abroad I seem to get to places quicker because I think in miles but the distances are in kilometres

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Shultzy]

I was brought up with both imperial and SI units but I tend to use imperial in the shop as most of my books are in imperial.

 

[wizer]

too easy to make a mistake with metric.

Do you mean too easy for you to make a mistake or that the metric system is flawed? Just curious.

 

[Lord Nibbo]

I had to use metric when I worked. I use both but tend to lean to imperial when describing anything, as already mentioned most people older than me can visualize imperial.

 

[OPJ]

The scale on my planer thicknesser is in metric so, I always go with that when I'm machining timber (plus, being a youngster, I was first bought up on the metric system!). I've quickly picked up on the imperial measurements from too many years at college and a few places I've worked in. I don't think I could work to 16ths of an inch though - 1mm or 2mm is a lot clearer to me! :wink:

As has already been mentioned, I also tend to go for imperial measurements when dealing with sawn timber; whether that be sorting out a cutting list, cutting out components or buying (sawn) timber.

Well, I say I work in metric but, it's more like a "metricated imperial" - ie. 6" becomes 150mm, 12" equals 300mm, etc.

 

[Hitch]

I mostly work in metric, however :lol:

If i put my tape on something, and its 1379mm long, if its easier and it reads 57", ill use that measurement instead of the metric.

What really gets me though, when people come in wanting steel plate cut, usually from the agricultural fraternity, 550mm x 13 1/4" :roll: :lol:

 

[Con Owen]

Hi

I am one of the older ones who was brought up using the imperial unit of measurement only. From choice I use the metric system, in my opinion it is a much more logical and easier system to use, everything being devisible by 10. I do not have any problem visualising dimensions in either imperial or metric. When I was in the printing trade I used an entirely different system of measurement, it was called the point, there is 72 points to an inch, additinally we used to also use a continental system too called Didot. I do not say one system is any more accurate than another, after all America put a man on the moon and they use the imperial unit of measurement.

Cheers
Con

 

[PAC1]

I am well known for asking for 2.4m of 4"x 2". Is that both or have I just not got a clue.

Also whilst we say metric assuming it is clear and readily understood, I find that when I am abroad most Europeans use cm rather than mm so my 4x2 becomes 10x5 not 100 x 50 and is finished 9.5 x 4.5. I have been to the local wood yard in Crete and been told that they do not stock wood that large (in Greek) when asking for 100 x 50.

 

[Peter T]

Both, but prefer Imperial.

 

[thomvic]

I am pleased to say that I can work with either or even both. We were taught both in school. I left school in 1961.

Richard

 

[Paul Chapman]

after all America put a man on the moon and they use the imperial unit of measurement.

Even though over there 40 fl oz is only 32 fl oz :shock: :shock: :?

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[RATWOOD]

Both, but prefer Imperial.